In a significant development in the carbon credit industry, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed charges against two individuals involved in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, with potential implications for projects in Zimbabwe.
The clean cookstoves imported under the N9.2 billion Federal Government project several years. The US case involves manipulating data to exaggerate the success of cookstoves projects in reducing carbon emission
On October 2, 2024, the DOJ announced charges against Kenneth Newcombe, 77, of Santa Barbara, California, and Tridip Goswami, a resident of India.
The pair are accused of orchestrating fraud within the carbon markets through their company, CQC Impact Investors LLC.
The charges allege that Newcombe, CEO of CQC, and Goswami, Head of CQC’s Carbon & Sustainability Accounting Team, along with others, fraudulently obtained carbon credits worth tens of millions of dollars and secured an investment exceeding $100 million through deceptive practices.
CQC’s involvement in Zimbabwe adds a layer of international concern to the case.
The company’s website touts cookstove projects in the African nation, describing Zimbabwe as “in urgent need of a fuel efficient clean cookstove programme.” CQC claims to have laid groundwork for a 200,000-stove programme in Zimbabwe in 2019, including obtaining government approval and conducting a pilot project.
The fraud allegedly involved manipulating data to exaggerate the success of cookstove projects in reducing carbon emissions.
In one instance, when survey data from projects in Malawi and Zambia showed lower-than-expected emission reductions, the conspirators reportedly agreed to “revise” the results, enlisting an outsider to fill out fraudulent survey forms.
The scheme also allegedly involved misrepresenting the number of operational stoves in CQC’s projects to a carbon credit issuer, referred to as “Issuer-1” in the indictment.
This misrepresentation allowed CQC to claim more Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) than warranted.
The DOJ claims that Newcombe’s aggressive expansion of CQC’s cookstove projects from 2020 led to significant quality issues, including poor installation practices and false claims of stove installations. Instead of addressing these issues, the defendants allegedly conspired to conceal the problems from Issuer-1.
U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams, said: “As alleged, Kenneth Newcombe and Tridip Goswami, among others, engaged in a multi-year scheme to fraudulently obtain carbon credits by using manipulated and misleading data. They then sold those credits to unsuspecting buyers in the multi-billion-dollar global market for carbon credits.
“The alleged actions of the defendants and their co-conspirators risked undermining the integrity of that market, which is an important part of the fight against climate change. Protecting the sanctity and integrity of the financial markets continues to be a cornerstone initiative for this Office, and we will continue to be vigilant in rooting out fraud in the market for carbon credits.”
The alleged fraud extended beyond carbon credits.
Newcombe and others at CQC are accused of deceiving an investor into agreeing to invest up to $250 million in the company, including a personal windfall for Newcombe of over $16 million for his shares.
Both Newcombe and Goswami face multiple charges, including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, commodities fraud conspiracy, and commodities fraud.
Newcombe faces additional charges of securities fraud conspiracy and securities fraud. If convicted, they could face significant prison sentences, with some charges carrying maximum terms of up to 20 years.
In a related development, Jason Steele, 47, of Arlington, Virginia, CQC’s former Chief Operating Officer, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, commodities fraud conspiracy, and securities fraud conspiracy for his role in the scheme.
His sentencing date is pending.
This case highlights growing concerns about the integrity of the voluntary carbon market, which has been seen as a key tool in combating climate change.
It also raises questions about the impact on projects in countries like Zimbabwe, where such initiatives are viewed as crucial for both environmental and economic development.
The Zimbabwe government has been a vocal proponent of Africa’s voluntary carbon credit markets, viewing them as potentially transformative for the continent’s economies.
This fraud case may cast a shadow over such aspirations and potentially impact investor confidence in similar projects across Africa.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case is likely to draw attention from environmental activists, investors, and policymakers worldwide, potentially leading to calls for stricter oversight and regulation of the voluntary carbon market.
The Federal Government has praised Savannah Energy, the British independent energy company focused around the delivery of “Projects that Matter”, for its substantial investment in Nigeria’s energy sector to date, saying that it appreciates what the company is doing, and encourages Savannah to sustain it.
L-R: Managing Director, Savannah, Nigeria, Pade Durotoye; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; Head of Stakeholder Relations and Regional Manager, South East, Savannah, Nigeria, Nkoyo Etuk; and Operations Superintendent, Savannah, Nigeria, Chukwudoziem Umunna, during the visit of the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas) to Savannah’s gas processing facility in Uquo, Akwa Ibom State
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the commendation during a recent visit to the Uquo gas Central Processing Facility in Akwa Ibom State, which is owned by Accugas Limited, a subsidiary of Savannah.
He said that Savannah’s substantial investment to date has helped in boosting domestic gas supply in the country, where Savannah now supplies gas enabling approximately 20% of Nigeria’s thermal power generation capacity.
Commenting on the importance of gas to the Nigerian economy, the Minister stated that President Bola Tinubu is intent on developing the gas sector to drive the Nigerian economy.
He said: “The President is very intentional and strategic about developing the gas sector to drive the economy of this nation. We know that if the economy of Nigeria is driven by gas, it will make things easier and that is the target of the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative. Our target is to make sure that by 2030, the Nigerian economy will be driven by gas.”
The Managing Director of Savannah Energy, Nigeria, Pade Durotoye, who accompanied the Minister on the Uquo visit, explained that the company, through Accugas Limited, has invested over US$1.6 billion in gas processing and transportation infrastructure to support the domestic market since 2014.
Durotoye said: “Accugas is also investing an additional US$45m in a new compression system at the Uquo facility that will allow the company to continue to provide reliable gas supplies to customers for years to come. The system comprises two parallel trains with a capacity of 160 MMscfpd each and is designed to increase the gas export pressure. The project is expected to be completed and operational later this year.”
Durotoye added that Savannah strongly supports the Federal Government’s adoption of natural gas as a transition fuel in Nigeria’s net-zero pathway, particularly for power generation, adding that this is why Accugas has invested in building a nameplate 200 MMscfpd gas processing facility, supported by a ~260km gas pipeline network solely for the domestic market.
Durotoye stated that all the company’s gas is consumed domestically, with 80% being sold to thermal power generation companies, and the remainder to a range of large industrial customers, such as cement producers, where, for example, Accugas enables about 10% of the country’s cement production.
UN’s Preliminary Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (Pre-COP29) commenced on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Global leaders and delegates at the UN’s Preliminary Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (Pre-COP29) in Baku
Pre-COP provides a platform for Parties to advance climate negotiations ahead of the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), set to take place in November 2024.
Discussions at the conference, themed “Strengthening Ambitions and Ensuring Action”, are focusing on making progress on key priorities before COP29, including climate finance, specifically the New Collective Quantified Goal, mitigation, adaptation, and supporting vulnerable communities in global climate solutions. The conference will last until October 11.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-designate; Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28; Amina Jain Mohammad, UN Deputy Secretary General; Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; and Nabeel Munir, Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
In an address delivered on his behalf by COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan emphasised the importance of agreeing an NCQG at COP29 that “meets the needs of the developing, least developed and small island developing states” and represents a “substantial increase” over the prior goal.
President Aliyev noted that reaching this goal would require the collaboration of the international community. “Neither Azerbaijan in its capacity of the COP29 Presidency, nor any other state, can take decisions on behalf of others. Our role is to provide the platform for facilitating negotiations, which we believe we have been fulfilling impartially,” he said.
“As we are entering into the final stage of preparations to the COP29, I call on you to engage constructively and in good faith for the sake of humanity. While states have common but differentiated responsibilities, they should put aside disagreements, stop blaming each other and find common ground. We cannot afford to waste time on defining who is guilty for global warming, or who caused more environmental harm.”
In his own address at the opening ceremony, President-Designate Babayev recognised the progress made, while also calling for participants to act with urgency and use the Pre-COP meeting to build the foundation for a successful outcome at COP29.
“We are building bridges and momentum, but we need much more,” said COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev. “We make progress when we come together, put differences aside, and engage in open and honest dialogue.”
He then added: “The purpose of this session is to prepare for success at COP29. Given the complexity and high stakes involved in the mandated agenda items, we cannot afford to leave too much to be decided at the summit.”
The COP29 President-Designate also set out clear goals for each priority. Speaking about the NCQG, which Azerbaijan has identified as the top negotiating priority for COP29. He noted that “we are seeing some signs of possible convergence on certain elements of the goal. We want to focus on where we can build a solid foundation to help support discussions on other elements.”
He also frankly identified the need to “take seriously the responsibility for identifying a number over a timeframe and come forward with solutions. Qualitative elements of the goal such as transparency and accessibility are also essential to ensuring that the goal is both fair and ambitious.”
The President-Designate also outlined goals for each of the other top negotiating priorities, including concluding work on Article 6 as a much needed priority “crucial for directing financial and technical resources”, turning pledges into signed contributor agreements to the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, attracting “significantly greater contributions” to all funds, including the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, and responding to the call of the UAE Consensus to transition away from fossil fuels in a just and orderly manner.
The Baku Global Climate Conference COP29 will be a crucial test for both the Paris Agreement and multilateralism, the COP29 President said, adding that the Azerbaijani presidency is committed to an inclusive, transparent, and impartial COP29.
Babayev emphasised that since being elected as the host of COP29, Azerbaijan has organised numerous meetings where the importance of immediate transition from words to actions was emphasised.
“Throughout the year, the COP29 presidency has listened to the problems, concerns, and priorities of everyone. In the first six months after COP28, the economic consequences of extreme weather conditions reached $41 billion. From Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia to Hurricane Milton in the USA. Everyone is suffering, and the cost of inaction is growing. We believe there is broad agreement with the COP29 presidency’s vision aimed at increasing ambition and intensifying action. We have also launched the COP29 Action Programme in addition to the official process,” he said.
The COP29 declaration will be made public in the coming days, while Azerbaijan is also working on the next document on nationally determined contributions, Babayev disclosed.
It is planned to complete work on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Babayev said, adding that more efforts need to be made, and proper funding for the loss and damage compensation fund should be ensured.
“We are working on the next document on Azerbaijan’s contributions. We must make progress on all topics. We must also make progress on issues beyond negotiations. The COP29 declaration will be published in the coming days. Pre-COP29 is an important event, so we are raising all the issues that concern us,” he said.
Babayev emphasised that the COP29 presidency has already appointed contact persons at the ministerial level to help us overcome gaps and make progress.
“We need to increase political representation. Authorised ministries should join COP29. Within the framework of COP29, success or failure will be joint, each of us has our own role. We can hold a joint COP29. We can make joint investments and secure the future,” he concluded.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Jane Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani presidency of COP29 for their contribution to achieving common agreements.
“I want to thank the government of Azerbaijan, the COP29 presidency, as well as COP28 and the troika (of chairs) for the entire difficult journey we have taken to reach common agreements,” she said.
She noted that the world is already on the verge of exceeding global temperature rise above 1.5 degrees, with such horrifying consequences as Hurricane Milton being observed.
According to Mohammed, people still have hope as the global community is taking various measures to combat this.
“COP29 must build on this momentum and turn ambitions and commitments into real economic results. In November, you must agree on a new ambitious climate finance goal that will match the scale of the challenge facing developing countries,” she said.
The world is already on the brink of exceeding global temperature growth above 1.5 degrees, with such terrifying consequences as Hurricane Milton being observed, UN Deputy Secretary-General said.
According to Mohammed, people still have hope as the global community is taking various measures to combat the issue.
“COP29 must build on this momentum and turn ambitions and commitments into real economic results. In November, we must agree on a new ambitious goal in climate financing that will match the scale of the problem facing developing countries,” she said.
The global community must maintain its determination in the fight against climate change, the spirit of compromise and global solidarity, she added.
According to her, the outcomes of COP29 on collective quantitative accounting and climate financing will be an important test of the international community’s commitment to ensuring the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
She called on the global community to work together to achieve a lasting agreement, as “the world desperately needs it.”
“We need something that will give people hope again, and that could be better than solving the climate change problem that the global community is facing. The actions we take in the next 13 months will be crucial. And it’s important for us to be bold in our aspirations while acting urgently,” she said.
The government and people of the UAE wish success to the government and people of Azerbaijan ahead of COP29, COP28 president, Sultan Al-Jaber, said.
Al-Jaber noted that the world community should build on the success achieved in Dubai last year at the current COP29.
He called on countries to unite again, take action and achieve results, adding that after what has been achieved, countries have no right to retreat.
According to the COP28 president, issues of financing should be discussed at the upcoming COP29.
Finance is the most important, he said, noting that finance was the cornerstone of the UAE consensus.
At COP29, the new collective quantitative goal should provide the means to implement the UAE consensus, Al-Jaber said, noting that the volume agreed upon should match the scale of the problem.
He emphasised that these funds should be directed to support the most vulnerable populations to ensure their resilience to climate change and help in combating its consequences.
The activity of the COP Troika of Presidents, aimed at maintaining the momentum achieved at COP28, is a critically important factor for success, Al Jaber said at a panel discussion session.
He noted that through joint efforts, this momentum should transition from COP28 to COP29, and then to COP30. He emphasized that support from the global community is necessary to achieve results.
“We must cooperate to ensure that each NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions – ed.) has the highest possible ambitions, is balanced across all components, and has the potential for implementation,” he said.
Al Jaber stressed that only through the efforts of the international community will it be possible to ensure fairness in climate progress.
Financing is one of the most important topics in terms of the climate agenda, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said.
He noted that COP29 should become a stimulating conference, contributing to the achievement of concrete results: “This will help bring to life the commitments made last year as part of the historic consensus in the UAE, and benefit the real economy. It’s obvious that finance plays a key role in achieving concrete results this year.”
Stiell noted that COP29 should also ensure ambitious results on Article 6.
“It’s time to carry out this work honestly, efficiently, and in good faith. When I say that this COP should be stimulating, I also mean that it should increase the effectiveness of the work that each government must now conduct on the critical policy instruments provided for in the Paris Agreement,” he said.
He emphasised that global cooperation is the only way to achieve results.
“The decisions we have to make will determine how we can ensure the opportunity for all countries to achieve their climate goals,” he said.
Stiell also called on the global community and parties to cooperate, and expressed hope that Pre-COP29 will help achieve results and become the basis for the upcoming session.
“Cooperation has always been humanity’s strongest asset, especially in those moments when we implement solutions taking into account people’s needs,” he concluded.
Nabeel Munir, Chair of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), has said that the world is currently experiencing the hottest year in history.
He noted that glaciers are melting as a result of the heat. Munir stated that there is a need to take bold steps and build bridges:
“Only in this way can we solve the problems,” he added.
In the lead up to Pre-COP, the COP29 Presidency also convened an informal Heads of Delegation meeting on October 8 in Baku, followed by the formal High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on the NCQG on October 9. Another Heads of Delegation meeting is scheduled for October 12.
The COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency says it will spare no effort to act as a bridge between developed and developing nations and steer the process to a successful outcome at COP29.
“COP29 will be a defining test for both the Paris Agreement and for multilateralism,” stated President-Designate Babayev. “The world is watching, and history will judge us on the outcomes we achieve. Success or failure at COP29 will be collective and each of us has a role to play. We must all offer the best of ourselves.”
Azerbaijan calls on all parties to sign a final climate transparency agreement at COP29, COP29 lead negotiator, Yalchin Rafiyev, said at a side event during the UN Pre-Conference of the Parties on Climate Change 2024 (Pre-COP29) on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Baku.
COP29 lead negotiator, Yalchin Rafiyev
COP29 will be held in Baku from November 11 to 22, 2024
Rafiyev noted that, as part of the preparation for COP29, the Azerbaijani presidency will hold a ministerial-level meeting on global transparency of climate actions in the coming weeks.
The lead negotiator also emphasised the importance of joint efforts with global partners.
“This is an extremely important period for all of us in terms of ensuring transparency in the climate sphere. We call on all parties to cooperate in order to achieve more significant results in this direction. In this regard, I am convinced that all stakeholders should effectively use their resources to achieve concrete results,” he said.
The outcomes of COP29 on collective quantitative accounting and climate financing will be an important test of the international community’s commitment to ensuring the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, said during a panel session at the Pre-COP29 in Baku.
She called on the global community to work together to achieve a lasting agreement, as “the world desperately needs it.”
“We need something that will give people hope again, and that could be better than solving the climate change problem that the global community is facing. The actions we take in the next 13 months will be crucial. And it’s important for us to be bold in our aspirations while acting urgently,” she said.
The global community must fight climate change and cope with its consequences, Festus Ngeno, secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Kenya, said at a panel session during the Pre-COP29 in Baku.
He said that although climate adaptation was previously considered a local problem of individual countries, now the world community has agreed that the problem has taken on a global character and requires cooperation from the global community.
“The African Union and its regional economic communities have institutional mechanisms to accelerate coordination and cooperation in overcoming climate risks,” he said.
The global community needs to develop a model for unified management of climate actions, Firdaous Oussidhoum, the special advisor to the Secretary General of the World Organisation “United Cities and Local Governments,” said during a panel session at Pre-COP29).
According to her, in addition to working within international organizations, it is necessary to intensify actions at the regional level.
The balance between the global community and regional governance in climate action issues is very important and is a key to success, she said. Oussidhoum called on parties for immediate action in the fight against climate change.
“The price of inaction is becoming too high. Too high in terms of human casualties and too high in terms of cost,” she noted.
She also emphasised that the Loss and Damage Fund should become the main pillar in helping to adapt and implement climate actions.
Ensuring transparency of climate actions can help understand climate change, and the main goal is to involve youth and children in this process, Leyla Hasanova, the youth climate champion for COP29 in Azerbaijan, said at a side event within the framework of the Pre-COP29 conference.
She said transparency is key to assessing the effectiveness of climate plans for children and youth around the world: “And it can really provide young people with an opportunity to participate in climate processes.”
Hasanova recalled that, as part of an initiative implemented this year as the chair of COP29, a summer camp for young educators on combating climate change was organized jointly with UNDP in Azerbaijan.
“We successfully held a camp for 75 young educators from 35 countries around the world. We brought them together, and we had amazing three-day trainings where they received detailed information about climate change, why it’s happening, and how young educators can cope with it, return to their countries, and educate their children, youth, and students,” she noted.
The youth climate advocate also emphasised that transparency would become the cornerstone of mutual trust and accountability as parties strive for more ambitious national climate plans in the run-up to COP29 and beyond.
Azerbaijan, as part of its chairmanship of COP29, has raised the discussion of climate action transparency to a high level, Presidential Advisor – Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for International Environmental Cooperation, Zulfiya Suleymanova, said at a side event during the Pre-COP29 on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Baku.
According to her, “Azerbaijan has taken the bold step of truly trying to create a unified platform” that helps better coordinate its actions with existing platforms in the field of climate transparency.
“I hope that this transparency process will really help to intensify actions [in the field of climate change] and continue to build confidence in the process and, of course, trust between all stakeholders,” she said.
She also expressed hope that many will submit their biennial transparency report before the COP29 climate conference, which will be held in November in Baku.
The global community must intensify efforts in combating climate change and provide their national reports while continuing to develop, Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s special envoy for climate change, said at a round table within the Pre-COP29 in Baku.
He noted that it is difficult to maintain the dynamics of development and transparency in addressing climate issues at the same level.
“COP29 is trying to create synergy between all initiatives. We must help all parties in need. Italy is ready to support countries both in climate reporting and capacity building,” he added.
Each COP session is based on previously reached agreements. COP30, which will be held in Brazil, will also use the agreements reached at COP29, Andre Correa do Lago, Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said.
“Brazil, as one of the parties of the Troika, plays a special role in the Pre-COP29 event. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Azerbaijan, and Brazil are now working together. Because at the last COP, we came to the conclusion that we cannot start each conference from scratch. Now we are closely coordinating activities with the presidencies of Azerbaijan and the UAE. Brazil is here as a partner who wants to help prepare the work that will be completed in Belem,” he noted.
The Brazilian official also emphasised that if real climate measures are taken, the 1.5°C target can be achieved:
“We need to convince the world of the necessity of reaching this target. It’s very difficult to convince people without scaring them. However, even fear doesn’t work. We didn’t achieve results by repeatedly saying that we would be in a bad situation. Therefore, it’s necessary to combine scientific reality with optimism, based on the fact that people can make many mistakes but can also find solutions. I hope that we can achieve this balance in Baku and Belem.”
Correa do Lago stated that the world expects good results from the COP29 climate conference in Baku.
“Unfortunately, today most people are focused on what multilateralism is unable to achieve. We must ensure the strengthening of multilateralism within the framework of the event we are holding. I think we will always emphasize the importance of the consensus reached in the UAE last year (within the framework of COP28), and we expect a similar result here in Baku,” he said.
He noted that it is necessary to do everything to strengthen multilateralism and Brazil can be relied on in this matter.
Climate change goals can only be achieved through international cooperation, Grace Fu Hai Yen, the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore, said at the Pre-COP29 event, themed “Enhance Ambition and Enable Action” held in Baku on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
According to the minister, international cooperation is very important for her country: “Singapore has signed agreements with a number of countries in the field of carbon technology. Of course, there are risks in the implementation of these projects. But we also highly value the advantages of these projects.”
The minister stated that there is a need to attract innovative financing: “We are insistent on this issue. At the same time, we should also involve private companies in decarbonisation projects.”
Any climate action begins with science, and based on this, the European Union subsidises science, European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, said at a panel session during the UN Preliminary Conference of the Parties on Climate Change 2024 (Pre-COP29).
“We have also provided extensive funding for climate science, working together with many parties, primarily with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. By doing so, we want to emphasise that this should be the concern of the entire international community,” he said.
Hoekstra emphasised that the European Union aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, while relying on the resilience of the population and the competitiveness of businesses.
“We are very eager not only to continue moving along this ambitious path but also to cooperate closely with the entire global community to ensure that we are moving in the right direction,” he concluded.
At a panel session during the 2024 Pre-COP29, Nigar Arpadarai, the UN High-Level Climate Champion for COP29, emphasised the crucial role of the private sector in achieving the set climate goals.
She said climate finance would be insufficient without the active participation of the private capital.
“We need the private sector,” Arpadarai stressed.
However, she pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often lagging behind in this regard.
“This is another goal we want to achieve. Because small and medium-sized enterprises are the real economy, they provide 90% of economic growth,” she added.
In meetings held on the heels of Pre-COP in Baku, agreement was reached on crucial standards to operationalise a new UN crediting mechanism ahead of COP29.
Maria AlJishi, Chair of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body
The Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, responsible for creating the UN carbon market under the Paris Agreement, adopted standards for methodologies and greenhouse gas removals. Known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, this new UN mechanism is designed to facilitate international collaboration in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
The standards agreed are seen as essential in making the mechanism fully operational. The Supervisory Body also agreed on recommendations to be reviewed at the upcoming COP29 climate summit.
New approach to COP29 recommendations
The Supervisory Body took a different approach to its recommendations to the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA).
To ensure the mechanism can remain agile and adapt to ever evolving developments in addressing climate change, they adopted the elements requested by the CMA as “Supervisory Body standards” and requested the CMA to endorse this approach and provide any additional guidance.
This allows the Supervisory Body to review and further improve these standards whenever necessary.
Standards adopted
During the five-day meeting, intense discussions focused on two key standards:
Both standards are now Supervisory Body documents, meaning they can be updated to keep up with market developments.
These standards will help project developers create and submit methodologies for their projects, to allow them to be registered under the new Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism.
Maria AlJishi, Chair of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, said: “These new standards are a key element in our effort to deliver a crediting mechanism that is fit for the future. As the only crediting mechanism directly responsible to Parties and mandated by the Paris Agreement, we are committed to ensuring it balances the needs of achieving the Paris goals, supporting market players, and addressing host country interests.
“The adoption of these standards marks a major step forward in enabling a robust, agile carbon market that can continue to evolve.”
Martin Hession, Vice-Chair of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, said: “Some of the highlights of these standards include the alignment of baselines with Paris Goals through downward adjustment, an additionality test that excludes projects that would lead to lock-in of unsustainable levels of emissions, and a shift to cover the risk of reversal for all risks with a buffer pool.
“We are also exploring alternative methods to compensate for any reversals, as well as potential upper limits to acceptable risk.
“It’s all about getting the balance right — protecting the integrity of the Paris agreement, driving the necessary climate ambition, while balancing the interests of all market stakeholders and host parties.”
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has stressed that good governance and transparency are crucial for driving sustainable progress and combating corruption in Nigeria.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, October 7, 2024, at MacArthur Foundation’s 30-year celebration and the conclusion of its On Nigeria programme, Mohammed emphasised that strengthening accountability ensured resources reached those most in need, built trust, empowered communities, and fostered robust social contracts.
Mohammed advocated for strategic investments in education, sustainable food systems, jobs, social protection, climate action, digital economy, and youth development.
“Let us recognise the power of good governance, transparency, and accountability in driving sustainable progress and combating corruption,” she urged.
She called for accelerated efforts as only five years remained to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030,
Shettima Kole, MacArthur Foundation’s Country Director in Nigeria, reflected on the foundation’s positive initiatives and commitment to Nigeria, highlighting its role as grant makers, thought leaders, and responsive collaborators.
The event, tagged “30 Years of Forging Partnerships for Development”, marked MacArthur Foundation’s 30-year presence in Nigeria since its inception in January 1994.
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to enhance gas reticulation practices in Nigeria’s building industry.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Nicholas Ella, inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) between the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
Reticulation refers to the process of creating a network of pipes or tubes to distribute gas or other utilities to buildings or industrial sites.
The permanent secretary restated the importance of creating energy smart cities, saying that modern urban development relies on efficient gas and utility distribution systems,
“Most modern cities in developed countries have evolved to energy smart cities where energy, specifically gas and other utilities are piped to districts and estates.
“However, one of the key tools in creating energy smart city is the National Building
Code which, in essence, sets the guidelines on Building Pre-design, designs, construction and post-construction stages,” he said.
The permanent secretary reiterated the benefits of reticulated gas systems for households and businesses alike, adding that it ensured metered supply akin to water and electricity,
According to him, it eliminates the need for cumbersome refills, and also enhances safety by burying pipes and incorporating advanced safety equipment.
“The TWG is tasked with designing a comprehensive policy to implement best practices for gas reticulation using LPG, PNG, and Bio-Gas across Nigeria’s building sector.
“Key responsibilities include reviewing the current National Building Code, examining global gas distribution systems, and proposing quality standards for materials used in gas installations,” he said.
The permanent secretary emphasised the need for rigorous safety protocols and guidelines to ensure the efficient and safe use of gas in construction.
He urged the group to prioritise environmental sustainability in its recommendations, adding that the group is expected to submit its report by Nov. 15.
Earlier, Mr Samson Opaluwah, the Chairman of CORBON. expressed the council’s commitment to collaborate with the group to ensure safe uptake of gas for use in houses and housing estates in Nigeria.
“I assure you of the willingness of CORBON to leverage the expertise and resources at her disposal to ensure that steps are put in place for gas infrastructure in buildings and estates.
“The gas infrastructure will be safe, sustainable and world-class.
“Our collective efforts will yield clear, standardised guidelines for safe and effective gas systems in buildings, matched with a skilled workforce to meet growing demands in Nigeria,” he said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged communities to heed to its early warnings to reduce impacts of flood in Nigeria.
Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar
The Director-General of the agency, Zubaida Umar, made the call on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, in Dutse, Jigawa State, while handing over 155,020 litres of liquid fertiliser to the Jigawa government.
Umar, represented by Sani Ahmed, Director of Administration and Finance, said the call was imperative in order to reduce the impact of flood on communities and properties.
“The most important thing is if an advice is given to the communities that there will be flooding, please take that advise seriously.
“If you’re asked to relocate, please do so, it’s for your own safety and your property,” Umar said.
She pointed out that it was the responsibility of communities to first intervene whenever disaster occurs, hence the need to heed early warnings by authorities.
“As we’ve been saying in NEMA, disaster occurs in a community, in a local government and in a state. So, it’s the responsibility of that community first to intervene.
“How do they intervene; we give them early warnings, the seasonal predictions, including areas that will be affected by the flood.
“So, we expect the communities to first intervene by helping themselves before the state or NEMA comes in.
“It’s not something that we’re happy doing, but it’s a natural disaster that we cannot prevent, but we can reduce it,” she said.
According to her, the 155,020 litres of the liquid fertiliser were supplied as replacement of balance of NPK fertiliser.
The fertiliser was approved for the state under the National Food Security Council-Emergency Agricultural Intervention (NFSC-EAI) to farmers affected by 2018 flood in the state.
“I’m here to formally hand over this consignment to Jigawa state government for onward distribution to the beneficiary farmers for their use in current planting season,” the DG said.
She added that each one little is equivalent to 50kg 20-10-10 NPK fertiliser.
Responding, Gov. Umar Namadi commended the agency and federal government for the gesture, assuring that the items would be distributed to deserving farmers.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Aminu Usman, added that the fertiliser would be handed over to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for onward distribution to the beneficiaries.
He also urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the fertiliser in order to enhance food production and food security in their communities, state and the nation in general.
In his remarks, SEMA’s Executive Secretary in state, Dr Haruna Mairiga, promised that the items would be fairly distributed to the beneficiaries.
A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a dramatic surge in the world’s renewable power capacity over the next decade, potentially matching the combined electricity generation capacity of major economies such as China, the European Union, India, and the United States.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA)
According to the IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, “Renewables are moving faster than national governments can set targets for. This is driven not just by efforts to lower emissions or boost energy security, but increasingly because renewables today offer the cheapest option to add new power plants in almost all countries.”
Birol further noted that the growth of renewables, particularly solar, will transform electricity systems worldwide within a decade. “Between now and 2030, the world is on course to add more than 5,500 gigawatts of renewable power capacity – roughly equal to the current power capacity of China, the EU, India, and the US combined. By 2030, we expect renewables to meet half of global electricity demand.”
The Renewables 2024 report indicates that global renewable energy additions are expected to exceed almost three times the increase recorded between 2017 and 2023. China is set to lead this expansion, accounting for nearly 60% of all new installations, which would position it to host almost half of the world’s total renewable power capacity by the end of the decade.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is projected to dominate this growth, contributing to 80% of the new capacity through the development of large solar power plants and increased rooftop installations. The wind sector is also expected to rebound, with its expansion rate predicted to double in the coming years. This shift to renewables is vital not only for reducing emissions and enhancing energy security but also for economic benefits, as wind and solar become the most affordable electricity generation options in numerous countries.
However, the report highlights several challenges, particularly in integrating renewable sources into existing power systems.
Many countries currently face significant rates of electricity curtailment – where potential renewable generation goes unused – reaching around 10% in some areas. To address these issues, governments must focus on improving grid infrastructure, enhancing system flexibility, and streamlining permitting processes.
With the share of renewables in final energy consumption expected to rise to nearly 20% by 2030, policymakers are urged to accelerate the adoption of renewable fuels such as biofuels, biogases, and hydrogen. Although these fuels remain less competitive than fossil fuels, their integration is essential for meeting international climate goals.
The manufacturing landscape is also evolving, with global solar manufacturing capacity projected to surpass 1,100 GW by the end of 2024, largely driven by China. However, significant disparities in production costs present challenges for other countries, highlighting the need for balanced policies that promote local manufacturing while considering job creation and energy security.
In its drive towards ensuring availability of potable water services to the people at the grassroots, WaterAid Nigeria through the financial backing of PepsiCo Foundation has provided residents of Araromi and Itele-Nla communities in Ikorodu North LCDA in Lagos with solar-powered water facilities as part of its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Project.
WaterAid Nigeria and Lagos State Government officials at the presentation of the facilities
Godfrey Iloha, WASH Manager, in his remarks during the project commissioning and handing over ceremony on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, noted that WaterAid has the resources with the support of the government to saturate the entire Ikorodu North LCDA communities and beyond with clean water sanitation and hygiene to ensure that as many as 10 million people are reached through the intervention programme currently ongoing.
Besides the project’s 6,000-litre capacity for Itele-Nla and 3,000-litre capacity for Araromi communities, which is being powered by solar energy, Iloha noted that the projects also come wirh treatment component.
In his words: “Interestingly, as we are drilling we also conduct water quality test and in all the tests we have carried out before the facilities were installed, most of them came with bacteriological contamination and acidity low pH, so it is important that for us to give clean water to the communities, it is important that we install the treatment facilities to ensure that the water is safe for drinking.”
He charged the government to prioritise WASH in all nooks and cranies of the state in ensuring that people at the grassroots are not left out.
“There are so many communities yearning for this type of facilities, so government needs to scale this type of project up in all communities around the state to ensure that by 2030 the SDG Goal of adequate water supply is achieved,” he maintained.
In his submission, Prince Niran Ogunbanwo, WASHCOM Coordinator and Chairman CDC, commended WaterAid Nigeria and PepsiCo Foundation for the project.
“Surely, WASHCOM and CDC are very happy to receive these facilities. What the facilitators are doing within our domain here is very wonderful and as you can see everyone around the eighty-seven communities are happy for witnessing this project commissioning.
“The most interesting part of it is that the water is drinkable which is quite different from what most residents have in our homes. We know more is still in the pipeline so we thank WaterAid for this intervention project.”
Amin Olawale Ibrahim, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, disclosed that “in terms of clean water service delivery, this is one of the best projects we have around our vicinity here because for a community battling with electricity supply, but this one is solar-powered with other facilities that ensure the water coming out of here is safe for drinking because of the water treatment. So our people can drink this water without entertaining any fear of water borne diseases. It is safe for drinking.”
The Vice Chairman, who spoke on behalf of Adeola Adebisi Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, however charged the residents to make good use of the facilities and ensure proper maintainance to ensure sustainability of the project.
Oyedele James, representing Mahmud Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources of Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, noted that the assessment of the project is okay because several tests were run on the output from the facilities and they all met the standards set by the government.
According to him, “water from this facilities has specific alkaline and alkaline water is good for the body system unlike some water which has negative impact on the body system, so the beneficiaries of these facilities should maintain the project for their good.”
Highpoint of the event was signing of an MoU between Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA and the benefitting communities as well as handing over of two sets of WASH Maintenence Kits to the two WASH Management Committees.
The event witnessed dignatories such as Nìyí Odugbesi, Secretary tó Local Government, Ikorodu North LCDA; Adijat Adebola Salako, WASHCOM Chairman of Araromi Community; Chief Adebola Kazeem, Baale of Araromi Community; Henry Adenigba, Executive Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED); Ogomide Peter Fatoye, Chairman, Temidire CDA; and Pastor Tunde Ige, Chairman of Ashiwaju/Itele-Nla/Igbaloye CDA, among others.
