Mangroves are critical ecosystems in coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation. In Nigeria, these unique forests are predominantly found in some coastal states.
As climate change exacerbates environmental challenges, Nigeria must recognise and enhance the importance of mangroves as nature-based solutions.
Mangrove exploitation. Photo credit: Jerry Chidi
In this article, I will discuss strategies for fostering these ecosystems, present recommendations for the Nigerian government, and highlight international collaborations.
Mangroves serve as a buffer between land and sea, protecting coastlines from erosion and storm surges. They also provide habitat for numerous species, including fish, birds, and crustaceans, which are crucial for the local fishing economy.
Furthermore, mangroves act as carbon sinks, sequestering significant amounts of carbon dioxide and thus contributing to mitigating climate change.
In Nigeria, the degradation of mangrove ecosystems threatens biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Despite their ecological importance, Nigeria’s mangrove forests have suffered severe degradation due to urbanisation, oil spills, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
According to the Nigerian National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the country has lost approximately 70% of its mangrove cover over the past few decades. This loss impacts biodiversity and exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate impacts.
To foster the importance of mangroves, the Nigerian government should prioritise awareness campaigns and educational programmes. Collaborating with local communities, NGOs, and educational institutions can ensure that the public understands the ecological and economic benefits of mangroves.
Programmes could include workshops, school curriculums, and community outreach initiatives aimed at promoting conservation efforts.
The Nigerian government must strengthen its legal frameworks to protect mangroves from exploitation. This includes enforcing existing environmental laws and creating new regulations that specifically address mangrove conservation.
Additionally, involving local communities in the decision-making process can empower them to take ownership of mangrove protection efforts.
Restoration of degraded mangrove areas is essential for rejuvenating these ecosystems. The government can collaborate with international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to implement restoration projects.
These initiatives should focus on native species replanting, community involvement, and monitoring the health of restored areas.
Integrating mangrove conservation into national climate policies can enhance their role as nature-based solutions. The Nigerian government should prioritise mangroves in its climate action plans and seek funding from international partners.
Programmes like the Green Climate Fund can provide financial resources for projects aimed at conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems, and the Small Grants Programme can also be a successful solution in boosting mangrove initiatives across the countries.
International collaborations can provide technical expertise and funding for mangrove conservation in Nigeria. Partnerships artnerships with organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) can facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices in mangrove management. These collaborations can also enhance Nigeria’s visibility in global environmental discussions.
Engaging local communities in mangrove conservation is crucial for sustainable management. The government should support community-led initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods while protecting mangrove ecosystems. These initiatives can include ecotourism, sustainable fishing practices, and alternative livelihood programs that reduce pressure on mangrove resources.
Establishing a robust monitoring system to assess the health of mangrove ecosystems is vital. The Nigerian government can collaborate with research institutions to conduct studies on mangrove biodiversity, carbon storage, and the socio-economic benefits of mangroves. This data can inform policy-making and conservation strategies, ensuring that efforts are evidence-based.
Fostering the importance of mangroves in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach that involves awareness, legal reform, restoration, community engagement, and international collaboration. By prioritising these strategies, the Nigerian government can significantly enhance the ecological and economic benefits of mangroves across the nine coastal states.
Protecting mangroves is not just an environmental necessity; it is a pathway to sustainable development and climate resilience for Nigeria.
To implement these strategies effectively, the following recommendations are proposed:
Launch nationwide awareness campaigns about the importance of mangroves.
Strengthen legal frameworks to protect mangrove ecosystems.
Initiate restoration projects in collaboration with international organisations.
Integrate mangrove conservation into national climate policies.
Foster community engagement in conservation efforts.
Establish a monitoring system for mangrove health and biodiversity.
Nigeria can lead the way in utilising nature-based solutions to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development
In a bid to guarantee supply security at affordable prices for its customers, Ardova Plc, one of Nigeria’s major integrated downstream oil and gas businesses, has agreed to a bulk purchase framework with Dangote Refinery.
This framework will see Ardova Plc offtake a full slate of petroleum products from the refinery.
Ardova Plc petrol filling station
While Ardova Plc has been a significant offtaker from the refinery since its inception, this new framework will institutionalise a more robust relationship between the two companies to further enhance the emerging competitive landscape in the downstream oil and gas industry in the country.
This framework is in line with President Tinubu’s drive for competition and improved efficiency in the industry and will see Ardova Plc deliver products at competitive prices nationwide.
An indigenous and integrated energy company involved in the distribution of petroleum products, Ardova Plc operates an extensive network of over 700 retail outlets in Nigeria and significant storage facilities in Apapa, Lagos State, Onne, Rivers State, and Oghara, Delta State.
Apart from procuring and distributing petrol (PMS), diesel (AGO), kerosene (DPK) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the company’s services also involve the manufacturing and distribution of a wide range of lubricants from it’s oil blending plant in Apapa, Lagos. These lubricants include: Super V, Visco 2000 and Diesel Motor Oil.
The Federal Government has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Navy to achieve its target of 3 million barrels per day (bpd) in crude oil production by 2025.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, flagging off the second phase of Operation Delta Sanity II in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, December 30, 2024
Nigeria’s current output stands at approximately 1.8 million bpd, a significant increase from the 1.4 million bpd recorded in 2023.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made this known during the launch of the second phase of Operation Delta Sanity II (OPDS II) in Port Harcourt on Monday, December 30, 2024.
Lokpobiri noted that the initial phase of OPDS, launched on Jan. 10, had contributed to the improved production figures, prompting the Nigerian Navy to proceed with the second phase.
“In August 2023, Nigeria’s daily crude oil production was barely a million bpd. Currently, the nation produces about 1.8 million bpd.
“Our target is to reach 3 million bpd by 2025, and we are confident that the second phase of OPDS will play a key role in achieving this milestone,” Lokpobiri said.
He emphasised the pivotal role of the Nigerian Navy in ensuring security, stating that it would continue to collaborate with other security agencies to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Despite these efforts, Lokpobiri, expressed concern about the persistent sabotage of the Trans Niger Pipeline.
“The Trans Niger Pipeline remains a major challenge, with criminals breaking into pipelines to siphon crude oil.
“However, the Nigerian Navy has pledged to intensify its efforts to protect these national assets, building on its successes in 2024,” he remarked.
The minister underscored the broader implications of curbing oil theft, highlighting the potential for increased government revenue and enhanced allocations to states and local governments.
He called on security agencies, maritime contractors, traditional rulers, and local youths to support the navy’s efforts.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, expressed optimism about the feasibility of reaching the 3 million bpd production target.
He stated that Operation Delta Sanity was specifically designed to address oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other maritime crimes, ensuring a secure environment for legitimate operations.
“The initial phase of the OPDS led to numerous arrests of vessels and oil thieves, as well as the dismantling of several illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta.
“These measures resulted in significant improvements in legitimate maritime activities and boosted crude oil production, with several oil companies reporting 100 per cent terminal factor,” Ogalla stated.
In spite of these successes, Ogalla explained that the navy saw the need to refine the operation to achieve even better outcomes.
“Rejigging the operation involves deploying newly acquired maritime domain awareness infrastructure, attack helicopters, armed drones, and enhanced intelligence-gathering systems.
“We are also incorporating non-kinetic approaches and strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders to sustain and increase crude oil production beyond 2 million bpd, as directed by President Bola Tinubu,” he added.
Ogalla expressed confidence that OPDS II would further stabilise oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta by 2025.
Rear Adm. Saheed Akinwande, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, provided details of the accomplishments during the first phase of OPDS.
He reported the arrest of 215 suspects, the destruction of 468 illegal refineries, and the seizure of about 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and 7 million litres of adulterated diesel.
“In addition, 361 wooden boats, 1,107 dugout pits, and 279 storage tanks were deactivated, while 26 vessels were apprehended, among others,” Akinwande concluded.
Global childhood hunger rose significantly in 2024, with 18.2 million children born into food insecurity, according to a new Save the Children analysis of U.N. data.
Inaaya, 17 months after receiving malnutrition treatment, getting checked for SAM and MAM at a Save the Children Clinic
The figure represents approximately 35 children per minute and marks a 5% increase from 2023.
The total is 19% higher than the 15.3 million recorded in 2019 when progress on reducing childhood hunger began to stagnate.
Conflict zones, displacement, and extreme weather have contributed to declining child nutrition worldwide.
Countries facing the risk of famine or catastrophic food insecurity include South Sudan, Haiti, Mali and Sudan, where famine-level malnutrition affects half of the country’s 18 states.
The Democratic Republic of Congo reported the highest number of undernourished newborns at 1.6 million among nations where at least 20% of the population faces hunger.
Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, recorded 1.4 million babies born into hunger.
“Hunger knows no boundaries. It erodes childhoods, drains children’s energy and risks robbing them of their futures,” said Hannah Stephenson, Global Head of Hunger and Nutrition at Save the Children.
In Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, 28-year-old Uzma struggles to feed her five children on her husband’s small shop income.
Her 17-month-old daughter is malnourished, and she recently gave birth to twins.
“Sometimes, our older boys don’t get as much food as they need or the most nutritious meals,” Uzma told aid workers.
“As a mother, it hurts deeply to see my children go without.”
Madagascar, despite its smaller population, reported approximately 400,000 babies born into hunger.
Local mother Genie described feeding her six-month-old daughter Aina only twice daily due to financial constraints.
The organisation urges world leaders to address root causes of food insecurity by reducing conflicts, addressing climate change, and strengthening health and nutrition systems.
They also call for increased investment in early response planning to prevent predictable emergencies from escalating into crises.
A separate November warning indicated potential famine conditions in northern Gaza, with 345,000 people across the region at risk of catastrophic hunger in coming months, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Note: Some names have been changed to protect privacy
President Bola Tinubu has expressed joy over the re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL).
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria
Tinubu described it as another remarkable achievement in 2024 that had strengthened Nigerians’ hope in his administration, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.
“Today, the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Ltd. restarted the 60,000 Barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November.
“President Tinubu has once again expressed his administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa,” he said.
He said the All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries.
Tinubu noted that, with the 125,000 (bpd) Warri Refinery now operating at 60 per cent capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security was on course.
He praised the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country.
“The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised.
“This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery.
“I am equally happy that NNPCL is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition.
“I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” President Tinubu said.
He enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider.
“WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene, Automotive Gas Oil, and heavy and light Naphtha,” he said.
Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA) began nationwide public consultations on Monday, December 30, 2024, on genetically modified BT maize ahead of its potential market introduction.
Dr Roy Mugiira, Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Authority (NBA), Kenya
The hearings are taking place in major maize-growing regions, including Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Machakos and Trans Nzoia counties, NBA officials said.
“We value the input of various stakeholders, and that is why we are moving across the country to listen to them including our farmers,” said Josphat Muchiri, acting director of biosafety research and compliance at NBA.
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation and African Agricultural Technology Foundation applied last month to release the MON 89034 BT maize variety.
The crop is engineered to resist fall armyworms and maize stem borers, two major regional pests.
The consultations follow mandatory requirements under Kenya’s 2009 Biosafety Act for public notification and input before the environmental release of genetically modified products.
Additional regulatory steps including environmental impact assessments and performance trials, must be completed before commercialisation, Muchiri said.
The NBA published notices in newspapers, the Kenya Gazette and its website to inform the public.
The agency will conduct hearings at the Regional Commissioner’s office in Kakamega, Machakos Agricultural College, and the Agricultural Machinery Services facility in Uasin Gishu.
NBA officials emphasised their mandate to ensure GMO safety for human health, animals and the environment under national biosafety regulations.
The media has an important role to play in combatting climate doom. It’s the media’s job to be truthful and accurate in our reporting, not trying to downplay or greenwash the situation. But it’s also the media’s job to show that there is hope.
COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024
After racking up some stories of eco-innovation, green breakthroughs and climate wins in 2022 and 2023, in 2024, we’ve seen the good news keep on coming, as renewable power soars, vulnerable ecosystems gain rights, and climate protocols start to pay dividends.
Here are some of the year’s top positive stories from including the small and local, the silly that made us smile and the enormous and potentially world changing.
December 2024
Can beehives help humans and elephants co-exist? A nine-year study found that elephants in Kenya will avoid beehive fences – a simple structure where live beehives are strung together between posts – as much as 86 per cent of the time.
In societies where populations continue to grow, these findings could offer a powerful nature-based solution to safeguard livelihoods and wildlife habitats alike.
Montana landmark climate ruling: A landmark climate ruling that found a US state was violating residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment has been upheld in another victory for the young plaintiffs.
Last year, Montana’s District Court ruled in favour of the 16 activists, now aged 7 to 23. The judge agreed that the policy the state uses in evaluating requests for fossil fuel permits – which does not take into account greenhouse gas emissions – is unconstitutional.
State officials pledged to try and overturn the “groundbreaking” decision on appeal. But on Wednesday, justices at Montana’s Supreme Court upheld it 6-1.
Italy’s Po Delta saved: Environmental groups have won a landmark case against a project to drill for offshore gas in Italy’s Po Delta, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve.
The 500 km2 wetlands located around an hour south of Venice are some of the largest and richest in the Mediterranean.
27 new species discovered in Peru: A total of 27 new species have been uncovered in the “human-dominated” Peruvian rainforest.
Conservation International led the expedition into the Alto Mayo Landscape that discovered these new species. The list includes four mammals, eight fish, three amphibians and 10 butterfly species.
November 2024
Spanish workers get four days “climate leave”: Workers in Spain will be given up to four days of paid leave if they are unable to get to their workplace due to extreme weather.
The law on paid leave protects the rights of workers not to go to work in the event of catastrophes or climate-related weather alerts that could put them in danger.
100-year-old UK estate testing out renewable heating: A 100-year-old estate in London has become the oldest block of social housing in the UK to be fitted with a heat pump network.
Built in 1913, the Edwardian-era estate stands as a grand example that heat pumps can be retrofitted to older buildings without compromising their heritage.
Pacific Ocean coral unharmed by global warming: Scientists have discovered the world’s largest coral in the Solomon Islands. Distinct from a coral reef, which is a collection of coral colonies, this gigantic organism is a network of coral polyps.
It measures 34 metres wide and more than five metres high, making it longer than the world’s biggest mammal, the blue whale. It is so huge that it is visible from space.
October 2024
European countries pledge to protect biodiversity: Six European countries have pledged new money to the world’s foremost biodiversity fund, which gained €200 million yesterday.
Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and the UK announced fresh funding at the UN biodiversity summit, COP16, in Colombia this October.
Joe Biden signs off billions for clean energy projects: Ahead of the American presidential election, outgoing president Joe Biden made clean energy a priority.
The Biden administration is shelling out billions of dollars for clean energy as well as approving major offshore wind projects as officials race to secure major climate initiatives before he leaves office.
From cheap buses to endless bike lanes: Travelling in a greener way is an important consideration for all of us today, and it’s particularly crucial when moving around cities, famous for their traffic and pollution.
A new study has revealed the top five cities in Europe that offer the greenest transport options.
How the UK phased out coal: On September 30, the UK became the first G7 country to abandon coal power.
The final coal-powered plant in Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire was “desynced” from the grid system at 3 pm bringing the UK’s 142-year history of burning coal for electricity to an end.
September 2024
Year’s funniest wildlife photos: A fish chasing an eagle across the sky, polar bear Judo and a tiny flying squirrel doing its best impression of a crime boss. These are just some of the finalists in the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.
This year the competition received a record number of entries – just under 9,000 in total from 98 different countries.
UN pact reaffirms commitment to transition away from fossil fuels: A blueprint for addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges was agreed by the UN General Assembly with climate change one of the headline topics.
It was adopted during the opening of a two-day “Summit of the Future” called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who thanked world leaders and diplomats for unlocking “the door” to a better future.
Exciting solar breakthrough: Making sure solar energy can be stored is key to taking the renewable to the next level, according to UK think tank Ember.
But – among other challenges – many batteries are made from unsustainable materials and have a tendency to overheat.
In a “very exciting” development, researchers based at the Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC) have now tackled both issues with a unique hybrid device.
Chemical-free method for treating seeds: Heat-treated seeds could offer farmers a chemical-free solution for pest control.
Typically, seeds are treated with chemicals to keep them healthy and kill pests, but this does not align with organic farming principles.
“ThermoSeed”, an invention by former researcher Kenneth Alness, offers a sustainable alternative. It uses sharp blasts of steam, which kill pests and preserve the seeds.
August 2024
Solar panels and crops addressing Europe’s energy demand: Deploying solar panels and growing crops on the same land could be a solution to boost renewable electricity in Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, reaching the equivalent of 68% of today’s energy demand in the countries, according to new research.
Combining farming with green energy production could also increase food security and generate additional income for farmers.
Helsinki’s heat pump: The air-to-water heat pump is being installed to help decarbonise the city’s district heating system.
The heat pump can operate in temperatures as low as -20C and will be powered by electricity from renewable sources.
Scientists in Papua New Guinea survey: Cutting edge tech and local knowledge are helping a group of scientists in Papua New Guinea survey the country’s highly biodiverse ocean ecosystems.
They are hoping it will provide the government with data to improve conservation efforts.
Australia’s largest lender to stop financing fossil fuel companies: Australia’s largest lender has announced it will stop financing fossil fuel companies that don’t comply with the Paris Agreement’s climate goals by the end of 2024.
The Commonwealth Bank’s (CBA) move is unusual among other rivals, who have yet to stop supporting coal, oil and gas businesses.
July 2024
Deforestation in Colombia falls: Deforestation in Colombia fell by 36 per cent in a year, marking a new record low.
It’s especially good news the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon, one-third of which is in Colombia.
The drop happened between 2022 and 2023 and comes off the back of years of campaigning by Indigenous activists who depend on the Amazon for their homes and livelihood.
Ecuador river granted no pollution right: In an unusual ruling, a court in Ecuador has ruled that pollution has violated the rights of a river that runs through the capital, Quito.
Activists who filed the complaint said the decision is “historic”.
UK lifts onshore wind ban: The UK’s new Labour government has scrapped a de facto ban on onshore wind farms in England, opening up the potential for every UK home to be powered by clean energy.
Turkish teens addressing crop failure: “In Türkiye, we are living the effects of climate change. This region was Mesopotamia, where agriculture and civilisation was born, but now people are struggling with climate change and drought,” says 17-year-old Beyza, a runner-up of The Earth Prize.
Beyza and her team set out to address these issues with Plantzma: an easy-to-use device that leverages plasma to create more resilient crops and enrich irrigation water.
June 2024
The Vatican goes green: Pope Francis has renewables on his mind as he says he wants Vatican City to run on solar power.
To achieve his aim, solar panels will be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome. The power generated could supply all of Vatican City’s energy needs.
US plant gets a boost: One method of making electricity cleanly to address climate change has been quietly advancing and in June it hit a milestone.
A California utility is backing the largest new geothermal power development in the US – 400 megawatts of clean electricity from the Earth’s heat – enough for some 400,000 homes.
Hawaii to curb pollution from transport: Youth climate activists have won a “historic” settlement in Hawaii.
The lawsuit was the world’s first youth-led constitutional climate case seeking to address climate pollution from the transportation sector.
It alleged that the US state violated the constitution by operating a transport system that harmed the climate and infringed upon the children’s right to a clean and healthy environment.
EU approves law that could bring back biodiversity: After months of deliberations, the EU’s Nature Restoration Law has finally been approved.
The first-of-its-kind regulation aims to restore Europe’s damaged ecosystems and boost biodiversity.
Its goal is to restore at least 20 per cent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all degraded ecosystems by 2050.
May 2024
Spanish city to use cemeteries to generate renewable power: A city in Spain is starting to use its cemeteries to generate renewable power.
Valencia, on the east coast, aims to install thousands of solar panels in graveyards around the city.
The project has been dubbed RIP – standing for Requiem in Power – and was launched this month with the first photovoltaic panels installed.
Young, green and European: A generation of young Europeans that became activists while still at school is now of age to take up positions in political office.
They have launched campaigns across Europe in order to protect and further climate protection policies amid backlash from right-leaning parties.
How did the Dutch make cycling a national pastime? In the Netherlands, countless initiatives have been devised to make sure that cycling is inclusive, not just for young people who have grown up with it.
And given that 64 per cent of the entire population cycle at least once a week, something is clearly working.
Reward for UK drivers who give up their cars: Drivers in the UK who give up their car next month could save around €150 for their effort and even win a prize.
The initiative comes from Possible, a climate action charity based in London, which is seeking to prise motorists away from their vehicles with its ‘Going Car Free Challenge’ in June.
April 2024
EU votes to ratify law to protect oceans: The European Union has voted in favour of ratifying the High Seas Treaty.
This treaty aims to protect marine life in areas that are outside of countries’ maritime borders including the high seas and the seabed.
The decision is a key step in the process of approving the ratification of the High Seas Treaty.
Biden’s Earth Day pledge: US President Joe Biden marked Earth Day by announcing $7 billion (€6.6 billion) in federal grants for residential solar projects serving 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities.
Solar balconies booming in Germany: More than 400,000 plug-in solar systems have been installed in Germany, most of them taking up a seamless spot on people’s balconies.
New data shows at least 50,000 of the PV devices were added in the first quarter of 2024 alone. A boom born from Germany’s “very strong solar culture”, in the words of one expert.
Greece bans bottom trawling: Greece will ban bottom trawling in all of its marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on April 16.
The country also aims to create two large marine parks as part of a €780 million programme to protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems.
March 2024
Nigerian women spearheading solar projects: More children die from air pollution – mainly inside the home – in Nigeria than in any other African country. 32-year-old green energy entrepreneur Yetunde Fadeyi made it her life’s calling to end the energy poverty causing such deaths.
After a childhood in Lagos plagued by intermittent electricity, a degree in chemistry and training in solar panel installation, Fadeyi started Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability (REES). The non-profit is dedicated to climate advocacy and providing clean energy to poor communities in rural Nigeria.
Coffee grounds and agricultural contamination: An estimated six million tonnes of used coffee grounds are created annually. Most go to landfill, generating methane and CO2, or are incinerated for energy.
But a new study in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology suggests that used coffee could hold the key to a pressing environmental problem: agricultural contamination.
Manchester City to install solar panel at training ground: Manchester City is planning a solar project that it believes would make it one of the largest producers of renewable energy in world football.
The Premier League Champions are seeking planning permission from Manchester City Council to install 10,887 solar panels on their training facility and the Joie Stadium.
Governments agree packaging waste law: Belgium, current holder of the rotating EU Council presidency, has forged agreement between governments over new rules to tackle the growing problem of discarded packaging materials, overcoming the European Commission’s concerns over trade diplomacy.
National diplomats have endorsed a new European law on packaging waste, including provisions that would hold overseas producers to EU environmental standards on plastic recycling at the risk of losing market access.
February 2024
EU criminalises ecosystems destruction: The European Union has become the first international body to criminalise the most serious cases of environmental damage that are “comparable to ecocide”.
Ecosystem destruction, including habitat loss and illegal logging, will be punished with tougher penalties and prison sentences under the EU’s updated environmental crime directive.
Cars powered by woodchips: A company in New Zealand is turning discarded woodchips into synthetic graphite that can be used in EV batteries.
CarbonScape makes “biographite” by heating byproducts from the forestry industry using a process called thermo-catalytic graphitisation.
This produces charcoal, which can be catalysed and purified into battery anode-quality graphite.
EU school with clean hydrogen boiler: The public high school of Antonio Meucci in Carpi looks much like any other in Europe: a hub of students eagerly awaiting lunch breaks, professors navigating peaks of motivation and resignation, while janitors run the halls.
But tucked away in a distant corner of the schoolyard, a mysterious fenced structure emerges from the trees. Accessible only to specialised technicians, a panel on the structure hints at its purpose: H2 Hydrogen.
This building contains the first green-hydrogen-powered boiler to heat an EU educational site, and it has zero emissions potential.
Disusded Finnish mine now renewable energy storage: One of Europe’s deepest mines is being transformed into an underground energy store. It will use gravity to retain excess power for when it is needed.
The remote Finnish community of Pyhäjärvi is 450 kilometres north of Helsinki. Its more than 1,400-metre-deep zinc and copper Pyhäsalmi mine was decommissioned but is now being given a new lease of life by Scotland-based company Gravitricity.
January 2024
Inside Amazon’s tallest treehouse: From a classroom in the Amazon’s tallest treehouse, young Peruvians are learning how to defend their rainforest home.
Nestled in the crown of a strangler fig tree, the rangers have a bird’s eye view over the canopy.
It’s an education in itself, says Juan Julio (JJ) Durand, vice president of Junglekeepers – a nonprofit which conserves threatened habitat in the Madre de Dios (Mother of God) region of Peru’s Amazon.
Plastic bag bans in some US states: Single-use plastic bag bans have successfully reduced plastic bag use and associated litter and pollution, a new study has found.
Bans in five US states and cities with a combined population of around 12 million people have cut single-use plastic bag consumption by about 6 billion bags per year, according to the research.
Adopting a ban that’s similar to the policies in these places could eliminate roughly 300 single-use plastic bags per person per year, according to the report.
High Seas Treaty: Chile and Palau have become the first two countries to ratify a landmark UN treaty for the protection of the high seas.
The UN’s High Seas Treaty was adopted last year after almost 20 years of negotiations. More than 80 countries have so far signed it but need to ratify it to be bound by it.
The treaty would become the world’s first international law to mandate the conservation and management of marine life in areas beyond countries’ national jurisdictions.
South Korea bans sale and production of dog meat: South Korea’s parliament has passed a landmark ban on the production and sale of dog meat.
Although only a small minority of people still consume dog meat in South Korea, the ancient practise has been the subject of sharp criticism from foreign media and animal rights advocates. In recent years, the country’s younger generations have joined calls to ban it.
On Tuesday, January 9, parliament heeded their calls.
Former President Jimmy Carter at the June 20, 1979, dedication ceremony for solar panels installed on the White House. Photo credit: Jimmy Carter Library
Carter’s interest in promoting renewable energy was on display at his January 20, 1977, presidential inauguration. Solar panels were installed to warm the reviewing stand near the White House, where Carter watched the inaugural parade.
“It happened to be one of the coldest days of the year that morning and very little sun,” says Paul Muldawer, the Atlanta architect Carter tapped to design his inauguration facilities.
“We made a statement, although it honestly didn’t work as well as I would have liked it to work,” Muldawer says. Wind chill that day was in the teens, according to the National Weather Service.
Carter wanted a ceremony that reflected his values. That extended to the reviewing stand, which was built so it wouldn’t end up in a landfill after the ceremony. Instead of wood, it was made of steel.
“After the inauguration, we had it disassembled, shipped to Atlanta, and then it was recycled as a bandstand,” says Muldawer, who’s now 92. The structure was in a public park where free concerts were held. “Carter was just thrilled with that. He really liked the idea of repurposing that facility.”
The inauguration set the stage for Carter’s four years as President. His environmental legacy has shaped how the country is responding to climate change today.
“At the time that Jimmy Carter was president, his biggest concern was energy security,” says Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University.
In 1977, the U.S. was importing 8.81 million barrels of petroleum a day, mostly from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or the OPEC cartel. That made the U.S. vulnerable during the 1973 Arab oil embargo, which led to long lines at gas stations.
In several ways Jaffe says Carter was ahead of his time by being an early advocate for conserving energy and boosting renewable electricity, such as solar power. But Carter also promoted domestic coal mining. The subsequent growth of that industry contributed to the warming climate the world is experiencing now.
Carter boosted energy efficiency and solar
Shortly after Carter took office in 1977, he delivered what has become known as the “sweater speech.” Sitting by a lit fireplace, he wore a cardigan sweater and addressed the country on television.
“All of us must learn to waste less energy. Simply by keeping our thermostats, for instance, at 65 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night we could save half the current shortage of natural gas,” Carter said.
Energy efficiency seems like a given today, but it wasn’t really on Americans’ minds after the 1950s and ’60s, Jaffe says. Back then, it seemed like the oil would always flow. Jaffe says some even made fun of Carter’s efficiency plea – an indication of how unusual the request was at the time.
Still, energy experts then were thinking about the possibility that oil and gas could run out. That prompted Carter to encourage alternative sources of energy. “He even put solar panels, famously, on the White House,” Jaffe says.
At a press event unveiling the solar panels that would be used to heat water, Carter made clear that energy security was at the top of his mind.
“Today, in directly harnessing the power of the sun, we’re taking the energy that God gave us, the most renewable energy that we will ever see, and using it to replace our dwindling supplies of fossil fuels,” Carter said.
By the end of the 20th century, Carter wanted the U.S. to get “20% of all the energy we use from the sun.” The country still hasn’t reached that goal, though more than 80% of new generating capacity this year is expected to come from solar and battery storage.
As if to highlight the risk of experimenting with new energy sources, Carter told reporters at the solar panel unveiling, “A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be just a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people.”
The panels were removed less than a decade later during the Reagan administration.
“Had the United States stayed the course, and we had not had volatility in our federal efforts in alternative energy, we would maybe still be the premier country for alternative energy,” Jaffe says. Instead, she says, the U.S. is playing catch-up with countries like Denmark and Spain on wind energy, and China for solar and electric vehicles.
The panels removed from the White House were stored in a government warehouse until Unity College acquired them, according to Maine Public. Sixteen panels were re-installed on a roof at the college in Central Maine and used to heat water for the dining hall. One of the panels, about the size of a picnic table, is displayed on the campus with a marker describing its historical significance.
A climate change warning and promoting coal
The summer after Carter took office, he received a memo with the subject “Release of Fossil CO2 and the Possibility of a Catastrophic Climate Change.” It warned that increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has a “greenhouse effect” that “will induce a global climatic warming.”
The memo was from Frank Press, Carter’s chief advisor on scientific matters and the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Press wrote, “The present state of knowledge does not justify emergency action to limit the consumption of fossil fuels in the near term.” But he did write that considering the “potential CO2 hazard” should become part of the country’s long-term energy strategy.
The top of the memo is marked “THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN.” Climate change, though, was not an issue Carter highlighted during his time in office. He actually boosted domestic coal production. Coal is the most carbon-intense fuel for generating electricity.
Carter’s 1980 campaign speech to miners in West Frankfort, Illinois includes a level of boosterism rarely seen outside of the coal industry these days.
“America indeed is the Saudi Arabia of coal, and my goal as President of the United States is to see on the world energy markets Arab oil replaced with Illinois coal,” Carter told miners and employees of the Old Ben Coal Mine No. 25. He also boasted that the country would, “produce more coal in 1980 than has ever before been produced in the United States of America.”
The greenhouse gas emissions from burning more coal are an issue the country still grapples with as the effects of climate change become clear.
“I calculated once that we had roughly five full extra years of emissions at roughly the 2000 level of CO2 emissions due to Carter’s energy coal policies,” says Philip Verleger, an economist who worked on energy issues in the Treasury Department during the Carter administration.
In a 1978 speech Carter did recognize the polluting nature of coal by announcing a commission on the coal industry. “Ultimately, we will learn to harness the energy of the Sun and the oceans with fusion power to meet our energy needs. But for now, we have no choice but to continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, and coal is our most abundant fossil fuel,” Carter said.
But even Verleger comes back to Carter’s work advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy.
“Carter really started the ball rolling, created many of the ideas that are now coming to the fore. And that’s good. The downside in terms of environment was the emphasis on coal,” Verleger says.
An enduring environmental legacy
Preserving land also was a priority for Carter. Near the end of his presidency, he signed into law the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. It provided protections for 157 million acres of land through the creation of national parks, refuges and conservation areas.
The legislation doubled the size of the National Park System and was the largest expansion of protected lands in history, according to the National Park Service.
Carter also signed legislation in 1977 creating the Department of Energy, which is implementing much of the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act that Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed last year. The law dedicates money to boosting renewable energy and research on new technologies.
“Over four decades ago, Carter was putting in place policies that we are now enhancing today,” Jaffe says. The IRA’s focus on domestic manufacturing also is helping fulfill Carter’s goal of putting “the United States back to where it needs to be, and dominating supply chains for things like solar panels, manufacturing and electric cars,” explains Jaffe.
In his final years, Carter’s environmental legacy came full circle. In 2017 he leased 10 acres of his land in Plains, Georgia for a solar power project that produces enough electricity to supply about half the demand of his hometown.
At the dedication event he told the crowd, “This site will be as symbolically important as the 32 panels we put on the White House,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “People can come here and see what can be done.”
A total of 170 young graduates have benefitted from the NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme, in which they were attached to indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors for hands-on experience.
Some of the beneficiaries of the NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme with NCDMB/PETAN and SPDC leadership at their graduation ceremony in Port Harcourt
The latest batch of 49 intake graduated at a ceremony in Port Harcourt early this month after completing their internship which began in 2022.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya, commended the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Joint Venture for the support for the programme which it is helping to build local manpower for a critical sector of the economy.
SPDC and PETAN had jointly set up the programme in 2014 whereby young graduates are attached to the over 100 member companies of the organisation with SPDC paying them monthly stipends. From 2022 when the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) joined the collaboration, the programme has run for two years with 100 intakes.
The NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme has been lauded as a key human capital development initiative which is central to the promotion of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.
SPDC’s General Manager Nigerian Content, ‘Lanre Olawuyi, said: “The internship is more than a learning opportunity. It provides fresh graduates with technical expertise, equipping them with the practical skills needed to excel in their careers. It aligns with SPDC’s broader educational initiatives, contributing significantly to the actualisation of the UNESCO ‘Education for All’ agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta.
“We owe the success of the programme to the untiring support of our JV partners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited for which we’re grateful.”
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says it is collaborating with Drosophila Institute of the University of Ibadan on latest research that will alleviate the impact of hydrocarbon contamination on Ogoni people.
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator, HYPREP, on a visit to Nchia General Hospital, Rivers State
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator, HYPREP, communicated this in a statement made available on Sunday, December 29, 2024, in Abuja.
He said that the collaboration would also contribute significantly to advancing the knowledge of medicine in relation to hydrocarbon contamination globally.
Zabbey said that the project was implementing the UNEP Report based on the needs of Ogoni people.
“We feel it is important to advance access to medicare; we will continue to do our best to broaden the scope of our interventions based on the needs of the people while also implementing the UNEP Report.
“We are implementing all the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report and also going outside to do what is necessary following the emergence of new things.
“We are doing extra things, including conducting research and building the Ogoni Specialist Hospital.’’
According to him, the project is providing value addition in its public health interventions beyond the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoni.
He said that HYPREP carried out free medical outreach and surgical operations on patients with several ailments, including cataract, hernia, and fibroid at the Nchia General Hospital.
“HYPREP free medical outreach which commenced on Dec. 16 is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that has recorded a huge number of beneficiaries across four local government areas,” he said.
Upon the request of the Federal Government, UNEP has conducted an independent assessment of the environment and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland, in the Niger-Delta and options for remediation.
