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 At COP29, the corporate capture has superseded any semblance of UN democracy with a move from the COP Presidency to go rogue and push through Article 6 carbon market methodology and removals texts without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.”
Since the reduction of CO2 emissions is too slow to limit global heating to 1.5°C, a great deal of CO2 must be removed from the atmosphere. Depending on the scenario, this will cost up to 2 percent of annual global economic output in 2050. This effort is economically imperative because the climate damage per tonne of CO2 is many times higher.
Ottmar Edenhofer, Chief Economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
However, this would overburden state budgets, so a financial architecture is needed to mobilise private capital. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and KfW, one of the world’s leading promotional banks, are now making a joint proposal at the World Climate Summit.
The economic costs of the climate crisis are already becoming all too clear, according to a discussion paper prepared by PIK and KfW. PIK Director and climate economist Ottmar Edenhofer and KfW CEO Stefan Wintels will present the document on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at a joint event on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 29, in Baku.
According to recent research, annual climate damages worldwide are expected to grow to trillions by 2050, compared to a scenario without climate change. The economic damage caused by the emission of one tonne of CO2 is estimated at 1,000 euros and higher. By comparison, the price of the corresponding permit in European emissions trading – for the operators of coal-fired power plants or cement factories, for example – is currently around 65 euros.
The discussion paper written by PIK and KfW Research outlines the option of integrating carbon removals into the existing emissions trading system. This requires a rapid expansion of the market. Promotional banks like KfW could play a crucial role in advancing market development by launching early purchase programmes and assuming risk.
For example, “clean-up certificates” can create incentives for private-sector demand in the early stages of the new market. Instead of paying money up-front for a conventional emission allowance, companies would use this new instrument to commit to having the CO2 removed from the atmosphere at a later date – preferably using new, high-quality processes such as air filter systems or artificially accelerated weathering of rock.
To ensure a positive impact on the climate, transparent regulation, effective control and quality-assurance systems are crucial. A yet-to-be-established European institution would have to ensure liquidity and stability of the market. Retrieval and storage of CO2 as the third pillar of climate policy
“Time is of the essence for such an expansion,” emphasises PIK Director Ottmar Edenhofer. “If we now stimulate demand for carbon removals in this way, it can bridge the Valley of Death between technical innovation and marketability in the emerging removal industry, which will have to operate on the gigatonne scale by mid-century. Moreover, operating through the existing EU emissions trading scheme for electricity and energy-intensive industries will only work for a limited time; under current legislation, the number of emission permits will drop to zero in 2039.”
The discussion paper classifies the retrieval and storage of CO2 as the third pillar of climate policy, alongside rapid emission reduction towards zero, and adaptation to climate change. The paper emphasises the need to strengthen the incentive effect of carbon pricing for carbon removal activities through targeted government support.
For example, the public sector could provide grants, premiums or tax incentives to promote research and development. It can also improve the framework conditions for private venture capital. Promotional loans can incentivise pilot projects and the market diffusion of removal technologies.
“The market is currently experiencing a race of discovery, with high uncertainties regarding the technological and economic success of projects,” explains KfW CEO, Stefan Wintels. “In such a situation, creative power is needed. New structures of governance, markets and financing are required to integrate private capital and establish markets.”
In view of the current UN Climate Change Conference, PIK and KfW also highlight how carbon removal can act as a game changer in international climate policy. The Global South has natural advantages as a provider of removals, whereas the bulk of demand has so far come from industrialised countries. This ties in with a hot topic on the agenda of this year’s summit: Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which in principle allows voluntary climate cooperation between states, and cross-border crediting of success.
Green Clean Energy and Gas Practitioners Association in Nigeria (GCEGPAN) has called for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.
National Chairman, GCEGPAN, Mr. Emmanuel Great
The National Chairman, GCEGPAN, Mr. Emmanuel Great, stated this at a news conference on Monday, November 11, 2024, in Abuja.
He said climate change is not just an environmental issue but a profound threat to health, economies, and the very fabric of societies.
“The overwhelming scientific consensus confirms that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary drivers of this crisis.
“The impacts are already being felt around the globe, from rising sea levels and extreme weather events to biodiversity loss and food insecurity,” he said.
Great said that climate change worsens air pollution, spreads diseases, and increases heat-related illnesses.
“Proactive measures can mitigate these health risks and improve the quality of life for millions,” he said.
He said that earth’s ecosystems were under severe stress, adding that many species are facing extinction, and critical habitats are being destroyed.
“By taking action, we can preserve biodiversity and ensure a healthier planet for future generations,” he said.
“By addressing climate change, we can promote social equity and ensure that all people have access to the resources needed to thrive,” he said.
Great called for reduction in carbon emissions, reduction in environmental waste as well as conservation of energy to support sustainable development.
“Transitioning to a sustainable economy, investing in renewable energy, and promoting green jobs can drive economic growth while safeguarding our environment,” he said.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has frowned at alleged extortions of petroleum marketers by perceived state government agents.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil)
The Delta State Coordinator of the NMDPRA, Mr. Victor Ohwodiasa, in an interview in Warri on Monday, November 11, 2024, said that the authority would not tolerate the act.
According to him, “we have been receiving complaint from marketers that some group of persons who claimed to be working for some agents of the government are extorting money from them.
“We will not tolerate that. If there are issues regarding any operation they noticed is not being done well, they should report to us and we will take necessary actions.
He urged the public to respect the provision of Section 48 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021 which stipulated that any agency or government that wanted to conduct any activity within the Oil and Gas sector should liaised with the NMDPRA.
He explained that the essence of the provision was to avoid unnecessary disruption in the distribution of petroleum products within and outside the state.
He cited the section to have clearly stated that “Any government ministry, department or agency exercising any power or functions or taking any action which may have direct impact on Midstream or Downstream petroleum operation shall consult with the Authority prior to:
“Issuing any regulation, guideline, enforcement order and directives, exercising any such power or function or taking any such action.
“The authority shall review the recommendation of the government ministry, department or agency, and communicate decisions accordingly, and decision shall be complied with by the relevant government ministry, department or agency”.
Ohwodiasa urged the public to be aware of the provisions of the Section, noting that the NMDPRA had been receiving complaints from petroleum marketers on the activities of some individuals.
“But for people to be going about in the name of working within the Oil and Gas sector, we will not tolerate that,” he said.
The coordinator added that he was yet to get details on the allegations, including the respective government agency involved in the illegal activities.
“Once I get the details, I will address and acquaint them with the provisions of the law. Such act is termed illegal and is against the law of the land,” Ohwodiasa said.
He said that Oil and Gas was in the exclusive list of the government, noting that whoever wants to invest in the industry should approach the authority.
He reiterated that the NMDPRA was ready to collaborate with investors so long as their motive was to ensure smooth distribution of petroleum products within the state and the country.
The Yobe State Government says it will suspend the use fossil fuels for solar energy to provide power for public secondary schools in the state in 2025.
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State
Alhaji Baba Malam-Wali, the Secretary to the State Government, disclosed this to newsmen during an inspection of some ongoing government projects in schools in Nguru, on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Some of the schools visited include Government Higher Islamic College, Nguru; Government Day Secondary School, Gashua; Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Yobe Campus; and Government Girls Unity College, Damaturu, among others.
He said that the move was part of government’s broader plan to improve the quality of education in the state.
Malam-Wali highlighted the state government’s multi faceted approach to educational reform, citing several key initiatives undertaken since 2019, including decongestion of schools.
He said that government had constructed new model schools to address overcrowding in urban areas and has collaborated with traditional rulers to improve pupils’ enrolment in primary schools in rural areas.
Malam-wali also said that the state government paid fees for candidates for the 2025 West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and National Examination Council (NECO), ensuring no financial burden on parents.
He added that state had also established additional secondary schools for girls, empowering young women to pursue their academic aspirations without hinderance.
Malam-wali further said that Yobe government had invested heavily in school rehabilitation, including the provision of furniture and other essential facilities.
The SSG said that the state free feeding programme for secondary school students was underway, costing the government about N500 million monthly.
Some principals of secondary schools visited in Nguru, who spoke on behalf of their colleagues, expressed gratitude to the state government for its unwavering support.
The principals acknowledged the positive impact of government initiatives on student enrolment, academic performance, and overall school infrastructure.
One of the principals, Mr Hasibullahi Jogi of NTIC, Yobe Campus, praised the state government’s support and commitment to the education sector.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rajab Ismail, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe Council, who led the team of journalists on the inspection, emphasised the importance of accurate and unbiased reporting.
Ismail urged journalists to prioritise national unity and development by setting aside personal biases and affiliations.
He encouraged them to maintain objectivity in their reporting.
