Tag: Carbon Emission

  • FG mulls new tax for climate change

    FG mulls new tax for climate change

    The Federal Government has urged relevant stakeholders to embrace carbon tax to help tackle climate change in the country.

    Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, Acting Vice Chancellor, University  of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), said this on Thursday at a stakeholders’ workshop on “Understanding the Incentives and Obstacles to Effective Carbon Tax Regimes in West African Countries.”

    Ezeokonkwo described carbon taxation as a cost charged on the amount of carbon emissions into the space.

    He said that the Federal Government through the development which was introduced by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) was developing a framework to determine the amount to be charged based on the quantum of emissions.

    He  said that the Federal Government,  through the NCCC, was devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance (carbon market framework and carbon tax regime) for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

    This, he said, followed the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

    The Vice Chancellor called on the stakeholders to ensure that they sensitised the public to buy into the government plan.

    “The theme of today’s workshop is timely as the Federal Government, through the NCCC, is devising strategies to implement a robust carbon finance, carbon market framework and carbon tax regime for the country in line with the Climate Change Act.

    “The timing of this workshop is crucial given the ongoing global dialogue on climate change mitigation, which emphasises the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through practical policy measures such as carbon taxation.

    “Your role as stakeholders is crucial. While effective carbon pricing is acknowledged as a powerful tool in the global battle against climate change, getting public support for environmental policies remains a significant challenge in Africa.

    “This workshop, therefore, seeks your valuable input from pertinent stakeholders in the realms of carbon pricing and fuel subsidy reforms in Nigeria and Ghana” he said.

    In his remarks, Head, Economic Regulation, National Petroleum Authority of  Ghana, Abass  Tasunti,  stated  that Ghana was also on the verge of ensuring that fossil fuel emission was drastically reduced.

    Tasunti said that the country’s target was mainly the industries that emit a large scale carbon.

    He however, said that so far, the country had not arrived at a fixed rate for it.

    “The whole essence of carbon taxation, in my view, is to introduce taxes that move people away from the consumption of fossil fuel.

    “Policymakers are looking for a way to impose taxes on petroleum products and use them to provide the other alternative fuels.

    “If they are done, it will give consumers options because you will agree with me that fossil fuel will not go off immediately.

    “These carbon TAXATION initiatives and cleaner fuel initiatives are supposed to complement the use of fossil fuels” he said.

  • Methanol fuel policy offers better efficiency – Minister

    Methanol fuel policy offers better efficiency – Minister

    Dr Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), said the methanol fuel policy initiative of the Federal Government offers better efficiency in terms of usage.

    The minister said this in an exclusive interview at the Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Mamora said: “One of the advantages of this policy is that there is an option outside what we are using now.

    “The fuel being used now, we have a lot of emissions and we are in the era of moving to zero carbon emission.

    “Of course, if you have decrease in carbon emission, you are also increasing the health and well-being of the people and I think that alone is critical enough.”

    Mamora said the methanol fuel policy is a big project that would enable Nigeria move away from fossil fuel.

    He said that methanol fuel policy was a project he believed, would be better driven by the private sector.

    Mamora said, ”there were some private sector concerns that have indicated interest and they were currently in talks.”

    He also disclosed that some partners outside the country also indicated interest in the project outside local partners.

    He said engagement was ongoing and that hopefully they would soon arrive at a logical conclusion.

  • COP26: Nigeria will cut carbon emission to net zero by 2060, Buhari says

    COP26: Nigeria will cut carbon emission to net zero by 2060, Buhari says

    President Muhammad Buhari has said Nigeria will cut its carbon emission to net-zero by 2060. He spoke at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 in Glasgow, UK.

    Mr Buhari said the conference is happening at a time the world is suffering from the devastating effects of climate change.

    Mr Buhari said he did not think any Nigerian needs to be convinced that climate change is not about the problem of the future but about what is already facing the country.

    “Desertification in the north, drought in the centre, pollution in the coast are enough evidence for all to see, Nigeria is committed to net zero by 2060,” he said.

    “In our lifetime, Lake Chad has gone from an adverse expanse of biodiversity to a shadow of itself; we are investing in renewed growth, hydro dams, and solar projects – Nigeria is not looking to make the same mistake that will be suffered in the future.”

    The Nigerian leader said the government is looking for partners, technology, and finance to make cleaner and efficient use of all available resources for a more stable transition in energy markets.

    He informed the audience that Nigeria’s revised nationally determined contribution has additional priority sectors, water and waste, nature-based solution, adaptation and resilience, vulnerability assessment and a clean, cooking, gender and green job assessment, bottom-up renewable energy transition pathway to 2030.

    Speaking further, Mr Buhari said even though parties to the Paris agreement are expected to transition from fossil fuel to clean energy and reach a net zero ambition for greenhouse gas emission, Nigeria is actually more of a gas than oil producing country and requires financing of projects using transition fuel such as gas.

    “Nigeria has developed a detailed energy transition plan and roadmap based on data and evidence, our transition plan also highlights the key role that gas will play in transitioning our economy across sectors and the data and evidence shows Nigeria can continue to use gas until 2040 without detracting from the goals of the Paris agreement,” he said.

    Mr Buhari told the audience that Nigeria has approved a national action plan on gender and climate change.

    “This document incorporates priority areas of our economic recovery and growth plan and nationally determined contribution, the implementation strategy for this national action plan is being developed,” he said.

    In a bid to commit to transitional change through climate policy, the revised national policy on climate change was approved in June 2021. This will enable us to implement mitigation measures and also strengthen adaptation towards a sustainable and resilient development. pathway in Nigeria.

    Mr Buhari further called the attention of the COP26 president to the centrality of financial support to developing countries in order to attain national and global climate change goals as it will require technical and financial support to developing countries.

    Speaking further, the president said the country plans to electrify 5 million households and 25 million people using decentralised solar energy solutions.

    “In Nigeria, in the area of energy access, Nigeria’s commitment t to adjust transition is reflected in our initial energy compact which include the government’s flagship project to electrify 5 million households and 25 million people using decentralised solar energy solution, this is major step towards closing our energy access deficit by 2030,” he said.

    He said the outcome of COP26 must result in a quick resolution of all outstanding issues pertaining to the finalisation of the Paris agreement rule book, adaptation, mitigation, finance, article 6 and loss and damages.

  • Murtala Muhammed Airport achieves milestone

    Murtala Muhammed Airport achieves milestone

    The Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State, operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has achieved a milestone.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the airport has joined the community of climate smart airports within Airport Carbon Accreditation as the first in Nigeria.

    The airport received a level 1 ‘Mapping’ recognition for creating a complete and independently verified carbon inventory, and outlining plans on how to reduce the emissions.

    In June 2008, the annual assembly of ACI EUROPE adopted a landmark resolution on Climate Change when its member airports committed to reduce carbon emissions from their operations, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral.

    One year later, at the 2009 annual assembly, ACI EUROPE launched Airport Carbon Accreditation, allowing the assessment and recognition of participating airports’ efforts to manage and reduce their CO₂ emissions.

    Airport Carbon Accreditation is an independent, voluntary programme administered by WSP, an international consultancy appointed by ACI EUROPE to enforce the accreditation criteria for airports on an annual basis. The administration of the programme is overseen by an Advisory Board.

    As of November 2011, Airport Carbon Accreditation has been extended to airports in the Asia-Pacific region, in cooperation with ACI Asia-Pacific. The programme was also extended to the African region of ACI in June 2013.

    In September 2014, Airport Carbon Accreditation took off in North America and it went global in November 2014 with its extension to airports in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Airports applying to become accredited must have their carbon footprints independently verified in accordance with ISO14064 (Greenhouse Gas Accounting). Evidence of this must be provided to the programme administrator (WSP) together with all claims regarding carbon management processes which must also be independently verified.

    The definitions of emissions footprints used by Airport Carbon Accreditation follow the principles of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) “Greenhouse Gas Protocol” Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.

    When considering the emissions from aircraft within the airport perimeter and on final approach and initial departure, Airport Carbon Accreditation uses the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) definition of the Landing-Take Off cycle and requires airports to comply with these definitions.