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.
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.”
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.
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.
Bermansaid: “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.
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.
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 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.
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.
As climate negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties COP29 starts, countries have rushed ahead to greenlight international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Coraina de la Plaza, Global Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance
The Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, responsible for setting the rules for the Paris Agreement carbon market, quietly met last month and rebranded their recommendations as “internal standards” – putting them into effect immediately. The decision on the first day of COP29 to take note to this without negotiation, debate or discussion is said to have set a dangerous precedent.
Coraina de la Plaza,Global Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance, said: “COP29 has had a very bad start and sets an appalling precedent from a procedural point of view, but above all, it has taken yet another step on the road to climate disaster by backing false solutions and the interest of a few to the detriment of the planet and peoples. As the last decades have shown, carbon markets are not only a false solution to the climate crisis but also perpetuate the extractive colonial model of development and human rights violations.”
The inclusion of carbon removals opens doors to commercialise several forms of dangerous and risky geoengineering technofixes risking harm to both climate and biodiversity goals.
Silvia Ribeiro, Latin America Director, ETC Group, added: “The COP29 decision supporting carbon markets on its first day is a triple blow against climate justice, nature and communities. It allows the Article 6.4 supervisory body to decide independently and to not be accountable to the Parties, which is a very serious precedent against democracy and transparency at United Nations.
“At the same time, the standards of this unaccountable body open the floodgates for dangerous marine and terrestrial geoengineering experiments to become new business, profiting in the carbon markets, even though they entail serious environmental and social threats and will worsen the climate chaos.”
Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, said: “Carbon markets put Indigenous Peoples’ lives at risk. For over 20 years, these fraudulent mechanisms have allowed fossil fuel industries to continue with impunity. At COP29, the corporate capture has superseded any semblance of UN democracy with a move from the COP Presidency to go rogue and push through Article 6 carbon market methodology and removals texts without following party-driven procedure.
“IEN strongly opposes geoengineering technologies in the activities on removals text, which still has not produced a list of what removals technologies will even be included in A6.4 as an offset. We will continue to voice our opposition against Article 6 carbon market regimes that will further violate the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples and fail to deliver urgent emissions cuts.”
“The decision made at COP29 could undermine precaution on geoengineering called for by the biodiversity convention. By legitimising large-scale Carbon Dioxide Removal for offsetting purposes, the climate convention puts itself at odds with its biodiversity counterpart, thereby risking exacerbating both the climate and biodiversity crises,” addedLinda Schneider, Senior Programme Officer at the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
Multi-faith leaders in Nigeria have called on the government to ensure justice and equality in implementing the nation’s energy transition programme to protect the environmental and health rights of people living in areas contaminated by fossil fuels.
Participants at a two-day Multi-Faith Leaders National Consultative Dialogue on Medium and Long-term Climate Goals organised by GreenFaith Nigeria in partnership with Eco Steward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF), GreenFaith Africa, The Kukah Centre, and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital
The representatives, who made the call at the end of a two-day Multi-Faith Leaders National Consultative Dialogue on Medium and Long-term Climate Goals organised by GreenFaith Nigeria in partnership with Eco Steward and Humanitarian Foundation (EHF), GreenFaith Africa, The Kukah Centre and Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, also want Shell, ENI, TotalEnergies, CNOOC, and other extractive corporations to clean up their mess, pay, and cease their operations due to the negative impact of their activities on the residents.
“We, multi-faith leaders from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, coming from different faith communities – Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and traditional communities – speak with one voice on the urgent need for a just transition from fossil fuels to a renewable, sustainable future for all Nigerians,” the group said in a statement it issued after the meeting.
Historical Context of Fossil Fuel Exploration in Africa
This irresponsible environmental activity typically exacerbates climate change and causes social disparities such as land grabs, rapid biodiversity loss, and visible large-scale environmental contamination across borders. Other areas where the effects of this ecological disaster can be felt are the increasing number of displaced people and their livelihoods, communal conflicts, and violations of human rights.
Since the discovery of fossil fuel and its exploration, it has never been on record that Nigeria or other African countries where this natural resource is endowed have potentially benefitted from it because of overbearing influences by European, North American, and Chinese extractive firms, financial institutions, and national governments combined with weak regulatory, legal, and financial systems that promote corruption. To make matters worse, it is also believed that more than 85% of the fossil fuels produced by African projects are exported, which has a significant impact on the continent’s energy development.
Ecological conservation and spiritual obligation
Every faith teaches and mandates its believers to safeguard the environment and promote equality and social justice, especially among those who are vulnerable in society. This belief is not just taught to enhance public good; rather, it is because these morals are deeply encoded in their holy books. They require every devotee who is guided by scripture to have faith in the sanctity of the Earth and the responsibility to protect its resources for present and future generations.
Consequently, prioritising these obligations by the government and international development collaborators when executing the energy transition strategy is very important to safeguard a future that promises the well-being of every Nigerian. To encourage the promotion of this divine mandate, the spiritual authorities summed their plea into a nine-point agenda plan.
Demand and Call to Action
First, in order to promote equality and justice, they want local communities to be consulted and faith leaders to be fully included in the decision-making process about the energy transition.
The religious body is also urging for the promotion of equal access to renewables to alleviate energy poverty in communities impacted by fossil fuel exploitation. Community awareness is another vital issue they desire to rapidly address because effective climate action and contributing to a greener future necessitate strong public education.
How to support fossil fuel workers and affected communities, conserve the ecosystem, and end new projects also topped their list of what they are seeking because they believe that continuing fossil fuel exploration is incompatible with the country’s commitment to climate justice and its adverse consequences on the global call to limit warming to 1.5°C. Financial and policy support, global solidarity, collaboration with the media, and the national orientation agency are other aspects that are craving attention because of the role they play in ensuring that the transition targets are successfully met.
“Today, we are not only envisioning a better future but are committed to taking bold steps to bring that vision to life,” Pius Oko, the Programme Manager, GreenFaith Africa, said in his remarks at the parley. His organisation and collaborators put the event together to use it as a powerful platform to unite these faith leaders and strengthen their capacity to mobilise followers to chart a fair path that is devoid of fossil fuels to an equitable, renewable future across regions.
Mr. Oko, in his message of appreciation, commended the faith leaders for standing with courage and conviction and for their dedication to a Nigeria where every community can thrive in harmony with nature.
Fossil fuels exploration and its aftermath impact on the ecosystem, according to Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, Executive Director, The Kukah Centre (TKC), comes at a profound cost.
“Our land, once abundant and fertile, bears the scars of exploitation – oil spills have poisoned our waters, gas flares have darkened our skies, and communities have been torn apart by environmental degradation and economic disparity,” he lamented in a faith statement titled Nigeria’s Fossil Fuel Legacy and Our Moral Imperative for a Just Energy Transition.
It is no secret; the cleric goes on to explain that the Niger Delta, where much of the country’s oil is extracted, continues to suffer under the weight of these injustices, underscoring the fact that the impacts of this extractive industry are not limited to the physical environment but have socially displaced several communities, deeper inequality, and the erosion of livelihoods.
Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels for economic growth, he added, has stunted diversification and innovation, while politically expanding the corrupting power of the fossil fuel industry at every level of government, expressed not infrequently through violence against those who oppose further destructive development.
“And spiritually, we are reminded that this unsustainable path contradicts our sacred duty as stewards of God’s creation,” Rev. Fr. Barkindo stated, asserting that, “as people of faith, we must be at the forefront of this transition. Our voices carry the weight of moral authority, and our actions can inspire hope and change. We must remind our leaders that economic growth should not come at the expense of human life or the health of our planet.”
In the same vein, Imam Faud Adeyemi, the Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, acknowledged that the role of faith leaders in advocating for equity and justice has always held a unique position of influence in the country.
Imam Faud, who was represented at the occasion by Idris Ibrahim, Director of Finance, Business, and Human Development, described faith leaders as trusted voices and often serving as pillars of strength and guidance in our communities. This role, he elaborated, places a profound responsibility upon them to not only raise awareness but to lead the way in advocating for a transition to a clean energy future that leaves no one behind.
“We are at a crossroads, and as faith leaders, we have the opportunity – and the responsibility – to guide our communities towards a path of hope and transformation. Our role is not only to preach about a clean energy future but to work actively to bring it about. This is a journey that requires courage, compassion, and the collective effort of every individual in this hall,” he noted.
Meryne Warah, Green-faith Global Director of Programmes, wants faith leaders to use their platforms to raise awareness on issues happening in their communities. This, according to her, is because movement and community building is not just about protests alone; it is also about how to talk to people and letting them know what is going on around them.
“It is not only about going to the street; it is also about how you use the platform that you have to raise issues that are happening in the community,” she said. It is very important because these communities in need do not have the kind of access the faith leaders have to intervene whenever any problem occurs.
Conclusion
To achieve Nigeria’s energy transition goal, faith leaders must serve as stewards and educators within their congregations and communities and promote values of environmental responsibility and sustainable practices. They have to advocate for justice, protect the weak, speak up for the voiceless, and defend the cause of the poor.
This dialogue has reinforced the belief that an inclusive energy transition could be accomplished and needs to represent Nigerians’ values and their faith. Additionally, it has demonstrated that a fair and just renewable future is achievable and that, with cooperation, compassion, and trust, this vision can be realised for Nigeria and the rest of the globe.
This segment of the story opens with the next act of this monstrous environmental crime. The unbelievable plan, bordering on the insane, to build a residential estate on the floodplain of a river with a well-documented history of repeated flood disasters.
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State
A floodplain is a flat or gently sloping area next to a river, stretching from the banks of the river to the base of the enclosing valley, which experiences flooding during periods of high discharge.
As one author puts it: “A floodplain is called a floodplain, because it floods.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
The whole point of a floodplain is that it absorbs excess water from the river rushing through it, thus reducing the risk of flooding in built up areas.
In recent weeks, workers at the site of the proposed Baywood Estate, have been attempting to sand- fill the swampy area surrounding Agodi with the redder laterite soil.
The reason that area is swampy, is because it is a massive floodplain for the Ogunpa River. It is a popular misconception that sand-filling absorbs water.
It does not. It displaces water.
The pertinent question would be, WHERE will all that water on the Ogunpa River floodplain be displaced to?
Sand-filling a floodplain and then placing concrete structures on it, might deceive an unsuspecting property buyer, but it will not deceive Nature.
What the sandfill does is to reduce the carrying capacity of the floodplain, leading to an increase in flood risk, especially in lower lying neighborhoods.
Dejo Oyelese and Francis Okediji streets and beyond, where some homeowners are still struggling to rebuild after the blast explosion of January 2024, spring to mind.
Downstream, the lower-lying neighbourhoods on either side of the Ogunpa River, channelised or not, will be at very great risk of flooding.
Partly because the floodplain in the murdered Ogunpa Forest Reserve is being tampered with. And partly because there are now several million more gallons of water, released by the deforestation of the Ogunpa River watershed to contend with.
And needless to say, any home built by unscrupulous property developers on the floodplain for the Ogunpa River, will be regularly exposed to flooding events.
Which will eventually impact on the overlying structures, if the floods don’t wash away the homeowners first.
If the property developers had any iota of conscience, they would have first attempted to understand the nature of the river whose floodplain they are now trying frantically to fill. With red laterite soil of all things.
Even in the wide concrete-banked channelized stretches of the river, during a torrential downpour, the Ogunpa River with its high-velocity, extremely turbulent flow, is not a force to be taken lightly.
I dread to think how it will react in its unchannelised state, as it roars through its narrow river channel in the valley of the denuded Ogunpa Forest Reserve, now that its floodplain and watershed forest have been destroyed.
Countries with access to considerably more advanced civic engineering technologies than ours, threw caution to the winds and built on their flood plains.
Now they are complaining about an increase in the incidence of flooding in their cities. And blaming it on climate change.
Let’s see what Baywood Infrastructures Limited and the Oyo State Government authorities are going to blame our flooding incidents on, now that they have uprooted the flood buffer of Ogunpa Forest Reserve and poured more red soil on top of the Ogunpa floodplain.
In the past few months, environmentalists have spoken extensively on the dangers of uprooting over 50 hectares of a forest that slowed down rainwater by absorbing it.
Thus, preventing it from rushing headlong into the Ogunpa River during torrential downpours. But has any of us stopped to consider that we now have an added problem of over 50 hectares of raw red soil, or should I say mud, fully exposed to the elements, with no tree roots to anchor it?
That’s a lot of red soil to leave lying around next to a narrow flood- prone river.
Every time it rains, larger and larger quantities of that red earth are being rapidly eroded and deposited in the Ogunpa River, within the confines of its concrete-walled trench that runs beside Secretariat Road, as it races into downtown Ibadan.
At this section of the Ogunpa River, there will be at least three significant sources of water to contend with.
• The already huge overload of water in the swollen river with no floodplain to absorb it.
• The unprecedented volume of water from the massive storm water run-off, previously captured by 50 hectares of trees.
• An additional contribution of wastewater and effluent from the residential estate itself.
And keep in mind that the water holding capacity of over 50 hectares of trees will be equivalent to the size of a small lake.
Releasing all that water into the high-velocity, flashflood-prone Ogunpa River will be a massive provocation.
I wonder how long it will take, before the notorious Ogunpa River, pushed to the limits of its endurance, decides to remind us that Nature stands supreme, and presents us with another sensational flood disaster.
By Rosalie Ann Modder-Oyefeso, on behalf of The Save Our Green Spaces Group and The Ogunpa Forest Reserve Team
Remarks made by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, at the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday, November 11, 2024
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. Photo credit: Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change
In tough times, up against difficult tasks, I don’t go in for hopes and dreams.
What inspires me is human ingenuity and determination. Our ability to get knocked down and to get up again over and over again, until we accomplish our goals.
The lady I’m standing with, in this picture, is my neighbour, Florence, in Carriacou. In July this year, this was us, standing in all that remained of her home after the devastation of Hurricane Beryl.
At 85, Florence has become one of the millions of victims of runaway climate change this year alone.
She was focused on one thing: Being strong for her family and strong for her community.
And there are people like Florence in every country on Earth. Knocked down, and getting back up again.
This UNFCCC process is the only place we have to address the rampant climate crisis, and to credibly hold each other to account to act on it.
And we know this process is working. Because without it, humanity would be headed towards five degrees of global warming.
In these halls, we negotiate on specific pieces of the puzzle each year. It can feel far away from what’s happening in Florence’s living room. We cannot afford to continue up-ending lives and livelihoods in every nation – so let’s make this real:
Do you want your grocery and energy bills to go up even more?
Do you want your country to become economically uncompetitive?
Do you really want even further global instability, costing precious life?
This crisis is affecting every single individual in the world one way or another.
And I’m as frustrated as anyone that one single COP can’t deliver the full transformation that every nation needs. But if any of your answers to those questions was no, then it is here that Parties need to agree a way out of this mess.
That’s why we’re here in Baku. We must agree a new global climate finance goal.
If at least two thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation pays a brutal price.
If nations can’t build resilience into supply chains, the entire global economy will be brought to its knees. No country is immune.
So, let’s dispense with the idea that climate finance is charity. An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every single nation, including the largest and wealthiest.
But it’s not enough to just agree on a goal. We must work harder to reform the global financial system. Giving countries the fiscal space they so desperately need.
And here in Baku, we must get international carbon markets up and running, by finalising Article 6.
We need to move forward on mitigation, so targets from Dubai are realized.
We mustn’t let 1.5 slip out of reach. And even as temperatures rise, the implementation of our agreements must claw them back.
Clean energy and infrastructure investment will reach two trillion dollars in 2024. Almost twice that of fossil fuels.
The shift to clean-energy and climate-resilience will not be stopped. Our job is to accelerate this and make sure its huge benefits are shared by all countries and all people.
We must agree adaptation targets. You can’t manage what you don’t measure. And we need to know if we’re on a pathway to increasing resilience.
And we must continue to improve the new mechanisms for financial and technical support on loss and damage.
We can’t make decisions in the dark. Biennial Transparency Reports, due this year, will give us a clearer picture of the progress we’re making, and the gaps that we need to fill.
Next year, all countries will deliver their third generation of national climate plans – NDCs.
To support countries in creating and communicating them, the UNFCCC will launch a Climate Plan Campaign.
It will mobilise action from all stakeholders, and align with the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the incoming Brazilian COP Presidency.
In parallel, we’ll re-start Climate Weeks from 2025. Aligning them more closely with our process and the outcomes it must deliver.
At the Secretariat, we will continue to work tirelessly with what we have got, while being clear on what funding we need, so we can deliver on what’s increasingly being asked of us.
And we will keep focus on the safe, inclusive, and meaningful participation of all observers at this COP.
In the past few years, we’ve taken some historic steps forward. We cannot leave Baku without a substantial outcome. Appreciating the importance of this moment, Parties must act accordingly.
Show determination and ingenuity here at COP29 – We need all parties to push for agreement right from the start – To stand and deliver.
Now it is the time to show that global cooperation is not down for the count. So, I urge you all, let us rise together.
Group CEO of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari has reiterated the company’s commitment to resolving Nigeria’s energy trilemma, by ensuring energy security, sustainable growth and energy affordability.
GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition themed: “Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability” in Lagos, on Monday
Kyari disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition themed: “Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth and Affordability” in Lagos, on Monday, November 11, 2024.
The GCEO, who was Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, also said the company has perfected plans to deliver 12 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mother Stations and Mini LNG Plants soon, as part of efforts to boost the existing 1.6bscf of gas supply for domestic market.
“The energy trilemma is a profound responsibility we shoulder as stewards of Nigeria’s energy future. NNPC Ltd is working tirelessly to improve our supply chain, develop new refining capacities and expand our retail network,” Kyari stated.
According to him, NNPC Ltd is set to collaborate with private refineries to ensure affordable and sustainable petroleum products supply; Naira-for-crude transactions in order to stabilise the local currency and regulate forex markets.
This, he added, will bring about expansion of gas infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipelines projects and the development of cleaner energy options, such as Liquiefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“Currently, NNPC Ltd supplies over 1.6 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas per day to the domestic market through infrastructure we either own outright or operate with partners. This distribution network is entirely managed on NNPC Ltd.’s balance sheet,” Kyari added.
Explaining that the Company is expanding its efforts to enhance domestic energy access, the NNPC Ltd helmsman said the next three to six months will see significant project launches, including CNG mother stations, mini-LNG plants, and additional CNG daughter stations.
Kyari, who commended President Tinubu’s efforts to relieve forex pressures by reducing fuel imports and strengthening Nigeria’s local refining capacity, emphasised the need for collaboration, innovation, and technology in achieving Nigeria’s energy goals.
“Resolving the energy trilemma requires bold ideas, shared knowledge, and collective determination. Together, let us build a Nigeria where energy is secure, sustainable, and affordable for all.”
On NNPC Ltd’s mandate to guarantee energy security as stipulated by the Petroleum Industry Act, Kyari said the company has fostered partnerships and investments aimed at enhancing local production and generating revenue for economic diversification.
Reacting to claims that NNPC Ltd is sabotaging the efforts of domestic refineries, Kyari said the NNPC Ltd is part-owners of the Dangote Refinery, stressed further that such investment is a strategic move aimed at strengthening domestic fuel supply.
Another round of climate change talks is here again at Baku, Azerbaijan, to address the rampant climate crisis.
COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev, speaking at the official opening of COP29
“This crisis is affecting every single individual in the world in one way or another,” acknowledged Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change at the opening of COP29 on Monday, November 11, 2024.
The 29th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) climate change negotiations has been dubbed the “Climate Finance COP” as a new climate finance target is sought to help developing countries overcome their vulnerabilities to the climate crisis.
“We must agree a new global climate finance goal,” said Stiell. “If at least two thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation pays a brutal price”.
Civil society organisations like 350.org are making it clear that fair, equitable finance is the bridge to climate action.
At COP29, they are demanding countries pledge to an ambitious climate finance goal, or New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of at least $1 trillion, which must be in the form of grants and based on the financial, climate and social needs of the Global South.
Countries are also to agree to put forward climate goals – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – in line with fairly tripling renewable energy capacity and phasing out fossil fuels by 2030.
According to Stiell, if nations can’t build resilience into supply chains, the entire global economy will be brought to its knees, emphasizsng that “no country is immune”.
“Let’s dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity. An ambitious new climate finance goal is entirely in the self-interest of every nation, including the largest and wealthiest,” he noted.
There is also an expected acceleration of the shift to clean-energy and climate-resilience.
African CSOs posture
African Civil Society leaders are urging a focus on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to achieve substantial and equitable financing solutions for climate action.
Under the aegis of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), the CSOs highlighted the urgent need for global commitments on adaptation, just transition, critical minerals, mitigation, and transparency in carbon markets.
“We call for the establishment of an ambitious sub-goal for adaptation finance that prioritises public, grant-based support for developing countries, responding to needs outlined in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and other national plans,” reads the statement.
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of PACJA, emphasised that COP29’s NCQG negotiations must address Africa’s pressing adaptation needs as well as Loss and Damage.
“If the NCQG fails to consider the adaptation needs of vulnerable populations, COP29 will not meet the threshold to be a genuine Climate Finance COP,” he stated.
The adaptation finance gap for developing nations remains significant – currently 10 to 18 times greater than actual international financial flows, which amount to approximately $20 billion per year. This falls well short of the estimated $166 billion – $366 billion needed annually to meet adaptation demands.
Prof. Seth Osafo, Senior Legal Advisor at the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), said it’s hard to talk about the NCQG leaving behind considerations of other dimensions.
“We must reimagine the quality of finance, moving beyond debt-based approaches – currently at 72% – to include concessional loans, grants, and innovative financing mechanisms.
Additionally, funding must be accessible, predictable, and structured to prioritise essential sub-goals, including Loss and Damage, while aligning on whether a single-layer or multi-layer approach best serves the mobilisation and provision of funds,” Prof Osafo stated.
As the COP29 discussions begin, African Civil Society wants world leaders to prioritise issues that meet the urgent needs of African communities on the frontlines of climate change.
Greenpeace Africa posture
As COP29 opens in Baku, Greenpeace Africa called on world leaders to deliver ambitious climate finance to African nations bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. With climate finance to developing countries dwarfed by fossil fuel industry’s profits and subsidies, African communities – who have contributed least to the crisis – are calling for immediate implementation of a Climate Damages Tax on polluters to fund loss and damage reparation.
Murtala Touray, Programme Director at Greenpeace Africa, said: “Africa stands at a critical crossroads. Establishing an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is crucial for scaling up climate finance to developing countries, particularly in Africa to tackle the scale of the prevailing crisis. As world leaders discuss, they should bear in mind the devastating droughts in the Horn of Africa and catastrophic flooding in West and Southern Africa that continue to threaten lives, livelihoods, and food security across the continent. Without a scaled-up climate finance that is fit for purpose, most African countries will be unable to deliver on their NDCs.”
While Africa contributes the least to global emissions, it suffers the most severe consequences of climate change. The time has come for wealthy nations and fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share. Greenpeace Africa demands the implementation of a Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuel extraction to ensure climate justice for marginalised African communities.
Research shows climate change could cost African economies 15% of GDP by 2030. At the same time, Africa has 40% of global solar potential but receives only 2% of renewable energy investment, while renewable energy projects create 3-5 times more jobs than fossil fuel projects. It stands to reason that more investments should go into the renewable energy sector in Africa.
Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist at Greenpeace Africa, said: “African nations possess immense potential to lead the global transition to renewable energy, but this potential is undermined by continued fossil fuel exploitation and inadequate climate finances. The implementation of the COP29 agreement must deliver concrete plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal, specifically on a new collective quantified goal on finance. We refuse to let COP29 become another platform for empty promises, promoting false solutions and greenwashing.”
Greenpeace Africa’s key demands for COP29 include:
Implementation of a Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuel companies to fund loss and damage reparation
Significant increase in public climate finance through the NCQG, prioritising African nations’ adaptation and mitigation needs
Concrete commitments for a rapid and just transition away from fossil fuels
Strong safeguards against false solutions such as carbon offsets that threaten Africa’s carbon-dense ecosystems
Recognition and elevation of African voices, including youth activists, indigenous communities, and civil society organisations in addressing the climate crisis.
Opening plenary concerns
The 29th Climate Conference (COP29) started on Monday, November 11, and delegates are already expressing reservations over some maneuvers they feel can weaken climate action.
At the opening plenary, states made the unprecedented decision to approve rules on carbon markets early and without due process. In October, a small technical committee mandated to supervise carbon markets (the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body) took the unprecedented move of finalising and putting into effect rules related to carbon removal – mostly speculative approaches intended to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – as part of carbon market mechanisms. This move de-facto bypasses States’ ability to revise and strengthen the standards.
Erika Lennon, CIEL’s Senior Attorney, said: “Today, States allowed this rogue move from the Supervisory Body to prevail in the quest to start COP29 with a ‘win’. But this is hardly a win for people or the planet. Approving these carbon market rules without discussion or debate, sets a dangerous precedent for the entire negotiation process.
“This is very concerning from a procedural standpoint: it bypasses States’ ability to even discuss, much less revise the standards before they go into effect. States’ oversight is all the more critical as the Supervisory Body’s efforts to get this done has resulted in risky rules that will lead to human rights violations and environmental harm.
“While States won’t be able to undo this move, they can still partially correct the wrong by giving strong guidance to the Supervisory Body that ensures further rules are adopted in line with science, human rights, and international law.”
