Reputable author David Hundeyin wrote a thought-provoking piece about Nigeria’s climate policy that has generated a lot of conversation, here is a link to the original article from PREMIUM TIMES. He distributed a brief from Dialogue Earth, an organization he says is trying to sway Nigeria’s energy policies, especially with regard to the Dangote refinery. According to Hundeyin, Dialogue Earth wants to force the Nigerian government to suspend refinery activities. Nonetheless, the main goal of the brief he provided is to increase public knowledge of Nigeria’s energy transition strategy and its climate obligations. It is argued that Hundeyin’s strategy falls short of promoting a fruitful discussion on Nigeria’s economic and environmental destiny because it is unduly dramatic and unsophisticated.
Nigeria’s climate goals are clearly threatened by the refinery’s operations, the response emphasizes, even though economic factors still support the refinery. This calls for a fair national dialogue and well-defined policies, such as carbon taxes, carbon trading, and other related measures that have the potential to enhance Economic Growth and yield substantial money. Additionally, the statement refutes Hundeyin’s assertions on Dialogue Earth’s goals by highlighting the fact that a large number of environmental non-governmental organizations in the West support Solar Energy and the eradication of Poverty in Africa.
Nig should balance economic growth & climate change mitigation.
These non-governmental organizations, however, frequently advocate for green changes too vigorously without offering enough financial and scientific assistance to further the development of Renewable Energy in Africa. Instead of downplaying the severity of the situation, emphasis was placed on how crucial it is for Nigeria to deliberately strike a balance between its ambitions for economic growth and Climate Change mitigation. Germany is one nation that has managed to strike a balance between achieving green goals and economic growth. With the goal of lowering Greenhouse gas Emissions without sacrificing economic competitiveness, Germany has undertaken an extensive energy transformation program known as the Energiewende during the last few decades.
In 2020, Germany remained one of the largest economies in the world, but it had also managed to cut its carbon emissions by more than 40% from 1990 levels. Significant investments in renewable energy, especially solar and wind power, which together generated almost 45% of Germany’s Electricity in 2020, were the driving force behind this accomplishment. Furthermore, Germany has shown that Economic Expansion and job development can coexist with environmental sustainability. In 2020, the German renewable energy industry employed up to 300,000 people, demonstrating how the green shift can open up new business prospects.
Climate change is exacerbating desertification in the northern regions.
Furthermore, by assisting households and businesses, Germany’s energy-efficient policies have helped lower energy use. Germany has been a role model for striking a balance between environmental objectives and economic progress, despite the difficulties brought about by the transition, such as the phase-out of coal and nuclear power. The distinct historical, economic, and environmental setting of Nigeria influences its response to climate change. Nigeria has had to strike a balance between Environmental Sustainability and Economic Development because it is the most populous nation in Africa and has one of the largest economies.
Over the years, the country has encountered several environmental difficulties, such as erosion, desertification, and deforestation. Climate change is exacerbating Desertification in the northern regions, which has decreased agricultural production and increased land and resource conflicts. As it integrates this adaptation into its larger economic and development agenda, Nigeria has come to understand the significance of this in recent years. The nation created its first National Climate Change Action Plan and Adaptation Strategy in 2011.
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Furthermore, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, it likewise created its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015. In comparison to normal operations scenarios, Nigeria’s NDC pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, or 45% with international assistance. Nigeria’s climate policy is governed by the Climate Change Act, which was passed in 2021. In order to facilitate coordination and guarantee the integration of climate initiatives into national development goals, a National Council on Climate Change is established. The Act also highlights the necessity of a fair transition that takes into account the socioeconomic effects of Fossil Fuel substitution.