1.1 INTRODUCTION
Climate change poses a significant global challenge, with profound
consequences for economies, ecosystems, and human life. Nigeria,
one of Africa's largest oil producers, faces a unique challenge
which is transitioning to a low-carbon economy while ensuring
economic stability and access to energy. As part of its efforts to
meet global climate goals, Nigeria has pledged to achieve net zero
carbon emissions by 2060, with a target set for 2030 detailed in
its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).1
1.2 UNDERSTANDING KEY CONCEPTS
Net Zero: Net Zero refers to the balance between the amount of
greenhouse gas (GHG) that's produced, and the amount that's
removed from the atmosphere.2
Carbon Emission: Carbon emission is the release of carbon compounds into the atmosphere.3
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): This reflects the commitment of each nation to lower their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
1.3 THE NIGRERIA GOVERNMENT GOALS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE NET
ZERO
CARBON EMISSIONS
Former president Muhammadu Buhari announced Nigeria's
commitment to carbon neutrality by the year 2060. Nigeria's
Energy Transition Plan (ETP) was unveiled shortly thereby
highlighting the scale of effort required to achieve the 2060 net
zero target whilst also meeting the nation's energy needs.
Since the announcement, the Climate Change Act 2021 has been
passed, the ETP has been fully approved by the Federal Government
and an Energy Transition Implementation working group (ETWG) which
is chaired by Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), comprising
of several key ministers and supported by an Energy Transition
Office (ETO) has been established.4
With the support of the Sustainable Energy for All, the Nigerian Government designed the plan to tackle the dual crises of energy poverty and climate change and deliver SDG7 by 2030 and net zero by 2060, while also providing energy for development, industrialization, and economic growth. The ETP details pathways for significant low-carbon development of energy systems across 5 key sectors: Power, Cooking, Transport, Industry, and Oil and Gas.5
1.4 WHAT ARE THE KEY REGULATIONS GUIDING NIGERIA'S
TRANSITION TO
ZERO CARBON EMISSION?
Nigeria's commitment to addressing climate change is evident in
its diverse regulatory framework. The Climate Change Act of 2021
provides a foundational legal structure, setting targets for
emissions reduction and promoting green growth. The Climate Change
Act of 2021, is a cornerstone of Nigeria's climate framework,
it directly supports SDG 13 by setting
emissions reduction targets and promoting climate-friendly
practices. This act, alongside the National Climate Change Policy,
guides the development of renewable energy sources, contributing to
SDG 7 by increasing access to clean and affordable energy.
Furthermore, regulations targeting gas flaring and
deforestation, which are significant sources of greenhouse gas
emissions, align with SDG 13 by mitigating climate change. These
regulations also indirectly support SDG 7 by encouraging the
adoption of cleaner energy alternatives.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Act ensures that developmental
projects consider their environmental impact, while regulations on
gas flaring and deforestation seek to curb emissions from key
sectors. Additionally, Nigeria's involvement in international
agreements like the Paris Agreement and the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change further shapes its domestic
climate policies.
1.5 NIGERIA'S CONTRIBUTION TO NET ZERO CARBON
EMISSION BY 2030
Over 120 countries have already committed to net zero emissions,
and more than 1,000 companies round the world are fast transforming
their operations in order to save and preserve the
planet.6
Nigeria has also followed suite and has over the years adopted
new measures, regulations, agencies and has also announced plans to
reduce emissions in the country. For example, in January 2023,
Nigeria introduced new Methane Guidelines that all oil and gas
companies must follow. An example is the requirement for oil leak
detection system, which are designed to reduce methane emission in
the industry.7
In February 2023, the Director General of the National Council on
Climate Change announced plans to unveil a carbon tax policy.
Several countries have also expressed their willingness and
readiness to cooperate with Nigeria in increasing the percentage of
renewable energy used. For instance, Germany has shown interest in
collaborating with Nigeria through its bilateral cooperation
programs, aiming to support the development of renewable energy
projects. Additionally, China has also expressed its readiness to
work with Nigeria to promote renewable energy utilization as part
of their
broader partnership on sustainable development
initiatives.8 These partnerships highlight the global
recognition of Nigeria's potential in renewable energy and the
importance of transitioning to cleaner sources. The collaborations
with Germany and China can effectively and adequately pave the way
for knowledge exchange, technology transfer, financial support in
order to accelerate Nigeria's renewable energy sector and most
importantly, it will help to reduce carbon emissions in order to
make the country safer.9
1.6 EMISSION TREND OVER THE YEARS
From the year 2000 to 2020, Nigeria's CO2 emissions per capita
showed a fluctuating overall declining trend. Starting at 0.791
metric tons per capita in 2000, the CO2 emissions reached their
lowest point in 2009 at 0.491 metric tons per capita and the
highest point in 2001 at 0.808 metric tons per capita. By 2020, CO2
emissions had reached 0.537 metric tons per capita. This was
subsequently followed by a general decline and fluctuations in the
following years.10
In its 2021 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) update,
Nigeria committed to reducing emissions by 47% by 2030, with the
help of conditional on international support. This is equivalent to
an emissions level 1% above to 23% below 2010 levels by 2030
excluding Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry
(LULUCF).11
1.7 POLICIES THAT NIGERIA STATE GOVERNORS HAVE MADE
INORDER TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS IN THEIR VARIOUS
STATES
In Nigeria, state governments have also joined in on the fight on
the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. For example, the
Lagos State government established a Ministry of Environment and it
is charged with the responsibility to plan, devise and implement
the state policies on Environmental Management. The Ministry's
main objective is to build a cleaner, healthier, and more
sustainable environment that would promote tourism, economic
growth,
and citizen well-being.12
In Abuja, policies like the National Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Policy (NREEEP) which was approved by the federal
executive council (FEC) on the 20th of April, 2015, aims to
increase the share of renewable energy in the national
energy mix to 30% by 2030, has been established in order to achieve
Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030, etc.13
1.8 Recommendations
- Investing in renewable energy can reduce Nigeria's over reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating the environmental impact of extraction and combustion. – hydro, solar, wind, biofuels, etc.
- Implementing energy-efficient measures such as lighting and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.14
- Establish a Carbon Pricing Mechanism: Implement a carbon pricing mechanism, such as a carbon tax or cap-and trade system, to provide a financial incentive for reducing emissions.
- Offer financial incentives, such as tax credits or grants, to encourage businesses and individuals to invest in low carbon technologies.
- Engage with and implement key international climate agreements, like the Paris Agreement, in order to demonstrate a dedication to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the global climate crisis.
- Raise Public Awareness: Raise public awareness about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas
Footnotes
1 Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria. (2021).
Nigeria's Updated Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs). Available at https://ndcs.environment.gov.ng.
2 Available at https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-net-zero .
3 Carbon Emission Defined & Explained
https://ecolife.com/dictionary/carbon-emission/ accessed February
4,
2025>.
4 Nigeria Energy Transition Plan: Nigeria's pathway
to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 ,
https://www.nigerianetzero.org/, accessed on the 6th of February,
2025.
5 ibid
6 Emerging Technologies: These new technologies will
accelerate the transition to net zero , 2024
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/06/these-new-technologies-will-accelerate-the-transition-to-net-zero/
( Accessed on the 4th of February, 2025)
7 ( Climate Action Tracker , 2023
https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/nigeria/ : Accessed on
the 4th of
February, 2025)
8 ibid
9 ibid
10 (Veriv Africa : How Much Carbon Emissions Per Capita
(metric tons per capita Of CO2 emissions) Has Nigeria
Emitted since 2000? , 2024)
https://www.verivafrica.com/articles/how-much-carbon-emissions-per-capita-
11 ibid
12 Tengi George-Ikoli Nigeria's Path to Net-Zero:
Navigating Methane Emissions and Gas Ambitions 2024,
https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/nigerias-path-net-zero-navigating-methane-emissions-and-
gasambitions Accessed on the 4th of February, 2025
13 NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICY
(NREEEP) APPROVED BY FEC FOR THE
ELECTRICITY SECTOR ,2015
https://admin.theiguides.org/Media/Documents/NREEE%20POLICY%202015
Accessed on the 4th of February, 2025
14 Muhammad Shahbaz, Naim Rashid, Junaid Saleem, Hamish
Mackey, Gordon McKay, Tareq Al-Ansari 2023
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii Accessed on the
4th of February, 2025
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