The University of Plymouth in England and University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Nigeria have partnered on water and land management to mitigate climate change.
Officials of University of Plymouth and University of Calabar
Prof. William Blake, Director, Sustainable Earth Institute, University of Plymouth, disclosed this when he led other management staff of the university to University of Calabar on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
Blake explained that the partnership would focus on research and manpower development to improve water and land management.
He said that the university had received a small grant from the British government to partner with institutions in Nigeria and Ghana on climate smart agriculture with particular interest in land and water management.
He added that the research and manpower development would be centred on soil health and how it could help to solve many problems in relation to food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“We are interested in understanding the different skills set and the different research questions in the area of water and land management among scholars in the country.
“This will enable us to formulate research plans together and co-design research strategies and solutions that can help,” he said.
The director added that the partnership would also strengthen synergy between the two institutions and support each other for sustainable environmental management.
He said that the Carbon Emissions Centre in the University of Calabar reflects the institution’s mission for sustainable environment management in terms of soil organic matter.
“Soil health rests on soil organic matter. So, the more we work, particularly on soil organic matter, and know the amount of carbon stored in the soil, we will know the key benefits that come with it.
“Change in the soil structure reduces flooding, improves productivity and all the problems associated with it; a healthy soil will help prevent this.
“This is fundamental, and for us, that meeting point between sustainable earth and carbon emissions is something we really need to pay attention to,” Blake said.
Responding, Prof. Ralph Offiong, Director, Carbon Emissions Centre, University of Calabar, said that the partnership was a welcome development considering that climate change has become a threat to mankind.
Offiong added that the partnership would also focus on blue and green economy, climate change and local communities’ livelihood sustainability enhancement.
He said that the partnership with the British university would foster cross fertilisation of ideas on how to manage climate change issues.
“Climate change is a very serious threat to mankind because it is affecting ecosystems, humanity, businesses and everything, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat and every other thing we do,” he said.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, said that the partnership was crucial, particularly that Calabar was surrounded by water.
Obi, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Eno Nta, said: “We belong to the riverine part of the country, our people live on water, our livelihood is in water.
“It is good, therefore, to understand the water better – how we are encroaching on it or how the water is encroaching on us too,” she said.
The first week of statements in the landmark climate change case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has seen the divergence in legal arguments being presented to the Court between the historical polluter developed States and developing States participating in the hearings.
Nawaf Salam, ICJ President, moderates the session. Photo credit: ICJ/CIJ | Frank van Beek
Indeed, presentations from Organisation of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) members representing some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable States across African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions painted a picture of climate catastrophe and the violation of international laws.
These include those that require States to prevent transboundary harm to other States; fundamental human rights, such as the right of self-determination; the right to a clean healthy environment; and the right to life.
Historical high emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs), on the other hand, are reportedly hiding behind the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement seeking to limit accountability for these violations.
Assistant Secretary-General for Environment and Climate Action, OACPS, Cristelle Pratt, said: “Our members across African, Caribbean and Pacific Regions are relatively new States, many of which share colonial histories with the major historical polluters. For many of them making Statements at these proceedings, it is the first time they are coming to the World Court to advocate for their rights, and some of our members have made very compelling arguments to fight once again for their self-determination.
“For all of our member States, the common experience shared in the climate crisis is one of climate injustice. Collectively they have benefited the least from what has caused the climate crisis – uncurbed cumulative GHG emissions – but are now suffering the most and at the cost of their nations and peoples’ sustainable development.
“The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is written into the Charter of the United Nations and is reinforced by numerous UN treaties and ICJ rulings and advisory opinions. All of these words risk erasure if they are exceptionally excluded in the context of climate change.”
Mamadou Hébié, Associate Professor of International Law, Leiden University, for Burkina Faso, said: “Can a limited group of States, in accordance with international law, destroy a common good indispensable to the survival of humanity (the climate system) to enrich themselves, and shift the entire burden of the harmful effects of their actions onto third States, peoples and individuals, while always postponing, if not forever, the question of their responsibility and solidarity? No, no one can enrich themselves unjustly and develop economically at the cost of sacrificing the rights of States, peoples and individuals. These States are bound by all their obligations arising from international law and by all the legal consequences of their internationally wrongful acts.”
Fuimaono Dylan Asafo, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, for Cook Islands, said: “It is no secret that our international legal system as well as our interconnected economic, financial and political systems are deeply implicated in the climate crisis we face today. For many decades, major emitters have been able to rely on these systems, and the institutions and fora they contain, like the annual COPs, to expand fossil fuel industries, increase their emissions and evade responsibility for the significant harms their emissions have caused.
“In doing so, they have been able to maintain and grow the broader systems of domination that drive the climate crisis today including imperialism, colonialism, racial capitalism, heteropatriarchy and ableism. Understanding this grim reality of our international systems means understanding that to truly guarantee cessation and non-repetition, States must dismantle these systems and imagine and build new ones capable of allowing everyone to live lives of joy and dignity, so that they are able to determine their own futures and destinies.”
Vanica Sobers-Joseph, Legal Advocate and Senior State Attorney, the Commonwealth of Dominica, said: “The Court recognised in the ‘Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons’ Advisory Opinion that there is ‘the general obligation of States to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction and control respect the environment of other States or of areas beyond national control…’ It is no hyperbole that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have weaponised the sea into a catastrophic threat. It is the Commonwealth of Dominica’s submission that climate change is a daily threat to the life and the very health of human beings, including generations unborn. The caution urged by some States regarding the Court’s approach to this question is misplaced.”
Luke Daunivalu, Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Republic of Fiji, said: “The economic toll of these (climate) events is staggering, eroding development gains and straining already limited fiscal resources. These climate shocks cascade into broader challenges: food and water insecurity, biodiversity loss, health crises, and more importantly forced displacement… We cannot help but think of our neighbouring Pacific countries, some of which do not have the luxury of relocating within their own borders and face the untenable prospect of completely losing their statehood due to rising sea levels.”
Phoebe Okowa, Professor of Public International Law, Queen Mary University, and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, said: “Climate change treaties do not constitute lex specialis (the concept that a law governing a specific subject matter overrides a law governing only general matters) but must be interpreted within the broader international legal framework, including human rights obligations…
“In Nicaragua, you (the court) confirmed that although the content of customary law can be influenced by treaty provisions, both retain a separate legal existence The UNFCCC and Paris Agreement thus exist alongside the customary law obligations of prevention and due diligence, but do not subsume them… States have an obligation to provide reparations, including financial compensation, for harm caused to the climate system. It cannot be right that States responsible for historical pollution can decide in their own self-interest that no legal consequences should attach to a catastrophe of their own making.”
Teburoro Tito, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kiribati to the United Nations, said: “We are one of the most vulnerable nations at the front lines of climate change. Our aim today is simple. We want to secure our self-determination and permanent sovereignty over our natural resources. We cherish our traditional way of life. Our relationship to ocean, land and family is our identity. Climate change directly affects the heart of who we are. As an atoll nation, we do not have higher ground. Most of our 32 islands are below 2 m above sea level. Our highest point is only 4 m above the ocean… We do not want to become stateless refugees: we want to stay in our homes, in our communities.”
Arnold Loughman Kiel, Attorney General, Vanuatu, said: “Under international law, States have obligations: obligations to act with due diligence; to prevent significant harm to the environment; to reduce their emissions and provide support to countries like mine; to protect the human rights of present and future generations; to protect and preserve the marine environment; and to respect the fundamental rights of my people to self- determination in our own land. (…) In a system intended to uphold peace and security, self- determination, the enjoyment of fundamental rights and the protection of the environment, how can the conduct that has taken humanity to the brink of catastrophe, threatening the survival of entire peoples, be lawful and without consequences?”
Julian Aguon, Legal Counsel, Melanesian Spearhead Group, said: “Self-determination guarantees the right of all peoples to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It also encompasses their rights to maintain their territorial integrity and permanent sovereignty over their natural resources. Yet the conduct responsible for climate change has already infringed on the right to self-determination for the many peoples of Melanesia.
“Melanesian peoples have already suffered forced dislocations from their traditional territories, loss of natural resources essential for both cultural and physical subsistence, breakdown of political systems and means of self- governance, and rupture of relationships to the cosmos. In short, they have lost nearly everything that has, since time immemorial, formed their very essence as peoples.”
The Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of Abubakar Abdulsalami University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa, Niger State, as the 65th state university and 277th in Nigeria.
Gov. Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State
The certificate of recognition was presented to Gov. Umaru Bago by the Pro-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University Minna, Prof. Muhammad Kuta-Yahaya in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
The governor appreciated Kuta-Yahaya for the good work he has been doing for the state, especially in the education sector.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment towards revamping the sector.
The General Manager of Production, NLNG, Mr Nnamdi Anowi, says the company plans to replace all its vessels with modern ships within the next decade.
Panelists at the 2024 World LNG Summit and Awards
Anowi disclosed this during the World Leaders’ Panel session on Tuesday, December 10, in Berlin, Germany, as part of the 2024 World LNG Summit and Awards.
The 2024 summit has “Achieving the Balance Between Energy Security and Decarbonisation” as its theme.
“We are making significant strides in our shipping operations. Over the next 10 years, we aim to transition from our current steam-powered vessels to modern ships.
“Earlier this year, we took a major step by entering into a long-term chapter of our first modern ship Aktoras, and we are already planning to acquire a second ship next year,” he said.
On the critical issue of net zero (NZE) emissions, Anowi said that NLNG’s aspiration is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
According to him, this goal is attainable through the implementation of a combination of solutions that include operational efficiency, natural sinks/offset projects, CCS, net zero expansion, digital solutions and shipping efficiency.
“Our pathway to net zero aligns with Nigeria’s target of reaching net zero by 2060, while many major players in the industry are aiming for 2050.
“We are actively expanding our initiatives in this area, including several low-carbon projects,” he explained.
Regarding Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Anowi noted that the company had committed 100 per cent of its LPG production (propane and butane) to the Nigerian market.
He pointed out the urgent need for cleaner energy, citing a report that revealed that not less than 100,000 Nigerians died yearly from smoke inhalation caused by cooking with firewood, predominantly affecting women and children.
“This underscores our commitment to sustainability.
“It’s important to recognise that about 80 per cent of Africans lack access to cleaner energy.
“When discussing sustainability, we can not overlook the necessity of providing energy to these communities,” he added.
He further elaborated on NLNG’s strategy, stating, “Our objective at Nigeria LNG is to maintain safety, enhance capacity, foster growth, and future-proof our business.
“The recent transformation programme includes a rebranding initiative, evidenced by the unveiling of a new logo and the company’s renewed purpose: ‘Providing energy for life’s sustainability’.”
Anowi noted that NLNG was working diligently to improve its production capacity from 23 million tons to 30 million tons through its Train 7 Project.
“We are actively engaging with stakeholders and the government to ensure our LNG trains are filled by the end of next year,” he said.
On sustainability, Anowi explained that 75 per cent of NLNG’s emissions result from its operations, with the remaining 25 per cent coming from its shipping activities.
He emphasised the importance of measurement, reduction, avoidance and mitigation strategies in their sustainability efforts.
He said that the company was also exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities through partnerships with the government and other international oil companies.
“We are in the early stages of CCS implementation, assessing potential reservoirs for this purpose,” he said.
In terms of renewable energy, Anowi said that NLNG was investigating solar power projects at its offices in Abuja and Port Harcourt as part of its broader sustainability initiatives.
“We are committed to abatement efforts and are collaborating with experienced private companies to explore carbon credit opportunities.
“We must balance sustainability with affordability and reliability in energy supply.
“The African region must progress at its own pace, prioritising immediate energy needs before addressing long-term sustainability goals.” he explained.
The 24th World LNG Summit and Awards, organised by DMG Events, attracted 750 attendees and featured 200 speakers from 500 companies across the energy value chain.
Two carcinogenic chemicals used in cleaning products and other common household goods have been banned in the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
Michael S. Regan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
The chemicals – trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE or perc) – can cause multiple kinds of cancers and damage to the kidney, liver and immune and nervous systems at high exposure levels.
The EPA’s bans against the substances have been a long time coming, but industry groups have fought hard against legislation.
“It’s simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.“These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE. EPA continues to deliver on actions that protect people, including workers and children, under the nation’s premier bipartisan chemical safety law.”
PCE and TCE are both nonflammable chlorinated solvents that are volatile organic compounds. PCE can biodegrade into TCE, and PCE may contain trace amounts of TCE as an impurity or a contaminant. The chemicals can often serve as alternatives for each other. For several uses of TCE that will be totally prohibited, there is an analogous use of PCE that can continue safely in perpetuity under workplace controls.
Some examples of uses that will be prohibited under the TCE rule but will continue under the PCE rule include industrial and commercial use as an energised electrical cleaner, in laboratory use for asphalt testing and recovery, use to make refrigerants and other chemicals, and for vapor degreasing.
“Over 40 years ago, a mother named Anne Anderson from Woburn, Massachusetts, approached me and started a crusade to keep any more children like Jimmy Anderson, her son, from dying from cancer caused by toxic chemicals. Anne’s work directly led to this announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency that I am overjoyed to celebrate today alongside her and every community that stands to benefit – a finalised ban on trichloroethylene and most uses of perchloroethylene, two chemicals that cause cancer, affect reproductive systems, are neurotoxic, and compromise immune systems,” said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
“Despite their dangers, these chemicals could still be found in industries like dry cleaning, automotive repair and manufacturing. With no doubt that these chemicals are deadly, there is no doubt that this final rule will save lives – especially our children’s lives – around the country,” added Markey.
“The Camp Lejeune contaminated drinking water issue has dragged on over the better part of forty years ever since TCE, PCE and other organic solvents were first documented in the base’s drinking water supply in October 1980,” said Jerry M. Ensminger, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sergeant. “My daughter, Janey, was conceived aboard Camp Lejeune during the drinking water contamination and died of leukemia in 1985, at the age of nine. I first began my fight for justice in 1997, and was later joined by Mike Partain in 2007, who was also conceived aboard the base and diagnosed with male breast cancer at the age of 39. Mike and I welcome this ban on TCE by the EPA and this is proof that our fight for justice at Camp Lejeune was not in vain.”
TCE is an extremely toxic chemical known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. TCE also causes damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and fetal heart defects. These risks are present even at very small concentrations. Under today’s rule, all uses of TCE will be banned over time (with the vast majority of identified risks eliminated within one year), and safer alternatives are readily available for the majority of uses.
PCE is known to cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer, as well as damage to the kidney, liver and immune system, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Today’s final rule will better protect people from these risks by banning manufacture, processing and distribution in commerce of PCE for all consumer uses and many commercial uses, while allowing some workplace uses to continue only where robust workplace controls can be implemented.
Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Housing, Ms. Bakarat Odunuga-Bakare, says the state has implemented key measures to tackle challenges in its real estate sector.
Ms Bakarat Odunuga-Bakare, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State at the 5th edition of the Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Two-Day Conference and Exhibitions on Tuesday in Lagos
Odunuga-Bakare disclosed this on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, while delivering a welcome address at the fifth edition of the Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Two-Day Conference and Exhibitions.
The theme of the conference is “Reimagining the Lagos Landscape: Ensuring Sustainable Real Estate Development Practices”.
She stated that the measures were implemented under the guidance of the governor.
The special adviser acknowledged the challenges in the sector, which include building collapses, fraudulent practices and environmental issues, while emphasing the need for urgent and collaborative action.
According to her, the state has reinforced its regulatory frameworks by improving building codes, adopting disaster-resilient urban planning, and promoting the use of sustainable building materials and technologies.
These efforts, she said, were testament to the state’s dedication to creating a future where the safety and wellbeing of residents were prioritised.
The legal practitioner highlighted that the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) remains instrumental in fostering professionalism, transparency and accountability within the real estate sector.
Odunuga-Bakare stated that, by registering practitioners and enforcing compliance with global best practices, LASRERA ensures that the real estate market remains trustworthy and investor-friendly.
She appreciated Sanwo-Olu for his exemplary leadership and unwavering support for the growth of the sector.
“The governor’s commitment to the principles of sustainability and innovation has made Lagos a shining beacon of progress in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Worthy of mention is the unwavering support of Governor Sanwo-Olu towards the resolutions and proposals presented at the previous editions of this event.
“His dedication has significantly contributed to the progress achieved so far.
“I am even more optimistic that the outcomes of this year’s Marketplace Conference will further catalyse impactful collaborations and innovative solutions that drive sustainable development and economic growth in our state,” she said.
According to her, the theme of the conference is both timely and vital, underscoring the pressing need to align real estate development with sustainability principles while ensuring safety, innovation and resilience in the state’s built environment.
Odunuga-Bakare said that the annual gathering had consistently served as a cornerstone for innovative ideas, robust discussions, and strategic collaborations that shape the real estate sector in Lagos state and beyond.
She charged stakeholders in the real estate sector to collectively reimagine the Lagos landscape as the state continue to build a smart, sustainable and inclusive city where housing and urban development meet the needs of its growing population.
“Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and set new benchmarks for excellence,” Odunuga-Bakare said.
The Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Conference brings together industry leaders, policymakers, investors and stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions to these challenges.
In the next two days, participants will engage in meaningful dialogue, leverage diverse expertise and forge partnerships that will advance the real estate sector in the state.
The ECA Office for North Africa on Monday, December 9, 2024, launched in Lusaka the second phase of the Morocco – DRC – Zambia Regional Electric Mobility Value Chain Development Project, with the participation of Moroccan, Congolese and Zambian representatives.
Electric vehicles
“The complementarities between our countries’ resources and experiences are sufficient for the development of robust battery and precursor production value chains. This can play a key role in the transition of our economies to a post-fossil fuel era. We are also aware that we cannot achieve socio-economic transformation alone: strategic partnerships such as this are important for accelerating the positive trajectory of our development agenda,” said Crusivia Hichikumba, Permanent Secretary for Investment and Industrialisation at the Zambian Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade at the opening of the proceedings.
The development of carbon-free transport is essential to limit global warming. In Africa, vehicles are often older, high emitters of greenhouse gases, and public transport infrastructure is in a deplorable state: Africa should take advantage of electric mobility to improve its economic, environmental and social conditions, explained Marie Pascale Diatuka Malanda, Coordinator of the Congolese Agency for Ecological Transition and Sustainable Development.
Richly endowed with strategic minerals including cobalt and copper, the Democratic Republic of Congo has a central role to play in the development of electric mobility value chains, she stressed, insisting on the need to reflect on the opportunities for synergies of the technical capacities of the three countries, transfer of technologies and knowledge, and sharing of good practices for green, low-carbon industrialisation.
Electric mobility is a vector of economic, social and environmental development, said Idriss Addahbi, Head of the Monitoring and Strategy Division at the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade, who discussed how his country has become in 20 years one of the most competitive platforms in the world in the automotive sector and an African leader with one million vehicles produced per year including four models of electric cars: “By developing a regional value chain, we create jobs, we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and we contribute to the fight against climate change. By joining forces, we can become a world leader in the field of electric mobility.” he stressed.
“This workshop is not just about dialogue; it is a call to action. Together, we must align our visions, pool our resources and leverage the unique strengths of Zambia, Morocco and the DRC. By developing concrete policies, measures and initiatives, we can unlock Africa’s potential in the global e-mobility value chain, create jobs, foster innovation and contribute to sustainable development,” said Adam Elhiraika, Director of the ECA Office for North Africa.
The meeting aims to develop a detailed roadmap and implementation plan, as well as a partnership framework that will guide these regional value chains. The AfCFTA is a central pillar of this initiative as it provides a platform to harmonise policies and enable functional regional integration. It can serve as a catalyst to scale up electric mobility solutions, improve the flow of goods, expertise and capital, and boost regional economic growth, he explained.
Organised from December 9 to 11, 2024, the workshop on “Development of the regional value chain for electric mobility (DRC – Morocco – Zambia)” was held as part of a project initiated in 2023 by the ECA Office in North Africa with the ambition of facilitating the establishment of regional value chains for electric mobility in Africa and positioning the continent as a central player in the global market for electric vehicle batteries.
Drawing on the continent’s abundant mineral resources and the expertise of countries such as Morocco, the project focuses, in its current phase, on strengthening the technical capacities of the countries concerned and establishing a partnership framework to facilitate the development of value chains in the areas of battery production, vehicle assembly and the development of charging infrastructure.
Organised with the participation of public decision-makers, representatives of the public and private sectors and technical experts from the DRC, Morocco and Zambia, the workshop aims to strengthen the expertise of public decision-makers and technical committees in charge of the project; facilitate the exchange of knowledge through the creation of networks and platforms dedicated to each regional value chain; facilitate the validation of partnership frameworks, roadmaps and action plans; and encourage the sharing of good practices as well as the development of projects and initiatives between the project member countries.
The work will culminate on Thursday, December 12, 2024, with the organisation of a high-level policy dialogue on the development of regional automotive and electric mobility value chains, jointly organised by the ECA Offices in North Africa and Southern Africa.
The Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE, Chair of the Climate Action Coalition, reflects on COP29, the COP process and recent data on the public perceptions of the climate threat in the UK and US
Chris Skidmore, Chair of the Climate Action Coalition
The key announcements of COP29, including the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance of $1.3 trillion annually to be spent by 2035, including $300 billion annually for developing countries, and the agreement to Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Rule Book are perhaps what COP29 will be remembered for.
Yet many other initiatives outside the formal UNFCCC process were either agreed or begun, that highlight the opportunity that the convening power COP can deliver, ensuring that it is a gathering greater than the sum of its parts. For the UK, this included further announcements on the Global Clean Power Alliance, with potential partnership work with Brazil, and the publication of a new ambitious National Determined Contribution of 81% emissions reduction by 2035 on 1990 levels.
In between COP29 and COP30, other countries will also be required to publish their new, revised, NDCs 3.0 to be formally agreed at Belém in November 2025. These are due to be submitted in February 2025 and will likely be the critical moment of reckoning for climate policy next year.
Whether all countries who have previously submitted NDCs at COP26 in Glasgow will continue to do so for COP30 in Brazil is a different matter. COP29 took place against the backdrop of the US Presidential election, where climate related policy had been a clear dividing line between parties. With President-elect Trump having confirmed that he intends to pull the USA once more out of the Paris Agreement, any agreed outcome at COP29 was going to be foreshadowed by the potential lack of future participation by both the largest investor in green and clean technologies and the largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions.
Without US involvement in the Paris process, and with others such as Argentina pulling their delegation from the COP talks, the future outcomes of COP hang in the balance. Yet a deal at COP29 was better than no deal: globally, countries recognise not only the vital importance of taking climate action to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change, and adapt to existing warming, they also understand that there is no turning back on the energy transition.
Solar power is expanding exponentially, at the same time as the costs of renewable technologies coming down sharply to be cost-competitive with fossil fuels. China, having previously announced that it would be net zero in 2060, is now on track to deliver net zero by 2050.
Neither net zero, nor the energy transition, nor indeed wider climate action will be delivered by talks and negotiation alone. COPs provide direction, inspiration and influence, yet the delivery and implementation of policy lies with national governments, business, industry and the establishment of new net zero markets. It was for this reason that Secretary John Kerry launched the Climate Action Coalition earlier this year at the Guildhall at London Climate Action Week, in order to focus on real world, real economy, solutions to deliver recognisable and achievable solutions at scale to meet our climate commitments, not for 2050 but also for meeting the trebling of renewables and doubling of energy efficiency measures as set out at COP28 in Dubai.
Having already held meetings with Germany’s Climate Envoy Secretary Jennifer Morgan, and Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Director General’s Net Zero Taskforce, the Climate Action Coalition focused its attention at COP29 on this real-time delivery opportunity: we held roundtables with Vanessa Chan, the US Department of Energy’s Director of Commercialisation, Chris Stark, the Head of UK Mission Control, tasked with delivering the UK’s net zero power mission by 2030, and Simon McWhirter, the Deputy CEO of the UK Green Building Council and now co-chair of the Built Environment Taskforce of the Climate Action Coalition.
The importance of demonstrating not only why climate action needs to be taken, but what can and should be done now to make that action a reality will be a central mission of the Climate Action Coalition. Yet this cannot be delivered without both public acceptance and support for the energy transition and the opportunities that decarbonisation can bring.
With the recent political developments in the US in mind, new polling conducted by Ipsos on behalf of King’s College London and the Climate Action Coalition, comparing the views and perceptions of members of the public both in the UK and the US – the first of its kind since the US Presidential Election – reveals important difference yet also similarities between the public perception and experience of the energy transition, that provides useful reflections for policy makers tasked with building support for net zero and the energy transition.
Most striking, perhaps, is the fact that in the UK, the percentage stating that climate change is the single most important problem facing the country, or one of the most important problems, has risen between 2023 and 2024 from 46% to 52%. At the same time however, the percentage of respondents stating that climate change is not important at all has risen from 5% to 8%.
In contrast, in the US, where only 2024 data is available, the combined percentage of respondents stating that climate change is either the single most important problem or one of the most important problems is 39%, some 13 percentage points lower than the UK. Equally, 21% of US respondents believe that climate change is either not important at all, or not very important, compared to 14% in the UK.
The discrepancy in public opinion between the US and the UK is also striking when analysing the perception of climate change among supporters of political parties. In the UK, Labour voters are most likely to consider climate change as either the most or one of the most important problems, totalling 64% of Labour voters, though still 47% of Conservative voters also consider climate change the most or one of the most important problems also. Nearly a third of Reform voters, 32%, however, consider climate change not to be important at all, in stark contrast to 1% of Labour voters and 9% of Conservative voters.
This is the highest proportion of any political party in the UK or in the US- where 17% of Republican voters consider climate change not an important issue. Yet still, of Reform voters, nearly a quarter, 24%, consider climate change to be the most important or one of the most important issues facing the UK.
For the US, the divides between the two mainstream parties are even more polarised and stark. 66% of Democrat voters consider climate change the most important or one of the most important problems, compared to 15% of Republican voters: in contrast, 40% of Republican voters believe that climate change is not important at all or not very important.
While the polling points to these important distinguishing factors between the UK and the US, there are also interesting areas of commonality: in both countries, women are twice as likely to consider climate change an important issue; in both countries there is also a significant minority (18% in US and 15% in UK) that consider the effects of climate change to have been overexaggerated; in both countries also, more people are pessimistic rather than hopeful that we can combat climate change, though in the UK, more people are both more hopeful and more pessimistic than the US, where there is a larger number of those uncertain.
The polling also provides a fascinating insight into what will drive people to make changes to deliver climate action and emissions reduction: in both the UK and the US, potential cost savings feature prominently as the number one driver of what would influence people to adapt, with 47% of those polled in the UK and 42% in the US highlighting this as a priority.
Practicality and better information about how to implement changes featured more prominently in the UK compared to the US- 37% compared to 30%- yet what also united both countries was the agreement that celebrity or public figures being involved in advocating for climate action had the least possible impact on people’s decisions: 10% in the UK considered that this would influence their decisions, compared to 4% in the US.
What is clear from the polling released is that both in the UK and the US, while there is a risk of increased polarisation on climate change issues, in particular with 55% of those polled who believed they received too much information on climate change agreed that climate change is being used to put forward a political agenda, compared with 45% in the UK, there also remains uncertainty about the future, and a willingness for further action.
I hope that the more detailed findings from this polling can be utilised by policy makers to better understand how to work with, and not against, the grain of public attitudes and opinion, to ensure that there can be greater understanding of how net zero and the energy transition can and will be an opportunity and not a cost.
Already it seems that 2024 will be the warmest year on record: beating only the previous record set in 2023. Global temperature rises are currently 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels, and while it will not be confirmed until the end of the decade, it seems that the hope of limiting global warming to 1.5°C as set out in the Paris Agreement is fading fast.
2025 will mark the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a year in which all nations will need to step up their ambition to deliver if we are to hope to keep global temperatures even beneath 2°C also set out in the Agreement. Yet hope is not a strategy, while ambition remains just words on a page: what matters is action, action that can only be delivered and implemented across all nations, day in day out: as another COP ends, the hard work continues now across governments, across business and across borders, taking people with us and building the coalitions we need for the future.
Freetown on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, became the second African capital to back the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, joining cities on every continent that are demanding a global just transition away from fossil fuels to an equitable renewable-powered future. Sierra Leone’s capital now joins over 120 cities and subnational governments that have formally endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal.
Freetown, Sierra Leone
After implementing its first climate action strategy and appointing Africa’s first heat officer to address its high climate vulnerability, Freetown has apparently reaffirmed its climate leadership by becoming the second major African city to join the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, a new legal mechanism that would enable a fair phase out of fossil fuels, with the wealthiest countries leading the way, and facilitate finance and technology transfers for an equitable energy transition, economic diversification and alternative development pathways.
Mayor of Freetown and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, said:“While COP28 was a crucial step in acknowledging the necessity of transitioning away from fossil fuels, this decision was not reaffirmed at COP29. We find ourselves at a crossroads: one path leads to the preservation of humanity, while the other leads to its annihilation. It is imperative that we take bold and decisive action like the Fossil Fuel Treaty to end our dependence on fossil fuels and harness our unbridled renewable energy potential.
“African cities can play a key role in this fight since our urban centres are not just hubs of economic activity; they are also epicentres of innovation. Together, we can have a global impact, and Freetown stands ready to inspire and collaborate with cities across the African continent and beyond to build a just transition away from deadly fossil fuels to a prosperous renewable future.”
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said:“Freetown’s decision to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a bold and crucial step in the fight for climate justice. This move sends a clear message to the fossil fuel industry, which has long tried to entrench its power, particularly in Africa, that the world’s major cities are fully committed to the phaseout of fossil fuels. Cities like London, under Mayor Khan, have already led the charge in backing this treaty, and now Freetown, with Mayor Aki-Sawyerr at the helm, is showing that African cities will be at the forefront of the movement toward a just and equitable energy future. The time is now long overdue for the wealthiest nations to take responsibility for phasing out fossil fuels, ending subsidies to polluting industries, and working with cities, especially those in the Global South, to build a fairer and greener future.”
Karim Bah, a social justice activist and convener of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty civil society campaign in Sierra Leone, said: “Freetown is one of the oldest modern cities in Africa and played a historic role in the abolition of slavery. It is rather fitting that Freetown is among the first in Africa to answer to the call of activists for the abolition of fossil fuels today by endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Global support for the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal from cities and national governments is only growing stronger. With this recent endorsement from Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr who was elected co-chair of C40 Cities in 2023, alongside Mayor Sadiq Khan, who backed the proposal in 2022, the leadership of the C40 Cities global network of mayors has now formally united their voices behind the urgent need for a Fossil Fuel Treaty.
“In the leadup to CO28, in their C40 Letter to Heads of State, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and Mayor Khan, called on governments to gradually end the production of oil, gas and coal, insisting that these three substances are not only the main cause of climate disruption but also of deep associated injustices, both at city and global levels. Following COP29, C40 Cities continues to call for a “clear path for cities to lead a just transition to a sustainable future.”
Lucas Snaije, Cities & Subnational Campaign Coordinator at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said:“We are thrilled to welcome Freetown as the second African capital to join our subnational cohort in 2024. Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has firmly positioned Sierra Leone’s capital as a climate leader both locally, through innovative governance such as the appointment of Africa’s first Chief Heat Officer, and globally, as co-chair of C40 Cities alongside London Mayor Sadiq Khan. This endorsement is a resounding call for cities across Africa, the Global South, and the world, to follow suit.”
Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns and Advocacy at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, stated: “The fossil fuel industry has hypnotised Africa for decades, promising fortunes while syphoning profits out of the continent and powering foreign nations with our coal, oil and gas, all the while leaving 600 million Africans in the dark. All this takes place on the continent with the highest renewable energy potential on Earth. Freetown has seen through this fossil fuelled hypocrisy and sets the tone for a new future for the continent that is powered by the abundant energy of the sun, water and wind.”
Freetown’s decision has been described as courageous and one that sends a strong message to international leaders who want to hook Africa to oil and gas while the world transitions to renewable energy. The continent has been the target of fossil fuel extraction by the Global North, with the majority of the fossil fuel extraction destined for export to foreign markets.
Civil society organisations have risen against this neocolonial model in which wealthy countries have built their riches by exploiting the continent’s reserves, all while exacerbating Africa’s structural inequalities by increasing the continent’s fossil fuel dependence that has failed to power its people by design.
Fadhel Kaboub, Senior Advisor at Power Shift Africa and member of the Independent Expert Group on Just Transition and Development, stated:“It is imperative that governments prioritise the negotiation of a global framework to support and finance Africa’s – and the world’s – transition to renewable energy. Instead of perpetuating a plan that creates fossil fuel dependence, we must activate and operationalise Agenda 2063 in a tangible manner.
“This entails establishing strategic partnerships on terms that are favourable to Africa’s interests, ensuring that our continent can lead in green industrialisation and achieve the sustainable development goals while safeguarding the health of our planet. It is time for African countries to join the growing bloc of nations already supporting a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
The World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) has launched a new roadmap to expand access to clean cooking solutions across Africa by increasing availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Cooking gas cylinders
The roadmap was authored by S&P Global Commodity Insights and commissioned by the Cooking For Life Africa Task Force (CFLA), an industry initiative including Amtrol Alfa, Equinor, Hexagon Ragasco, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oryx Energies, Petredec, S&P Global, SHV Energy, and Total Energies.
The “LPG Roadmap for Africa” provides three calls to action for the public and private sectors to achieve full access to clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. They include: establishing clear, enforceable regulatory frameworks to scale the LPG market in the region; implementing a consumer financing and payment plan to overcome economic barriers; and investing in infrastructure and roads to improve storage, distribution and delivery networks in more remote areas.
Today, nearly 2.5 billion people (one-third of the global population) are without access to clean cooking solutions, including over 900 million people in Africa. In remote villages and urban slums, many families resort to traditional biomass fuels like coal, wood and dung, which emit harmful and toxic fumes and contribute to climate emissions and deforestation.
Benefits of African households switching from firewood to LPG as a cooking fuel include:
Reducing indoor air pollution from particulate matter by 98% – significantly decreasing the number of premature deaths and health conditions caused by household air pollutants
Saving 1.2 million hectares of forest per year – equivalent to nearly one-quarter of current global deforestation
Decreasing emissions of black carbon (or soot), a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), by 117 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year – nearly offsetting Nigeria’s annual CO2 emissions
Decreasing 279 million tons of CO2 per year – roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from mid-sized countries such as Taiwan and Malaysia
James Rockall, CEO, World Liquid Gas Association, said: “An equitable, fit-for-purpose transition means empowering marginalised communities by reducing global energy poverty and fostering a more inclusive future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Access to clean cooking supplies will increase economic opportunities and standards of living, while reducing carbon emissions and environmental impacts. While the roadmap is an important step forward, the Cooking or Life Africa Task Force will work with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to realise these ambitions.”
Alex Grant, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Midstream and Processing, Equinor, said:“Equinor is committed to contributing to an energy transition that is just and inclusive and brings about long-term social and economic benefits. The WLGA’s Cooking For Life Africa Task Force ‘LPG Roadmap for Africa’ sets out the important contributions that LPG can make in achieving progress towards these goals.”
Huub Stokman, Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, said: “A just transition for Africa requires a reduction in energy poverty alongside emissions reduction. The LPG roadmap, which targets about 60% of the continent’s population without access to clean cooking solutions, will simultaneously address economic, health and environmental challenges across Africa. NNPC Retail Limited is fully committed to the Cooking For Life Africa (CFLA) task force as we jointly collaborate to address regulatory, financial and infrastructure problems; and unlock a cleaner, prosperous future.”
Moussa Diao, CEO, Oryx Energies SA, said:“Our participation in the Cooking For Life Africa Task Force is a testament to our commitment to advancing clean cooking solutions across Africa, in addition to the fact that we’ve been a major LPG player in sub-Saharan Africa for over 20 years with several leading positions in West, East and Southern Africa. Half of Oryx Energies’ investments goes into LPG, with half of that going towards LPG cylinders.
“The continued investment in our company’s LPG capabilities helps address not only the immediate health and environmental concerns but also fosters long-term economic and social benefits. With the support from governments, we bring to local populations a cleaner, reliable, more sustainable and affordable energy.”
Jonathan Fancher, CEO, Petredec Global, said: “Every year, 600,000 Africans, primarily women and children, die from indoor air pollution – a preventable tragedy that demands urgent action. At Petredec, we believe LPG is the best solution to Africa’s clean cooking crisis. LPG offers a scalable, affordable, and immediate solution to improve health and the environment.
“As a leading LPG value chain company, Petredec’s superior logistics operations and investment in key LPG infrastructure in the region, reinforce our goal of enhancing security of supply and making LPG more accessible. We are proud to support the Cooking For Life Africa Task Force and the ‘LPG Roadmap for Africa’ to accelerate this vital transition.”
Steven Sels, Chief Operating Officer, SHV Energy, said: “Many households in Africa still rely on traditional cooking fuels like wood and charcoal. Convincing these households to switch to LPG requires significant investment in education, marketing, and infrastructure.”
Biova Agbokou, Vice-President Liquefied Petroleum Gas, TotalEnergies, said: “TotalEnergies aims to impact 100 million people in Africa and India by 2030, investing over $400 million in developing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking. By developing access to clean cooking in the regions, TotalEnergies intends to have a positive impact on the environment and on people’s health, while also helping to reduce gender inequalities. With this new ‘LPG Roadmap for Africa’ with our peers, we are activating another lever to reach more end-users.”
Jimmy Bowes, President, Building Products, Worthington Enterprises, said: “This roadmap is a significant step toward achieving sustainable clean energy access across Africa. It provides a comprehensive strategy to enhance the adoption of LPG as a clean cooking fuel. As a leading global supplier of LPG cylinders that are essential for safe and efficient fuel storage and distribution, Worthington Enterprises and its Amtrol-Alfa and Ragasco products will help ensure accessibility for all communities. We are proud of how our industry has come together and believe by executing this roadmap we will have a profound impact on improving public health and environmental outcomes in the region.”
