Petroleum exports currently account for 88 per cent of Nigeria’s total export revenue, according to NBS foreign trade statistics for 2020.
Yet, a review of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by fuel type in Nigeria clearly shows that oil and gas production and flaring are the major contributors to Nigeria‘s CO2 emissions. The CO2 emissions in turn contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Despite the contributions of crude oil to Nigeria’s economy, oil and gas production in Nigeria has been linked to severe income disparities and environmental disasters, which the United Nations warns could threaten a country’s long-term sustainability.
On 1 January 2016, world leaders endorsed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in September 2015 at a landmark United Nations (UN) Summit. The 17 SDG goals are meant to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no country is left behind.
While oil and gas activities have aggravated the problem of climate change and environmental pollution, SDG 9.4 and 13.2 aim at tackling climate change and ensuring environmental protection
The achievement of the SDG 9.4 is measured by reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion (CO2 million tonnes), while SDG 13.2 is measured by a considerable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per year (GHG metric tonnes (mt)).
The UN notes that, while the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the goals. The United nation further notes that “countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in implementing the goals, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection.”
Measuring Nigeria’s Commitment to SDG 9.4 and 13.2 so far
While SDG 9.4 concerns reduction in CO2 emissions, a review of Nigeria’s CO2 emission published by our world in data shows an increase in the annual CO2 emission in Nigeria after the country validated its Paris agreement in 2017. CO2 emissions increased from 130 million tonnes in 2017 to 136 million tonnes in 2018 and further increased to 140 million tonnes in 2019.
Also, the CO2 emissions per unit of GDP increased over the years, according to IEA data. CO2 emission per GDP shows the link between CO2 emissions, prosperity and standards of living. It is the ratio of the annual CO2 emissions and the annual GDP.
The SDG 13.2 also has not been realised. Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and use have increased by 16% since 2015, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Likewise, a Dataphyte report noted that Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emission increased steadily from 2009 to 2018. Climate change caused by CO2 emissions from oil and gas exploration is having both environmental and economic impact on Nigeria.
On the environmental front, a recent report has attributed the sharp increase in extreme heat in Nigeria to the effects of climate change.
The economy also suffers from climate change. A report by Sunday Orji highlighted how the vagaries in the timing and amount of rainfall together with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, occasioned by climate change, threatens Nigeria’s agricultural output. Also, reports have linked the ongoing conflicts between livestock herders and crop farmers in the North of Nigeria to climate change.
| Year | CO2 emissions (million tonnes) | Increase | Rate of Increase (%) |
| 2016 | 116.77 | – | – |
| 2017 | 130.28 | 13.51 | 11.57 |
| 2018 | 136.08 | 5.80 | 4.45 |
| 2019 | 140.03 | 3.95 | 2.90 |
While CO2 emissions are still increasing, its rate of increase is slowing down. As such more policy and practical efforts are needed to reduce the annual quantity of CO2 emissions and greenhouse gases as a whole, so as to attain sustainable development goals 9.4 and 13.2.
This story was produced under the NAREP Media Oil and Gas 2021 fellowship of the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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