Anchoring climate policy on low carbon finance mechanism

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In an apparent bid to build a climate-resilient society, Nigeria is devising a blueprint anchored on fostering a low-carbon, high-growth economic development path. If provisions of the Nigeria Climate Change Policy-Zero Draft (NCCP-ZD) are anything to go by, the nation is set to embark on a range of initiatives – such as establishing carbon trading schemes – aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A low carbon economy is one in which all production and consumption activities have been redesigned and configured towards attaining a zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emission over a defined time-frame.

Prepared by the firm of ACI Environment & Resources Limited in consultation with sectoral stakeholders, the NCCP-ZD is apparently taking a cue from the much-vaunted Vision 20:2020 (to rank the country among the top 20 economies in the world by 2020), which has one of its key pillars built on investments in low carbon fuels and renewable energy.

The endeavour was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The NCCP-ZD has had inputs from existing and related documents: 1989 National Environment Policy; 2004 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan; 2005 National Policy on Erosion, Flood Control and Coastal Zone Management; 2006 Draft National Forest Policy; 2007 National Policy on Drought and Desertification/Drought Preparedness Plan and National Sanitation Policy.

However, it will be tabled for discussion in Abuja today at a daylong forum aimed at finalising it as the policy document.

According to Dr. Chika Ukwe, Head of ACI, copies of the NCCP-ZD were forwarded to selected stakeholders ahead of today’s event, which will feature remarks and presentations by Environment Minister John Odey, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change Eziuche Ubani, UNDP Country Director Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje and lead expert, Prof. Chidi Ibe.

To implement the mitigation initiatives towards a low-carbon economy and high-growth development path, the draft policy document emphasises that Nigeria needs to generate adequate energy from a mix of sources for her rapid socio-economic development without significantly increasing the country’s GHG emissions.

Towards this end, the overall target for the power sector is to grow installed generation capacity from 6,000MW in 2009 to 20,000MW by 2015 and 35,000MW by 2020. It adds that the increase will be achieved through the optimisation of energy generation and consumption and raising the proportion of renewable (including small to large scale hydropower) and other clean sources to meet growing local demand.

Promoting private sector participation in the expanding business opportunities in climate change response is similarly highlighted. The private sector, adds the policy draft, has a remarkable role to play, undertaking the investment and technological innovation that will underpin low carbon growth, providing finance for mitigation and adaptation, adopting lower carbon production processes as well as encouraging and facilitating more climate conscious purchasing decisions by consumers.

It further emphasises that the establishment of a clear policy framework will be important in creating an environment that is conducive to private sector engagement, particularly in the areas of energy sourcing and infrastructure development.

The policy draft identifies climate mitigation and adaptation responses in key sectors like energy, agriculture, industry, water resources, coastal areas, forestry & land use, transport, health, culture & tourism, population as well as human settlements.

Under forestry & land use, for instance, the document underlines the need to promote sustainable forestry that will enable the country benefit maximally from the potentials of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), while protecting individual communities whose traditional forest-based income would be impacted through the use of fiscal and regulatory tools to achieve greater protection of forests, and maintenance of dynamic relationship that helps to promote REDD activities.

National GHG inventories from all sectors of the Nigerian economy and mitigation assessment since the mid-1980s show that Nigeria is among the least emitting countries and falls among the countries which do not have an emission reduction target dateline.

The country is, however, considered highly susceptible to the impact of climate change. It has an array of fragile ecosystems, which span the marine environment through the tropical rain forest belts and the Sahel Savannah to the Sahara Desert.

The country falls within regions of the world with long coastlines and exacerbating coastal erosion and marine pollution problems. Nigeria is also among the nations with the highest risk of deforestation, land use change and desertification problems.

Scientists say Nigeria is particularly vulnerable because, although its economy is dependent on oil, a large portion of the country (about 70 percent of the population) depends on agriculture for their economic activities.

“These populations are generally more dependent on climate-sensitive natural resources for their livelihoods and are thus are more at risk of being impacted by climate change,” Ukwe observed.

Source- Independent Daily