The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) are sounding the alarm on the pressing need to address methane emissions, as humans remain the primary contributors to this form of pollution. Reducing worldwide emissions has become a global imperative due to their detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. Emissions manifest in various forms, with some pollutants posing significant dangers due to their toxicity. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is odorless, colorless, and highly flammable, consisting of carbon and hydrogen.
It stands out as a major contributor to pollution, causing climate change due to its increased global warming potential, warranting immediate attention for reduction efforts. Methane enters the environment from a range of anthropogenic (human-influenced) and natural sources. However, it is the anthropogenic emissions that raise the most concern due to our daily activities such as landfill management, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural practices, coal mining, combustion in stationary and mobile sources, wastewater treatment, and specific industrial processes.
An alarming yet often overlooked fact is that globally, petroleum activities contribute approximately 15% of total anthropogenic methane emissions, with Nigeria playing a significant role as a global oil extractor. Methane has been reported to be the second most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, following carbon dioxide.
The consequences of global warming leading to climate change have been profound, necessitating urgent action through energy transition to mitigate the challenges of climate change and the health challenges on humans, especially women/girls and persons with disabilities (PWDs) who are always at the forefront of struggles in polluted environments. This is due to the loss of their farmlands, water bodies, and sources of livelihoods. Additionally, many of them are the breadwinners of their families, especially in the Niger Delta of Nigeria as reported.
Nigeria, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, has committed to reducing methane emissions by 45% by 2025 and aiming for a reduction of 60%-70% by 2030. Despite having robust policies and laws, the country struggles with implementation, particularly evident in its aspiration to eliminate gas flaring by 2060 with no clear approach to achieving it. The other components of methane along with gas flaring; venting and fugitives are given similar treatments.
Methane, constituting 30% of total warming and being 80% more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, demands immediate attention. Reports indicate that 60% of methane emissions result from inventory methods, with super emitters contributing 50%, while leaks account for 5%. One of the major challenges in Nigeria is the lack of technology for methane abatement.
To address these challenges, NRGI & CJID organized a three-day capacity-building workshop for media and civil society organizations, including those working within the extractive communities, to deepen their understanding of methane emissions, their effects, adaptation measures, global agreements, etc., concerning the issue.
The third day was a stakeholder engagement that allowed civil society and media to engage with the government and make a case for stronger methane emission strategies. The sessions were anchored with experts within and outside the country, with representatives from the organizers like Nafi Chinery, the African country director, NRGI, Tengi George-Ikoli, senior program manager, NRGI, Rob Pitman, Senior Governance Officer, and Ahmad Abdulsamad (NRGI), Program Officer. From CJID were Akintunde Babatunde (Director of program), Felicia Dairo, etc. Reports and contributions made by organizations like NRGI and NEITI were also shared, and their engagement extended to relevant stakeholders towards renewable energy solutions.
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The goal was to sensitize the media and the CSOs aimed at creating public awareness starting from grassroots communities on methane emissions and how human actions can be modified to reduce them through daily activities and our main polluters (International oil companies). The commitments of these stakeholders’ plans toward sensitization and further engagement were commendable as we await further action. The training was very impactful and educative as all participants were well-informed and knowledgeable about the issues, creating opportunities for future steps in engagement and sensitization for other stakeholders and the public. The participants were also given certificates.
The sessions were concluded with the engagement of almost all the Nigeria government stakeholders working in areas of thematic issues, which remain crucial, reminding them of their commitments and strategies to achieve global agreements on energy transition and in achieving a cleaner and healthier environment for the citizens.
A guidebook on Nigeria’s energy transition authored by Tengi George Ikoli and Nafi Chinery of NRGI was launched, with support from the African Climate Foundation. The guidebook provides valuable information, strategies that the Nigerian government can adopt for emission abatement and subsequent energy transition to avoid issues of global warming, climate change, economic crises, lack of job opportunities, etc.
We are calling on our government to leverage the guidebook for subsequent plans and implementation, transparency, and accountability towards a clean and sustainable environment. Also, urgent and concerted efforts are needed at local, national, and IOC global levels to curb methane emissions and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable environment for our future generations.
Dr. Mfon C. Utin is the Coordinator of Healthy Life Development Initiative.
