The German Government approved on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, draft legislation that would legalise the underground storage of carbon dioxide (C02), a key step in its strategy to meet climate change goals.
The plans include the development of a national CO2 transport network to facilitate carbon capture and storage (CCS), particularly for hard-to-abate industrial sectors.
German Economy Minister Katharina Reiche speaks to the media while visiting the KNDS heavy weapons factory on August 01, 2025, in Kassel, Germany. Photo credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
The Cabinet’s decision marks a significant policy shift.
Until now, the use of CCS technologies has been effectively blocked in Germany.
The bill must still be passed by lawmakers in parliament.
Economy Minister, Katherina Reiche, described the package as a “milestone” in decarbonising German industry.
Reiche’s predecessor, Robert Habeck, had also proposed similar legislation, but political disagreements in the previous coalition government derailed those plans.
The legislation would allow CO2 to be captured at industrial sites, transported via pipelines, and stored underground, primarily beneath the seabed in Germany’s exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf.
Storage in coastal waters and protected areas would be prohibited.
The focus was on sectors where emissions were currently unavoidable, such as cement, lime and aluminium production.
These processes cannot yet be decarbonised via electrification or material substitution.
However, the law would explicitly exclude emissions from coal-fired power plants from being stored via this method.
The government also wants to enable the construction of CO2 pipelines and allow German participation in cross-border storage projects, such as those in Norway.
While permanent CO2 storage on land would not be permitted nationwide, states would have the option to legalise it through regional legislation.
The Women in Oil and Gas (WEOG) has stressed the need for sustainable awareness creation in promoting climate action ahead of the 2025 World Decarbonisation Day.
The group said this at the Pre-Decarbonisation Day webinar on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Lagos.
Decarbonisation
The WEOG is a forum created to promote gender diversity and inclusion in the male dominated energy, oil and gas industry.
It was created to create opportunities for women to step into leadership roles and pursue their careers, businesses and personal goals in line with the SDG goal number 05.
The WEOG National President, Mrs. Tolu Longe, called for the right narrative on climate action.
“It is really an honour for me as we count down to the World Decarbonisation Day (WDD) 2025.
“We started this movement in 2024, when we as women in oil and gas declared the first Decarbonisation Day on September 3.
“We believe that women are not just participants in the energy transition. We believe that we are a powerful catalyst and today’s conversation underscores a truth we must embrace.
“Which is that decarbonisation is not just a technical thing, it is not just for the western world, it is something about you, it is something about me and it is something about the human race and our story as a whole.
“It is important we tell the truth about climate change and decarbonisation in a bold manner, while making sure it is not embellished. The media are great tools in helping us tell our story and efforts on climate change.
“As we unite in the journey toward decarbonisation, I urge everyone that let us tell the stories that matters and creat a change. Let us tell the truth that will sting the right places,” Longe said.
She reiterated that the objective of the webinar was aimed at exploring the critical role of climate communication in accelerating public awareness, driving behaviour change, and influencing global and local climate policies.
On her part, Mrs. Toyin Alozie, the Chairperson, Women in Oil and Gas/ Future Energy Renewable and Climate Action Committee (WEOG/FERCA), noted that the group is set to take leadership role in Nigeria’s decarbonisation journey.
“FERCA is committed to taking leadership roles and responsibilities in Nigeria’s energy transition towards sustainability.
“Sustainable energy access as well as action to mitigate climate change is our drive.
“WEOG/FERCA are part of the World Decarbonisation Day and we stand with it,” Alozie said.
Also, Mrs. Toyin Yusuff, Chairperson, World Decarbonisation Day 2025 (WDD), also called for the communication of the right narrative on Nigeria’s fossil fuels.
“We are in the fossil fuels sector, and we are aware that there are nature-based technologies and solutions that can be engaged and used sustainably to meet the net zero emissions target.
“In climate change, there are problems and there are opportunities. We should not be climate victims but climate leaders because we have all it takes to handle our energy poverty issues.
“With the narrative of demonising fossil fuels is not to our advantage. Not everyone can afford solar energy and the likes; by embracing decarbonisation, we can embrace our local technology, we can also attract green investments.
“When we take leadership in decarbonisation, the world will look to us for decarbonisation.
“We cannot decarbonise behind closed doors, we need the media to take positive action and choose to report the positives and the opportunities of decarbonisation and not just the disasters,” Yusuff said.
On his part, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi, a renowned environmentalist activist and founder of Lufasi Nature Park and board member at the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, called for joint responsibility in the addressing climate action.
“Climate change action is a massive responsibility today’s journalists need to bear.
“The role of journalists in climate change discuss is very key. We need to bring the reality of the situation out there because the time is running short
“Some of the calculations as regards the rapid decline of climate change is at a tipping point. We need to leave a good legacy for our children and not a basket of problems.
“We also need religious leaders to speak to their followers on the need to protect and preserve the earth,” Majekodunmi said.
A climate change advocate and speaker at the webinar, Mr. Olumide Idowu, urged the mass media to go the extra mile in the promotion of climate action.
“The media need to understand the role it plays. Decarbonisation begins with awareness and it’s the media that can tell this story better.
“Journalism is one of the ways we can bridge the gaps between innovation and action.
“Climate change is a time bomb that will affect everyone, if necessary, actions are not taken.
“Journalism is the bedrock of how the story of climate change is told, it will help influence policies,” Idowu said.
The WEOG in 2024 declared September 3 as the WDD.
The declaration was borne as an African global initiative dedicated to accelerating climate action through inclusive, innovative, and sustainable pathways.
The WDD 2025 summit slated for September 3–4, in Abuja, Nigeria, will convene 3,000+ stakeholders to spotlight Africa’s leadership in global decarbonisation and sustainable development.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has revealed that vehicle emissions are responsible for approximately 70 per cent of choking smog affecting the state.
General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Tunde Ajayi, said this on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, on his verified X handle.
Vehicular pollution
“We are tackling this invisible threat head-on,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi said the agency had checked over 12,000 vehicles in 2025 in its emissions crackdown.
“Every compliant vehicle means cleaner air for all of us,” he said.
He added that LASEPA enforces strict annual vehicular emissions inspection to reduce pollution from transportation sources.
LASEPA on Monday released its latest Air Quality Index, indicating parts of the state with highest air pollution.
The index showed that Egbeda, Alimosho and NiMet, Oshodi, had the best rating, indicating less pollution on the index.
The index also indicated that Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Kosofe and Victoria Island came last on the index.
Stakeholders have emphasised that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) technology offers huge benefits to African farmers in boosting food production and achieving food security in Nigeria.
They made this known on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, during a field visit to two GMO demonstration farms within Abuja, led by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
Field visit to a GMO demonstration farm in Abuja
Mr. Yarama Ndirpaya, Programme Manager for Tela Nigeria at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), said the goal of GMO technology is to provide innovative agricultural solutions tailored to the needs and ecological contexts of African farmers.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that farmers have access to agricultural technologies that will increase their productivity,” Ndirpaya said.
He stressed the importance of farmers understanding the technology, using it effectively, and benefiting from improved yields and profitability, especially for smallholder farmers.
“Tela maize, for instance, is a conventional maize variety enhanced through scientific innovation to resist pests, tolerate drought, and boost overall productivity,” he said.
Ndirpaya expressed concern over the growing challenge of food insecurity, worsened by climate change.
He noted that providing farmers with climate-resilient technologies like GMO crops is crucial to addressing these issues.
“AATF operates in over 24 African countries. But for Nigeria to maximise productivity, the government must support farmers by developing credible seed systems,” he added.
The farms visited showcased two GMO crops: Tela maize and the Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea.
The PBR cowpea, also known as SAMPEA 20-T or Bt cowpea, is a genetically modified variety designed to resist the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata), a major pest affecting cowpea production.
The resistance is achieved by incorporating a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.
Dr Rose Gidado, Director of Agricultural Biotechnology at the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), commended the adoption of PBR cowpea, noting that Nigeria remains the largest producer and consumer of cowpea globally.
She expressed optimism about GMO technology, stating that over 45 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, and Ghana, have adopted it.
“Nigeria was the first African country to commercialise a food crop, the PBR cowpea in 2019.
“Today, only Nigeria and Ghana have commercialised the cowpea, making Nigeria a pioneer in this breakthrough,” she said.
Dr Charles Ogunremi, Farm Manager at NABDA, stated that the PBR cowpea is a climate-smart crop that can thrive under changing climate conditions.
He said the variety is also replantable, providing more flexibility for farmers.
Also speaking, Mr. Andrew Nanfwang, a GMO farmer, testified to the effectiveness of the technology, stating that Tela maize has significantly improved his yield and farming outcomes.
Presentation by Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), at the INC-5.2 Opening Plenary in Geneva, Switzerland
Almost three and a half years have passed since the historic adoption of the UN Environment Assembly Resolution 5/14. It is now high time for Member States to get the deal over the line. And, today, this means rolling up the sleeves and getting into Contact Groups. I will therefore be brief.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
You face 10 days of intensive negotiations. You know that you will have to work hard and with determination, as you have done before. You know that you will have to work in the spirt of solidarity and compromise, as you have done before. But I believe you can leave Geneva with a treaty.
Since Busan, you have enabled a real surge in diplomacy. You have been engaging with one another in informal settings, in bilaterals, regional consultation groups and across regions, as well as across viewpoints, to forge approaches, ideas and solutions. This engagement has been critical to getting us where we are today and is the most intense, I have seen yet during this process, demonstrating that you want this treaty.
I thank you for this productive diplomacy, which has begun to carve out a path to a possible agreement. Now, I do accept that this path is narrow and precarious, with a steep drop on either side. But we are here in the alps and when you walk a precarious path, you walk together. And indeed, you are bound together as you navigate this path. Because the only way to reach the destination is by going together.
I am always inspired when I enter these halls here in Geneva. This city is the birthplace of modern multilateralism. While the set-up of the League of Nations was far from ideal, and while many voices were excluded and unrepresented, this city saw the setting in motion the noble notion that countries can problem solve together. And as we look out on the soaring height of the alps, let us reach for those heights as we take inspiration from the past, but build and shape for the future.
As you get down to negotiating, I remind you that the world wants and needs to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. People are outraged. They are worried. They are watching. And rightly so.
Plastic pollution is already in nature, in our oceans and even in our bodies. And plastic leakage to the environment is predicted to grow 50 per cent by 2040. If we continue on the current trajectory the world will be drowning in plastic pollution – with massive consequences for planetary, economic and human health.
I know that you know that it is in your hands to make sure that this does not happen. It is in your hands to protect us all, the environment and future generations. That it is in your hand to turn the plastic pollution challenge into an opportunity of solutions and new beginnings. We at UNEP will be there to support you. Ultimately, of course, the path is paved by you.
So, I ask you to reach across the aisle and start crafting the Chair’s text into a final agreement. One that draws on the many areas of convergence. One that starts with strength but also includes the hooks for further development. And one that sets the world on the path to ending plastic pollution forever.
SEED CO is urging farmers to adopt certified seeds and proper farming practices to achieve higher crop yields and combat persistent hunger, despite government fertiliser subsidies.
During the SEED CO Open Field Day on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Lilongwe, Malawi, the company’s agronomists showcased products and techniques at a demonstration plot, engaging directly with farmers.
SEED CO Sales and Marketing Manager, Dennis Mdzalimbo
The event aimed to bridge the gap between expected and actual yields by demonstrating effective farming methods.
SEED CO Sales and Marketing Manager, Dennis Mdzalimbo, emphasised the importance of good practices for optimal harvests.
“We demonstrate to our farmers that with good farming practices, one should be able to get or exceed what we tell them,” Mdzalimbo said.
“They should replicate these practices to get 50 bags and above per acre.”
Mdzalimbo identified two key issues affecting yields: seed choice and crop management.
“Our farmers have been facing hunger year in, year out, despite government fertiliser subsidies,” he said.
“Most use recycled seeds instead of certified seeds bought in that particular year.”
He urged farmers to purchase certified seeds from SEED CO and avoid recycling seeds from previous seasons. Mdzalimbo also highlighted improper crop spacing as a significant problem, advocating for the Sasakawa planting method.
“In so doing, they will even exceed what we tell them,” he said, encouraging farmers to follow advice from government extension workers and SEED CO’s technical team.
Farmer Besina Chikapamba, who attended the event, said the demonstration transformed her approach to farming.
“For many years, I was not following proper farming methods,” she said.
“When it comes to maize, I was planting three seedlings per station, not knowing that this affected the yields.”
Chikapamba embraced the lessons learned, particularly the Sasakawa method.
“Now I know proper farming methods like Sasakawa are the best for planting crops,” she said.
“Going forward, I will not be recycling my seeds because I know certified seeds give a bumper harvest.”
SEED CO’s initiative seeks to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools to replicate these practices, ensuring improved yields and greater food security across the region.
In response to feedback from other scientists, the authors of the paper “The economic commitment of climate change” at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have revised their analysis and are making it open access for the wider scientific community to engage with.
PIK welcomes the critical scrutiny published as a “Matters Arising” in Nature as an important part of the scientific debate and is committed to continuing to uphold the highest standards of research integrity and transparency.
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
The core findings hold: economic damages from climate change till mid-century are substantial and outweigh the costs of mitigation, they are mainly driven by temperature changes and affect regions with low incomes and low historical emissions most. These findings are broadly consistent with wider evidence (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) on the magnitude of economic impacts from climate change and the benefits of emission reductions.
In the study, the research team used historical data to project how changes in temperature and precipitation will affect economic growth. The analysis extended prior work in three innovative ways: by estimating climate impacts at the sub-national rather than the country level, by exploring the effects of daily weather variability in addition to average conditions, and by assessing the duration of climate impacts on economic growth rates. Prior to publication in April 2024, the paper and data underwent peer review, to ensure that data analysis and methodology were sound.
Bearpark, Hogan and Hsiang, the authors of the Matters Arising, highlight errors in the underlying economic data from Uzbekistan in the period 1995-1999, which had a disproportionate influence on the results. They further argue that correlations across regions imply larger statistical uncertainties, an issue also raised with the authors independently by a colleague. The authors’ revised version corrects the underlying economic data, introduces additional controls to limit the influence of data anomalies and accounts for correlations across regions.
The revised analysis in response to the critique indicates that:
• Global economic output in the middle of this century could be 17 percent lower than without further climate change, instead of the 19 percent found in the original calculation (populated-weighted average of the percentage losses in all regions worldwide). • The unequal distribution of damages across the globe is now found to be even more pronounced, with poorer regions suffering more in percentage terms. This results in lower global damages when expressed in dollar terms: 32 trillion 2005 purchasing power adjusted “international” US dollars – instead of 38 trillion as found in the original calculation. • Annual global climate damages in dollars in the middle of this century are about five times higher – instead of six times as found in the original calculation – than the abatement costs associated with limiting global warming to 2°C.
The revised results and data are online for others to engage with, though the authors emphasise they have not yet undergone peer review.
The authors and PIK welcome and appreciate the feedback from the wider scientific community and take responsibility for the oversights that led to this critique.
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the recently approved ₦125.5 billion flood intervention fund to state governors, federal ministries, departments and agencies is subjected to the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and coordination, warning against a repeat of the ecological fund’s history of poor oversight and opaque disbursement.
In a statement signed by HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, the civil society organisation commended the government for the initiative. However, it warned that, unless properly managed, this intervention risks going the way of the ecological funds, largely disbursed without effective monitoring, results, or accountability.
Flooding in Nigeria
Arigbabu said, “Nigerians cannot afford to repeat the ecological fund debacle. This ₦125.5 billion must not be treated as business as usual. It must be treated as an exceptional emergency fund, ring-fenced and dedicated solely to flood prevention, mitigation, and disaster response. Anything short of full transparency will further undermine both public trust and the fund’s impact.
“In 2012, the Jonathan-led administration approved ₦17.6 billion for states affected by flooding to help mitigate the suffering of victims. However, reports showed that some direct beneficiaries received as little as ₦500, while many others got nothing at all. The funds were largely cornered by politicians, and such mismanagement must be avoided with the newly approved allocation by the Federal Government.”
HEDA further demand that a robust framework be established to coordinate and track the utilisation of the funds at both federal and state levels. The group called for the publication of detailed breakdowns showing how funds will be used, who the implementing agencies are, and the specific communities or infrastructure projects being targeted.
It further argued that the ₦10 billion allocated to NEMA is insufficient given its national mandate as Nigeria’s lead disaster responder.
“We recognise NEMA’s vital role and HEDA’s experience with NEMA as partners show that many flood-hit communities remain unreached, it cannot be everywhere at once as they are the ones flood victims are hoping on, especially in states where SEMAs are inactive or ineffective, which is why State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) must be empowered and held accountable in supporting victims within their jurisdictions,” Arigbabu said.
The group also called on Governor Babagana Zulum for a comprehensive report on the massive flooding of September 10, 2024, triggered by the Alau Dam in Borno State, and stressed that such information should be made public.
“Beyond Governor Babagana Zulum’s assurances on the dam’s structural integrity, the public deserves transparency and reassurance of their safety.
“Similarly, the recent Mokwa flood incident in Niger State, which killed hundreds, and displaced thousands should be thoroughly investigated, with the findings made public, so that appropriate support can be provided to the affected victims and avert such incidents,” Arigbabu added.
“Flooding is no longer a seasonal surprise. It is a predictable disaster that requires institutional discipline, not token gestures. The success of this intervention will depend not on the size of the fund, but on strategic use of its intervention the integrity of its use,” the statement added.
HEDA called on all stakeholders including MDAs, state governments, and emergency agencies to prioritise real, people-centered actions such as functional early warning systems, evacuation infrastructure, sustainable drainage systems, and grassroots sensitisation.
Nigeria’s efforts to achieve a sustainable energy future will deliver the desired results if she introduces the right polices and deploys fit-for-purpose technology, while at the same time developing a robust supply chain and human resource base to help to unlock production and investments.
Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams, made the remark while opening a panel session at the ongoing annual international conference and exhibition of the Nigeria Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Lagos on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
L-R: Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Ronald Adams; SNEPCo’s Snr Production Geologist, Abidemi Belgore; Society of Petroleum Engineers, Council Chairman, Engr Dr. Amina Danmadami and SNEPCo’s Wells Operations Manager, Ismail Hamzat during the visit of diginitaries to the Shell booth at the 2025 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE),annual event organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council in Lagos
He explained that the right policies would provide a good framework for a sustainable energy future while technology “will help unlock more with less” as efficient supply chains and human resources will drive industrial growth towards a secure energy future.
“The question is no longer whether Nigeria will play a key role in the future of energy, but how quickly and effectively we can harness our potentials to deliver affordable, secure, and increasingly cleaner energy for Nigeria, and the world,” Adams said.
Pledging Shell’s support for Nigera’s sustainable energy future, he said SNEPCo is leveraging technology such as predictive analytics, integrated data systems, and the right maintenance philosophy to drive record levels of plant availability on Bonga, nearly 20 years after first oil.
“That’s performance built on foresight, technology, and a commitment to excellence,” Adams said.
In recognition of the role of an efficient supply chain, he said SNEPCo is taking steps to ensure that over 90% of the contract value in its operations is executed by Nigerian companies as it continues to grow the capacity of indigenous contractors in supply of goods and delivery of services.
“A lot more needs to be done to scale up local competence,” Adams pointed out. “End-to-end industrial capability is limited in Nigeria, which means project scopes often get split between in-country and overseas, increasing cost and in some cases delaying delivery. To bridge the gap, there is the need to invest in local fabrication and manufacturing centers, regional standardisation and certification, and access to capital for local vendors.”
He added: “We will continue to stress the need for sustained reforms to ensure stable and investor-friendly fiscal environments that reduce uncertainty. A sustainable energy future for Nigeria and Africa will not emerge by chance. It must be built intentionally, collectively, and courageously.”
Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) have decried the Federal Government’s seeming lacklustre approach to including its members in the just transition plans, cautioning that, by their exclusion, the government is leaving behind a crucial segment of society.
They made the observation at the Industrial Just Energy Transition Project which had “Amplifying the Workers’ Charter of Demand on Just Energy Transition for Trade Unions in Nigeria” as its theme.
Participants at the Industrial Just Energy Transition Project
Welcoming participants at the event, General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Dominic Igwebike, said that electricity workers are not only crucial but are on the frontlines of the climate change impacts and effects.
He said the topics for the engagement were deliberately chosen to galvanise the union members to action in ensuring that their voices are heard as the Nigerian government escalates it’s just energy transition programmes including the drive for green jobs.
Speaking on “Introducing the workers charter of demand with a gendered perspective”, Remi Ihejirika of FES said that the charter developed through the collaboration among Nigeria trade unions, namely NUEE, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) with the support from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nigeria and Mondial FNV in 2024/2025.
The charter seeks to ensure that Nigeria’s transition from a carbon-based to a low-carbon economy is just, inclusive and equitable. It highlights gender mainstreaming as a core principle and addresses the socio-economic challenges faced by women and marginalised workers advocating for protection, empowerment and participation in green job creation and policy decision-making.
It demands job security for those currently employed in fossil fuel sectors and the creation of new job opportunities in renewable energy with special focus on ensuring women’s inclusion through targeted recruitment and career development programmes.
It equally recognises that women workers often bear added vulnerabilities and advocates comprehensive social safety nets including unemployment benefits, income support and healthcare provisions adjusted for gender specific needs.
In his presentation on “Impact and Effect of Climate Change on Workers”, Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), explained that in the discourse on climate change while the communities gather all the spotlight on impacts, little to nothing is mentioned about workers. In this category, he insisted that electricity workers are further upfront because they contend with the elements in the course of their work.
He noted that while the production and distribution of electricity is reliant on variables such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction, climate induced storms, flooding, and sea-level rise threaten substations, pipelines, transmission towers, and coastal power plants. Combined, these lead to stressed or volatile systems, damage to power lines, collapse of the grid and ultimately blackout.
Electricity workers, who are tasked with repair work, face occupational hazards such as exposure to the high and low temperature, storms, floods and even electrocution, leading to debilitation or death. They are also victims of displacement, financial distress, uncertainty as well as physical and mental health issues. These issues, according to him, are often under-reported.
In a second presentation on “Galvanising the media for effective reportage of climate and workers”, Jakpor charged the unionists to evolve strategies of engaging the media to amplify their concerns. He pointed out however that, in creating content for advocacy, they must also identify and recruit experts who understand the workings of the media and government to be able to craft the right message and make an impact.
He also advocated the use of the right media channels for communicating with the focus being largely on print and electronic to capture the attention of particular audiences and the online spaces to further amplify the message to younger or the borderless audience.
