Category: Climate Change & Environment

Exploring the challenges facing the Nigeria energy mix, resource optimization, and environmental crisis

Significant recent events impacting the ecosystem, environment, climate, and energy are all associated with climate change. The effects of climate change on various societal sectors are interconnected. Food production and human health can be harmed by drought. Flooding has the potential to spread illness and harm infrastructure and ecosystems. Health problems can reduce workers’ productivity, raise mortality, and have an impact on the availability of food. The impacts of climate change can be seen in every area of our world. Furthermore, the consequences of climate change are not homogeneous across the world; even within a country, different regions may experience different impacts. Underserved communities (mostly in Africa), which frequently have the highest exposure to risks and the fewest resources to respond, might become increasingly vulnerable as a result of long-standing socioeconomic inequalities.

A typical example is Lake Chad, one of Africa’s largest water bodies, bounded by Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. The lake’s size has decreased by 90 percent[1] due to overuse of water, extended drought, and the impacts of climate change. Less than 1,500 square kilometers now make up the lake’s surface, down from 26,000 square kilometers in 1963. In addition to destroying livelihoods, the reduction—which has been dubbed an ecological disaster—has also resulted in the loss of invaluable biodiversity.

Changing Surface Area of Lake Chad, 1963 – 2013

Again, a panacea to the current status quo is the way of Energy Transition, as the major contributor to climate change is the emission of carbon via the generation and consumption of fossil fuels. For most developing countries such as Nigeria, it is important to keep in mind that substantial clean energy source(s), infrastructure to harness these resources for generation, and a structure for efficient distribution should all be existent for the energy mix to be properly substituted. Hydro, gas, and solar are potentially alternative substitutes to displace the ‘dirty’ components of Nigeria’s energy mix. However, the scourge of climate change doesn’t ignore its impacts on natural resources (renewable and nonrenewable). Could Nigeria make the most of the persisting effects of climate change? Exist any possibilities that could be explored to improve the current circumstance in the long run?

Solar Power Potential

Africa is generally acknowledged to possess the world’s greatest potential for solar energy, with the highest levels of solar radiation exposure[2]. Geographically, Nigeria falls in this region with enormous solar energy potential. As a result, investing in and fully exploiting this energy source is tremendous potential and benefits to boost the nation’s power generation. The two top African nations utilizing solar energy as the major constituent of their energy dynamics are South Africa and Egypt, particularly in power generation.

World Map of Global Horizontal Irradiation, Solaris 2013

Hydropower generation and flood mitigation

Because of heavy and continuous rainfall (in the tropical rainforest)[3], areas along river channels and their tributaries are frequently flooded throughout the nation. Two of the main options for controlling floods involve modifying high-capacity existing dams (technologically and structurally), like the Kainji dam in Niger State, and constructing new ones; possibly along the Benue River (to cushion the impact of the Lagdo dam release, Cameroon). The enormous amount of water (high flow rate) being used in conjunction with sophisticated turbines and generators would significantly improve the capacity of such dams to generate electricity. As a result, the improved and newly constructed dams would be able to hold a large volume of water, potentially reducing overflow that may ultimately cause floods. Additionally, this could serve as a considerable water supply for domestic use as well as irrigation in areas beset by drought and desert encroachment.

(a) Global Rainfall erosivity map (spatial resolution of 30 arc-seconds). Erosivity classes correspond to quantiles;(b) number and cumulative percentage of GloREDa stations grouped by erosivity; (c) mean erosivity by continent; (d) mean erosivity by climate zone.

Rainfall erosivity is an index that describes the power of rainfall to cause soil erosion (and potentially flooding).

There is no denying that climate change poses a serious threat to the existence and prosperity of our planet. As a result, a periodic holistic approach is necessary to use the situation to modify or better the status quo. Accordingly, while proactive policies should indeed be designed to prevent possible crises, adaptive measures should be explored to help the nation’s present situation. Furthermore, Nigeria’s energy transition agenda should be encouraged by taking full advantage and maximizing the nation’s renewable energy mix, which includes solar and hydropower, since they have the ability to improve the nation’s dire energy condition.

Resolutions were made for concerned government offices and agencies to take into consideration to ensure an efficient and wholesome transition at the National Dialogue on Energy Transition, which was organized by the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) in collaboration with the Nigeria Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and BudgIT Foundation[4].

footnotes

[1] https://reliefweb.int/report/chad/tale-disappearing-lake

[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/africa-solar-power-energy-sustainability-climate-change/

[3] https://www.internetgeography.net/topics/what-is-the-climate-of-the-rainforest/

[4] https://resourcegovernance.org/events/nigeria-national-dialogue-energy-transition

Devastating events are occurring in many nations, making the effects of climate change clear and unrelenting worldwide. This is evidenced by, among other things, flooding, temperature rise, the expansion of the desert, difficulties with economic activity (agricultural), and biodiversity loss[1]. The effects are most severe in Africa, and it is likely that nothing will change—if anything, things might even grow worse. It seems unjust that the continent suffers the most from climate change given that Africa makes up the least proportion of the world’s carbon emissions[2]. Research has found that most African nations have been apathetic and negligent about the realities of the world today, whereas other nations have greatly reduced their vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. The world has made an innovative move to lessen these impacts by steadily lowering carbon emissions and, as a result, looking into renewable and sustainable sources of energy. [3]

If vulnerabilities that accommodate climate change impacts are not strategically addressed through the technical implementation of adaptation policies, energy transition in African nations would essentially be frustrated. Nigeria serves as a good example of an African nation with developed policies to control and maybe avert these effects. However, some bottlenecks in governance and resource management have prevented the implementation of these policies. Some of these policies are;

1. Nigeria energy Transition Plan
2. National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN) 2011
3. National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP) 2015;
4. National Gas Policy (2017)
5. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2016;
6. National Forest Policy (NFP) 2010;
7. National Forestry Action Plan (NFAP) 1996;
8. National Policy on Environmental 2016;
9. Nigeria Agricultural Policy 2001;
10. Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) 2016 – 2020;
11. National Climate Change Policy and Respond Strategy (NCCPRS) 2012;
12. National Policy on Drought and Desertification (NPDD) 2007;
13. Great Green Wall for the Sahara And Sahel Initiative National Strategic Action Plan (GGWSAP) 2012;
14. National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF) 2013;
15. National Health Policy (2016);
16. National Water Policy (2012);
17. National Transport Policy (2016)
18. Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (2014)

In summary, the goals of these policies are to support the growth of the nation in all strategic sectors, including the economy, governance, resource optimization, delivery of public services, and technological innovation, among others.

Granted that they depend on each other to achieve a collective goal on a significant scale, these policies can be effectively implemented to work in concert. It is crucial to note that properly implementing these policies would significantly impact the nation’s economy, governance, and political climate, as well as technology and innovation, efficient use of natural resources, and ultimately public service delivery. To this end, African countries including Nigeria must leverage the capacity of their external audit bodies – Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) to monitor implementation of all policies necessary to stimulate adaptation to climate change impact on the continent with a view to ensuring that planned objectives are realized and the continent remains on the path of sustainable development.

In conclusion, the ability of a nation to manage and control the effects of climate change has had a direct or indirect impact on the nation’s growth and survival in recent years. This suggests, however, that a country’s or region’s degree of susceptibility to the effects of climate change would significantly affect (in a favorable or negative way) both its capacity to remain economically viable and its prospective propensity to transition to clean energy sources.

footnotes

[1] https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts

[2] https://www.afdb.org/en/cop25/climate-change-africa

[3] https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-climate-risk-index-2021

Without a doubt, climate change has sparked a domino effect, frequently impacting the critical sectors (extractive, industrial, health, and agriculture/food production) of economies worldwide. The Global South (Latin America, Africa, and most of Asia) according to research suffers most of the brunt and with no or underperforming governments, institutions, and critical sectors, countries that fall within the southern hemisphere become more weakened and constantly losing opportunities to leverage to adapt and mitigate these adverse effects[1]. The vast majority of the time, national governments and institutions are exclusively held accountable for attempting to remediate the problem at hand. While it appears that just certain parts of the government are burdened with such responsibilities, the resulting impacts are not always extensive, and over time, mediocre achievements are usually produced. To effectively address these challenges, it is crucial to establish strong coordination and collaboration between the national and subnational levels of government in various countries.

Nigeria recognizes the importance of climate change adaptation and has developed a National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change (NASPA-CCN)[2]. The NASPA-CCN provides a strategic roadmap for addressing climate change impacts and outlines the roles and responsibilities of different government levels, including the national, state, and local governments. It emphasizes the need for cooperation, coordination, and capacity-building among these entities.

The Role of the National Government:

The national government plays a vital role in climate change adaptation by providing policy direction, setting national targets, and facilitating the implementation of adaptation initiatives. It establishes legal and regulatory frameworks, conducts research, and mobilizes financial resources to support adaptation efforts. The national government also engages in international climate change negotiations and accesses global funding mechanisms to support adaptation at the subnational level.

The Importance of Subnational Governments:

Subnational governments, including state and local governments, are at the forefront of climate change impacts and adaptation actions. They are closer to the communities and ecosystems experiencing the effects of climate change, making them well-positioned to implement localized adaptation strategies. Subnational governments can develop climate resilience plans, promote sustainable land and water management practices, integrate climate considerations into urban planning, and foster community engagement and awareness.

Challenges and Opportunities:

Despite the growing recognition of climate change adaptation at both the national and subnational levels in Nigeria, several challenges persist. Limited technical capacity, inadequate financial resources, and insufficient coordination between government levels hinder effective adaptation implementation. Additionally, there is a need to enhance data collection and monitoring systems to support evidence-based decision-making.

However, these challenges present opportunities for collaboration and innovation. By strengthening communication channels and coordination mechanisms, the national and subnational governments can share best practices, exchange knowledge, and build a collective understanding of climate change adaptation priorities. Capacity-building programs can empower subnational governments to develop and implement context-specific adaptation strategies, leveraging local knowledge and expertise.

Recommendations for Bridging the Gap:

To bridge the gap between the national and subnational levels in climate change adaptation, the following recommendations can be considered:

1. Enhance intergovernmental coordination and communication channels to ensure the alignment of national and subnational adaptation strategies.
2. Increase financial resources for subnational governments, including access to climate finance mechanisms, to support the implementation of adaptation projects at the local level.
3. Strengthen capacity-building efforts for subnational governments, providing technical training and knowledge-sharing platforms to enhance their understanding of climate change risks and adaptation measures.
4. Develop robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of adaptation initiatives, identify lessons learned, and facilitate adaptive learning among all levels of government.
5. Promote community participation and engagement in adaptation planning and implementation, recognizing the importance of local knowledge and empowering communities to take ownership of adaptation actions.

Conclusion:

Addressing the impacts of climate change requires a coordinated and inclusive approach that spans national and subnational levels of governance. Nigeria has taken significant steps by developing the National Framework for Climate Change Adaptation. However, bridging the gap between the national and subnational governments is essential for effective and localized adaptation responses.

By strengthening collaboration, providing financial resources, building capacity, and engaging communities, Nigeria can foster an integrated and multi-level governance approach to climate change adaptation. This will help ensure the resilience of ecosystems, economies, and communities while creating a sustainable and climate-resilient future for generations to come.

Footnotes

[1] https://www.fairplanet.org/story/how-climate-colonialism-affects-the-global-south/#:~:text=The%20climate%20crisis%20is%20a,or%20respond%20to%20natural%20catastrophes.

[2] NATIONAL-ADAPTATION-STRATEGY-AND-PLAN-OF-ACTION.pdf (csdevnet.org)