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EU pledges €9.8m investment in Nigeria’s energy sector

Michael Simire
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EU pledges €9.8m investment in Nigeria’s energy sector

The European Union (EU) and the German government, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Power Nigeria, have announced the launch of the 3rd phase of the National Energy Support Programme (NESP) in Nigeria with €9 million of additional support from the EU.

EU
Stakeholders at the press briefing held in Abuja

This brings to a total of €17.9 million of the co-funded technical assistance that has been invested into the 3rd phase of the NESP, which was earlier supported with €8.9 million by the German government in May 2024.

The launch of the NESP 3rd phase was made known during a press briefing held in Abuja, aimed at promoting investments into the domestic market of the sustainable energy sector in Nigeria to address electricity issues and to increase clean cooking, renewable energy, rural electrification, and energy efficiency for vulnerable communities.

The Head of Section Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Ms. Inga Stefanowicz, described the impact of the programme’s achievements since its 10-year implementation. While speaking at the launch, she said they have supported the Nigerian government in the development of policies and regulations, capacity building of the sector, data for planning, access to finance and investments, and others.

“For example, the development of a one-stop investment platform for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and the development and launch of 37 standard solar PV batteries, inverters, and metres; support to industries under the energy efficiency network (EEN); the initiative to achieve INSO 5001 certifications; the development of the Nigerian building energy efficiency code (BEEC); launch of the centre data management system for electrification planning; and the funding of 25 interconnected mini-grids under the IMAS Scheme,” she stated.

The plans under this new phase (NESP III) are that 154,000 people will have access to new or improved electricity, 30,000 people will get access to LPG for clean cooking, and an installation of 8 megawatts of additional renewable energy capacity for energy supply.

According to the organisers, the NESP was first commissioned in 2013 with €24.5 million co-founded by the EU and the German government. From 2017-2021, the second phase of the NESP received €33 million. The market is worth N9.2 billion annually in a report by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, and the NESP fosters an enabling environment for several value chains while supporting business model cases for off-grid distribution companies to attract investments and funding grants. So far, in Phase 1, six locations have been reached, including Ogun, Cross River, Plateau, Sokoto and Niger.

During the press briefing of the strategic co-investment in the third phase, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman, reiterated the Ministry’s appreciation of the continuous efforts by the EU and the German government in supporting Nigeria’s energy security in an affordable and sustainable way.

He described it as a “welcome idea” that would step ahead from the 2nd phase accomplishments in bringing and the Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2013, which looks to strengthen the electricity market at the sub-national levels.

According to the German Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Johannes Lehne, over 24,000 people are expected to get electricity through renewable energy in Nigeria, including Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun.

He said, “Technologies and investments for renewable energy and energy efficiency will be key for diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix and decarbonising the (5) critical sectors identified in the Energy Transition Plan (ETP).”

The project looks toward a $700 million co-investment involving the EU, the Ministry of Power, and the German government, of which $160 million will be used to install necessary modern transformers for steady electricity, with 35 new transformers expected by 2027. The organisers also believe that interconnected mini-grids (DISCOs) are crucial in Nigeria’s electricity system and that the interconnected mini-grids scheme will be coming up soon.

The co-implementing partner, GIZ, and the Head of Programmes, NESP, Duke Benjamin, revealed that grants are used to support the private sector to increase accessibility and affordability of electricity at the unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria.

He emphasised that “active participation and collaboration with the public and private stakeholders is critical to improving the availability and reliability of energy in Nigeria”.

By Nsikak Emmanuel, Abuja

Minister advocates circular economy to foster sustainable growth

Michael Simire
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Minister advocates circular economy to foster sustainable growth

Nigeria’s environment minister, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has advocated for the adoption of a circular economy as a means of ensuring a balanced ecosystem, which would ensure that environmental protection and sustainable development coexist together.

NESREA
Participants during the workshop on Mainstreaming the Circular Economy in Land Degradation Sectors of Construction, Mining, and Quarrying organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in partnership with the European Union in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital

The minister made the call during a Workshop on Mainstreaming the Circular Economy in Land Degradation Sectors of Construction, Mining, and Quarrying, which was organised by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in partnership with the European Union in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Lawal said while the sectors were vital to Nigeria’s economic development, they are implicated in land degradation, as unregulated mining pits, exhausted quarry sites, deforestation, and polluted environments are clear signs of the imbalance between development and environmental sustainability.

“Our landscapes, ecosystems, and communities bear the brunt of unchecked extraction, resource depletion, and unsustainable development due to construction, mining, and quarrying,” he stated.

Lawal stressed the need for the construction industry to embrace circular economy strategies to reduce its environmental footprint, insisting that the nation must prioritise land rehabilitation in mining and quarrying operations.

Lawal added that the mining and quarrying companies must adopt zero-waste policies and make sure that mining by-products, such as tailings and waste rocks, are repurposed for other industrial uses or construction projects.

In his welcome remarks, the Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, acknowledged that the circular economy offers a transformative structure to ensure resource conservation and regeneration, waste-to-resource systems, and sustainable urbanisation.

Dr. Barikor urged for the collaboration of all stakeholders to ensure the adoption and promotion of sustainable practices to speed up the restoration of our land, regeneration of our ecosystems, and protection of our environment for future generations.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Akintude Yunus, and the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment, Terseer Ugbor, promised that the National Assembly would do its best to ensure the necessary legislative support that is required to promote environmental protection across the country.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja

COP29: UN chief urges action on loss and damage funding

Michael Simire
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COP29: UN chief urges action on loss and damage funding

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, urged nations to increase contributions to a fund supporting developing countries impacted by climate change.

António Guterres
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

Guterres made the appeal at a high-level dialogue on loss and damage funding during the COP29 UN climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“In an era of climate extremes, loss and damage finance is a must, I urge governments to deliver. In the name of justice.

The world is getting hotter and more dangerous, which is “not a matter for debate”, and “climate disasters are piling up – harming those who’ve done the least, the most,” he said.

“Meanwhile, those that contribute more to the destruction – particularly the fossil fuel industry – continue to reap massive profits and subsidies,” he added.

Guterres described the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund as “a victory for developing countries, for multilateralism, and for justice,” but stressed that its initial capitalisation of $700 million “doesn’t come close to righting the wrong inflicted on the vulnerable.”

In fact, this figure is roughly the annual earnings of the world’s 10 best-paid footballers, he said, and does not even account for a quarter of the damage caused in Viet Nam by Hurricane Yagi in September.

“We must get serious about the level of finance required,” he said. “I urge countries to commit new finance to the Fund. And to write cheques to match.”

As “bilateral flows alone won’t suffice”, he called for new responses, and new sources, to meet the scale of need.

In this regard, he urged countries to agree a new climate finance goal that taps innovative resources.

“We need to implement solidarity levies on sectors such as shipping, aviation, and fossil fuel extraction – to help fund climate action. We need a fair price on carbon,” the UN chief said.

“And, more broadly, we also need to support Multilateral Development Banks in order to increase the lending capacity so they are fit to respond to the climate crisis.”

Meanwhile, in a new report presented at COP29 on Tuesday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said climate change has become a growing threat to people already fleeing war, violence and persecution.

The report, “No Escape: On the Frontlines of Climate, Conflict and Displacement”, calls on governments to take stronger action to slash greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming and climate change.

The agency’s first ever report on the impact of climate change found that of the more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, three-quarters live in countries heavily impacted by rising emissions.

Half are in places affected by both conflict and serious climate hazards, such as Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

Furthermore, the number of countries facing extreme climate-related hazards is expected to rise from three to 65 by 2040, and the vast majority host displaced people.

Similarly, most refugee settlements and camps are on track to experience twice as many days of dangerous heat by mid-century.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said climate change is “a harsh reality” that profoundly affects the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.

“The climate crisis is driving displacement in regions already hosting large numbers of people uprooted by conflict and insecurity, compounding their plight and leaving them with nowhere safe to go,” he added.

At COP29, UNHCR is calling for increased climate finance that reaches those most in need.

The agency is also urging states to protect forcibly displaced people who face the additional threat of climate disasters, and to give them and host communities a voice in finance and policy decisions.

By Cecilia Ologunagba

COP29: African negotiators highlight adaptation, climate finance as top priorities

Michael Simire
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COP29: African negotiators highlight adaptation, climate finance as top priorities

As the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened on Monday, November 11, 2024, the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) re-affirmed its position, highlighting adaptation and climate finance as its top priorities.

African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN)
African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) Lead Coordinators

In keeping with the conference theme: “In solidarity for a Green World”, AGN Chair, Ali Mohamed, has underscored the importance of adaptation and climate finance, pointing out that the group has a clear mandate from its leaders to ensure fruitful outcomes on the two agenda items, in solidarity with the continent’s 1.4 billion people.

“As Africa, we will be firm for COP29 to deliver on climate finance and adaptation, regardless of the circumstances surrounding our participation and who we are as a group,” said Ambassador Mohamed.

“We are here, representing the aspirations of 1.4 billion Africans, and we will ensure that we don’t fail. We have a clear mandate from our leaders that the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate finance must align with actual transition costs faced by developing nations, as the current frameworks substantially underestimate the capital required for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) implementation across the continent,” he added.

With a proposed quantum of $1.3 trillion as the minimum annual threshold for climate finance, the African Group has continued to stress the importance of delivering climate resources through concessional instruments and grants, as current market-rate mechanisms have proven wholly insufficient for addressing the scale of adaptation, as well as loss and damage responses required across Africa.

“For us in Africa, adaptation means agriculture support, resilient water infrastructure, and universal health coverage for all, amidst an increased climate-induced disease burden, among other necessary development support. We are therefore not treating our development needs as a separate subject from climate adaptation, which cuts across all our development needs in key sectors,” emphasised the AGN Chair.

The AGN Chair particularly highlighted the urgent need for enhanced climate financing and inclusion of health within the UNFCCC space, in a more structured way.

“Africa group is alive to the urgent need for enhanced climate financing support, with particular emphasis on grant-based and other non-debt burdening financing models for the health sector in Africa. We believe it is also about time for the health sector’s inclusion and active participation within the UNFCCC space, in a more structured way,” said Mohamed.

In addition to adaptation and finance, other priority areas for the African group include: the critical need for formal recognition of Africa’s special circumstances under the Paris Agreement, highlighting the asymmetry between the continent’s minimal emissions (4% of global emissions) and disproportionate vulnerability to climate impacts, mainly seen in agriculture, water, energy and health sectors; the push for the Just Transition work programme to reflect Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principles in its operational frameworks; the call for the operationalization of the fund for Loss and Damage to support African countries in coping with the irreversible impacts of climate change and aid in the recovery of affected communities; and finalisation of rules for carbon markets that are robust and deliver environmental integrity and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.

IOM, UNICEF renew partnership to protect, empower climate-displaced children

Michael Simire
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IOM, UNICEF renew partnership to protect, empower climate-displaced children

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have renewed collaboration to ensure migrant and displaced children are protected, before, during and after climate-related migration and displacement.

Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Abuja.

According to the statement, there were 120 million displaced people at the end of 2023, with children and youth the invisible majority.

IOM said the partnership was signed at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP29) to emphasise the connection between children, young people and the future of the planet.

“The agreement formalised under a four-year Strategic Collaboration Framework will cover the period between 2024 and 2028 and build on the successful collaboration started in 2022.

“Millions of children are already being driven from their homes by weather-related events, exacerbated by climate change. From extreme heat to floods, droughts and hurricanes, the impacts of climate change and displacement continue to intensify.

“Climate change is not only an environmental issue; it is a protection crisis, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable children and families,” IOM noted.

According to the UN Migration Agency, the renewed partnership recognises the need to address how climate change, migration and child rights intersect, and to prioritise children’s protection and well-being. 

The statement quoted Director General of IOM, Amy Pope, to have said that the impacts of climate change drove millions of children from their homes every year.

“This renewed IOM-UNICEF partnership prioritises and strengthens the protection and well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable populations.”

UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, said children and young people who have been uprooted by climate shocks in places like the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and Southeast Asia have the lived experiences and ideas.

Russel said this had given them better ideas on mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

“They must be partners in shaping solutions. Through this partnership, we will work for, and with migrant and displaced children and youth to ensure their needs and priorities are included in climate policy and finance.” 

IOM said the agreement also focuses on solutions to internal displacement, adding that numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) globally continue to rise year on year, with over 75 million people living in displacement at the end of 2023.

It also said as displacement becomes increasingly protracted, children are spending their entire childhoods displaced, often excluded from critical services and exposed to protection risks and discrimination.

“IOM and UNICEF are committed to ensure that prevention and solutions to displacement effectively address the needs and vulnerabilities of children.  

“Governments, donors, development partners and the private sector should join forces to protect, include and empower children on the move for better outcomes for them.

“Stakeholders should ensure more resilient communities and countries today and tomorrow for displaced people,” IOM said.

By Busayo Onijala

Lukashenko criticises rich nation leaders for skipping COP29, Sánchez says world on path to climate ‘catastrophe’

Michael Simire
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Lukashenko criticises rich nation leaders for skipping COP29, Sánchez says world on path to climate ‘catastrophe’

Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, criticised the leaders of rich countries for skipping the climate talks under way in Azerbaijan’s capital and said the climate crisis is being exacerbated by conflicts around the world.

Alexander Lukashenko
Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko

“The people who are responsible for this are absent,” admonished the strongman leader and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech on the second day of the UN climate talks in Baku.

Lukashenko singled out French President Emmanuel Macron, noting that the landmark agreement to pursue efforts to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 Celsius was forged in Paris in 20015.

Macron is just one of several big names missing from the two-week summit in Baku. Others include US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Brazilian President Lula da Silva.

Lukashenko said his own country had nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to global warming and that Belarus was meeting all of its climate obligations.

“We have a war in the Middle East, a war in Ukraine, a war in the south of Yemen – more than 50 conflicts in the world that have a severe impact on the climate,” Lukashenko continued in his speech to the plenary in Baku.

Belarus was a partial staging ground for Putin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In a related development, Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has said that the global community must become more ambitious in reaching its climate targets, pointing to the recent floods in his country that left at least 220 people dead.

Sánchez, speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, called the warming planet an “existential threat” to humanity.

He said all countries are contending with the impacts, from more violent storms to more intense wildfires.

But many governments and businesses still continue to invest in climate-damaging energy sources such as oil and gas, Sánchez said, adding that this was leading to a global “catastrophe.”

The prime minister said “drastic measures” to protect the climate and the targeted rebuilding of cities to withstand global warming is needed. 

Campaigners react as Starmer unveils UK target for 81% carbon emissions cut by 2035

Michael Simire
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Campaigners react as Starmer unveils UK target for 81% carbon emissions cut by 2035

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has said that Britain will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 as he committed the country to a more ambitious climate goal at the United Nations COP29 climate summit.

Keir Starmer
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer

The new goal is in line with a recommendation from a committee of climate advisers who said last month the target should exceed the current 78% cut to emissions, measured against 1990 levels.

“At this COP, I was pleased to announce that we’re building on our reputation as a climate leader, with the UK’s 2035 NDC (nationally determined contributions) target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% on 1990 levels,” Starmer told a press conference on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at the climate gathering in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Starmer said the British public would not be burdened because of the new target, which excludes international aviation and shipping emissions.

“What we’re not going to do, is start telling people how to live their lives. We’re not going to start dictating to people what they do,” he said.

In a reaction, climate NGO, 350.org, welcomed the timely delivery of the new UK climate goal but warned that its ambition falls short of true climate leadership.

Kate Blagojevic, Associate Director of Europe at 350.org, said: “Getting the UK’s more ambitious climate goals out of the door early is a good move by Keir Starmer as it shows willingness to show his cards on an international stage – this is much needed to encourage others to do so. The UK has the potential to become a true global climate leader on the world stage but isn’t quite there yet. For Keir Starmer to claim the coveted mantle in time, the more ambitious emissions reduction targets need to get back on track and be delivered on time without relying on CCS and nuclear power.

“While Keir Starmer might balk at the cost of doing the right thing, the private sector cannot be relied on to deliver what is needed. But he could force billionaires to pay the tax they owe and choose to channel the increased revenue into delivering real climate action at home and globally so we can hit these targets and pay our fair share. When he delivers this, then the UK will truly be at the forefront of global climate leadership.”

Despite these promising developments, campaigners at 350.org stressed that true global climate leadership requires more than incremental progress.

The Director and Founder of Nairobi-based climate and energy think tank, Power Shift Africa, Mohamed Adow, in a response to Starmer’s announcement, argued that the Prime Minister would not be able to create a microclimate over Britain by simply announcing UK emissions reductions.

He said: “Climate change is an international problem demanding international solutions. For the UK to be properly protected, it needs to help the Global South to decarbonise.”

Tzeporah Berman featured on TIME’s 2024 list of 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders

Michael Simire
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Tzeporah Berman featured on TIME’s 2024 list of 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders

Renowned Canadian climate activist and advocate as well as Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Tzeporah Berman, has been named to the 2024 TIME100 Climate List, TIME’s prestigious annual compilation of the most influential and innovative leaders making a difference in the fight against climate change.

Tzeporah Berman
Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Tzeporah Berman

From her early days campaigning in Canada to her current leadership on international platforms, Berman’s dedication to climate action has made her a driving force for systemic change, disclosed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, adding that she has been instrumental in transformative campaigns that have shaped environmental policies and raised public awareness about the urgent need to address climate change by phasing out fossil fuel production.

Berman said: “I am truly honoured to be included in the 2024 TIME100 Climate list. It wasn’t that long ago that those of us calling to keep fossil fuels in the ground were considered radicals. This recognition is a validation of the work of many who have marched, protested and spoken out about the need to stop the relentless expansion of oil, gas and coal and the need for new international cooperation to ensure we move quickly to build cleaner and safer energy systems.

“For decades, impacted communities from Canada to the Amazon have spoken out against new fossil fuel projects and I am honoured to work with them and bring a solution like the Fossil Fuel Treaty centre stage so that they are not fighting alone anymore. Together, we are a force capable of ending the dirty era of fossil fuels. We encourage more countries to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and protect what we love.”

Berman found her voice in 1993 on a logging blockade in Canada’s Clayoquot Sound, the largest remaining temperate growth rainforests in the world, when a friend handed her a megaphone. That summer, at 22 years old, she was arrested and charged with 857 counts of criminal aiding and abetting and faced six years in jail.

What was then called the “War in the Woods” resulted in one of the largest wildlife protection agreements in world history, with 85% of what became known as the Great Bear Rainforest being protected. The Great Bear Rainforest agreement established the right of First Nations in the region to co-manage the Great Bear Rainforest with the government and develop conservation-based economic opportunities.

In the decades since then, Berman has designed successful advocacy campaigns and policies and led environmental negotiations with industry and government. As a co-founder of Stand.earth (previously called ForestEthics), Berman continued her work challenging destructive logging practices in Canada, the Amazon and around the world. What became clear to her is that what lay below forests was threatening ecosystem health and diversity as much as logging – oil and gas and the incessant greed drive to extract it. 

Recognising that the world’s future hinges on our ability to rethink our dependence on fossil fuels, Berman then turned her attention to this threat. She was co-Director of Greenpeace International’s Climate and Energy Programme before moving on to act as Executive Director of the Tar Sands Network to coordinate campaigns in Canada and internationally. This initiative contributed to the rejection of major projects including Northern Gateway and Energy East, and provided a foundation to further expand her work internationally. 

Berman co-found the Global Oil and Gas Network and, in 2019, was awarded the $2 million Climate Breakthrough Project Award to develop a bold new global fossil fuel phase out strategy, the culmination of which was shared via a highly viewed TED Talk presenting the case for a global treaty to phase out fossil fuels.

Today, she leads the bold, groundbreaking Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative she founded, a diverse movement seeking to negotiate a global, binding plan to complement the Paris Agreement by addressing the main causes of the climate crisis – oil, gas and coal. Working alongside a growing group of now 14 nations and 115 local and subnational governments from around the world, Berman is leading the charge to halt the expansion of fossil fuel production, advocating for a just and equitable transition to clean energy.

Kumi Naidoo, recently appointed President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and a longtime mentor for Berman, expressed his admiration for her dedication: “Tzeporah is a trailblazer in the battle for climate justice. Her dedication to mobilising nations and pushing for urgent action on fossil fuels inspires us all. In the face of climate inaction, she is a powerful reminder that we have both the agency and the responsibility to create a sustainable and equitable future. As the world turns its attention toward COP29 – a moment where decisions will shape our collective future, Tzeporah’s recognition reinforces the idea that with courage, determination, and cooperation, we can and must confront the climate crisis head-on.”

Berman has been listed as one of the 35 Most Influential Women in British Columbia by BC Business magazine, awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in British Columbia, and was included into the BC Royal Museum permanent exhibit of one of 150 people who have changed the face of British Columbia. She lives on unceded Tsleiwatuth, Squamish and Musqueam territories in Vancouver, Canada. Berman holds an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia and was an adjunct professor at York University for five years. 

The 2024 TIME100 Climate list features leaders from various backgrounds who are making significant impacts in the realm of environmental policy and action. This year’s edition also includes many champions of the Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative, like the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Susana Muhamad; the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan; Kenyan environmentalist, Wanjira Mathai; and Australian businessman founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, Andrew Forrest.

“As COP29 kicks off in Baku, the recognition of these powerful leaders serves as a powerful reminder to heads of state of the collective responsibility to mobilise resources, influence policy, and drive meaningful change to protect our planet,” submitted the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

OGDC’s first report to baseline, prioritise, track progress on emissions reductions

Michael Simire
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OGDC’s first report to baseline, prioritise, track progress on emissions reductions

The Oil & Gas Decarbonisation Charter (OGDC) published on Monday, November 11, 2024, its Baseline Report, setting a foundation to help prioritise and track progress on emissions reductions made by the 54 oil and gas companies – representing almost 45% of the global oil production, that have signed up to the Charter’s ambitions.

OGDC
A gathering of OGDC memeber CEOs with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) CEO, Sultan Al Jaber, speaking

These ambitions include to work toward net-zero operations by 2050, near-zero upstream methane emissions and zero routine flaring by 2030 in addition to measuring and publicly reporting progress towards meeting OGDC’s goals.

The publication of the Baseline Report is said to be a key milestone for OGDC that sets out the work achieved in the first year since the initiative was launched at COP28.

In the past 12 months, OGDC has established a governance framework and launched a survey to determine signatories’ emissions reduction ambitions and implementation plans to set a baseline to track future progress. OGDC has also implemented a Collaborate & Share programme to disseminate solutions, promote peer-to-peer collaboration and encourage the adoption of best practices to reduce emissions. In a sign of a positive momentum, the initiative has also attracted three new members, with Oil India Limited, PetroChina and Vår Energi joining.

“We are proud of the 54 companies that have already signed up to the Charter and are encouraged by the extent of their commitment in this first major piece of work that helps to establish a basis on which to build future success,” OGDC’s three CEO Champions and founding members – Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) CEO Sultan Al Jaber, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser and TotalEnergies Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné, said in a joint statement.

“Each company is at a different phase of the decarbonisation journey. For some, the Charter reflects existing commitments and aligns with pledges already made via other initiatives. For others, it marks their first steps toward climate action.”

“The diverse nature of our signatories is an opportunity as well as a challenge. Each company brings different experiences, capabilities, stakeholders and national circumstances. Signatories will have the opportunity to learn from the best practices and insights of peers from a wide range of backgrounds and from across the globe,” the CEOs said.

OGDC’s Charter Baselining Survey found that the majority of signatories are already consistent with the Charter’s ambitions for net zero operations by 2050, and goals to reduce methane emissions to near zero and eliminate flaring by 2030. Gaps identified in the survey will help prioritize support and knowledge transfer from companies with relevant experience.

The survey also found that a majority of the signatories already report on their greenhouse gas emissions, though there is a need for common standards and methodologies to establish a robust reporting framework for the group.

According to the survey, most of the signatories are already investing in the energy systems of the future, including renewable energy, energy storage, low-carbon fuels, hydrogen, methane abatement, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and carbon removals technologies, and plan to increase investments.

Bjorn Otto Sverdrup, the head of the OGDC Secretariat, said: “A survey of oil and gas industry climate performance has never been attempted on this scale. Participants ranged from companies that pioneered decarbonisation decades ago to those still in the early phases – all with different capabilities and reporting methods. The lessons learned will be used to improve reporting visibility and data quality and to create more targeted programmes.”

This baseline survey sets the foundation for the collective work ahead: over the next year, OGDC will focus on providing the resources and guidance the signatories need to reduce their GHG emissions, methane emissions and flaring. OGDC will also help signatories to shape their net-zero roadmaps and develop emissions reporting to ensure progress can be tracked and to demonstrate how collective action can deliver positive climate impact on a global scale.

The OGDC is one of the landmark initiatives launched at COP28. It is a global industry effort dedicated to speeding up climate action and achieving high-scale impact across the oil and gas sector. The Charter outlines a series of climate ambitions for signatories, which will be supported by a sustained programme of knowledge sharing and collaboration to accelerate action.

With its broad geographical reach, targeting producing nations in developing economies, the OGDC has the potential to deliver tangible outcomes in support of the world’s move to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions future. The OGDC is a key initiative under the Global Decarbonisation Accelerator (GDA), a series of landmark initiatives launched at COP28 to speed up the energy transition and drastically reduce global emissions.

Shell will continue to power progress on energy security in Nigeria – Okunbor

Michael Simire
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Shell will continue to power progress on energy security in Nigeria – Okunbor

Shell will continue to power progress in the drive for energy security in Nigeria through its businesses in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream and Renewables sectors, Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC,) Osagie Okunbor, said on Monday, November 11, 2024, in Lagos.

Shell
Leadership team of the Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) visit the Shell stand during the opening ceremony of the 2024 conference and exhibition at Eko Hotel, Lagos

In remarks delivered on his behalf by Exploration Manager, Gogo Eneyok, at the opening of the 42nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE,) Okunbor said the range of the Shell businesses were integrated across the energy value chain and working hard to address the challenges as captured in the theme of the event: “Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth & Affordability.”

In addition to SPDC, the other Shell businesses in the country are Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo,) Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Daystar Power and All On as well as Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG,) in which Shell has 25.6% interests.

Okunbor said: “Shell, working with government, regulators and stakeholders, is actively participating in finding a pathway through the energy trilemma. We are focused on generating maximum value and cash to power the country.”

Referring to efforts towards low and zero-carbon products to market, he said: “Shell is deploying latest technologies in reducing emission in our operations and we are well on track to meet our forecasted Green House Gas reduction targets.”

SNG is also increasing domestic gas delivery through its distribution network of 150 kilometres in Nigeria while Daystar and All On are giving individuals and communities access to cleaner and affordable energy.

Okunbor, however, pointed out that for these and other efforts and investments to achieve the desired results, government had to improve the regulatory environment with continuous improvement in the provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act. “The menace of crude theft and illegal refining must also be tackled to safeguard the nation’s resources and protect the environment,” he added.

The opening ceremony of the NAPE conference featured a tour of exhibition stand by the executive members of NAPE. He and other dignitaries were conducted round the Shell stand by Magdalene Umoh, a Senior Production Systems Engineer.  She gave an insight to the milestones of Shell businesses in Nigeria including social investments and development of Nigerian contractors and vendors. The Shell stand is complemented by a well-staffed medical team which is attending to participants and visitors for the duration of the four-day conference.

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