THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA

Global warming.

   

By Olumide T. Agunbiade 

A typical driving trip consists of idling, accelerating, cruising and decelerating. The proportion of a trip spent in these different stages will depend on the driver’s behaviour, the road and the level of traffic congestion. As traffic congestion increases, so do fuel consumption, carbon emissions and environmental damage.

Since the partial removal of the fuel subsidy announced by President Goodluck Jonathan early last year, most arguments, protests and demonstrations on the issue have been hinged solely on the economic effects, rather than the bigger challenge of climate change. Attempts by protagonists of the new price regime to communicate the advantages that Nigerians stand to accrue have hinged mostly on economic gains.

It is well documented that emissions from transport vehicles contribute to the anthropogenic gases which aggravate the problem of global warming. While the major focus of policies outside Nigeria have been targeted at deliberate attempts to reduce carbon emissions; Nigeria is largely treating the challenge with kid’s gloves, despite continuous manifestation of its negative impact.

Although President Jonathan has shown considerable willingness to tackle climate change, it is time for willingness to be matched with immediate actions. His January 2012 announcement of subsidy removal is one that could significantly assist the nation in tackling the problem if well articulated and implemented.

The removal of the fuel subsidy will cause Nigerians to be more prudent in the use of their vehicles and less likely to embark on unnecessary trips. A proper mass transit scheme should translate to procuring low-emission, high-capacity buses, rehabilitation of roads, encouragement of intra-state rail systems, and a faster and more efficient transportation system across the 36 states of the federation.

At the moment, the private sector in Nigeria is not engaged enough on how the operators could plug into the multi-billion dollar climate change economy and help the country grow its green economy platform.

Although, the PostCOP-17 meeting organized by the new Department of Climate Change under the Federal Ministry of Environment has been held and stakeholders have come up with policies on how to boost Nigeria’s engagement in the international climate change initiative, the Ministry would need to immediately follow this up with zonal engagement of the states and local government areas.

In addition to the recent meetings of the stakeholders, more ideas should be proposed on how Nigeria can bring up policies that key into the international climate change deals which award grants and support developing countries.

The Federal Ministries of Petroleum, Environment, Agriculture and Trade and Investment should be compelled to commence full promotion of cultivation of bio-friendly cultures across the federation.

Before COP-18, there is more work to be done. The Federal Government needs to widen the scope of the core negotiators in the ministry by introducing new negotiators on the various issues under the Kyoto protocol and the climate change convention itself. These negotiators should be given proper domestic training through the engagement of Nigerian academic communities, which will enable them grasp, the nuances of the task ahead.

The derivative advantages will also include enhancing the technical know-how of Nigerians on low-carbon engine maintenance and powering our economy on low-carbon fuel, which will be subject to the vagaries of the prices of fossil fuels.

It is therefore imperative that President Jonathan does everything possible to get this initiative right. This will enhance our national climate change programme and its implementation.

Indeed, the present Senate Committee Chairman on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, could get the ministry to achieve more through genuine oversight, especially with a minister that is sincerely committed to the cause of the environment.