Changing climatic conditions have continued to pose significant challenges to lives across the world, and Nigeria is not exempt. Increasing heat waves, drought, food shortages, cyclones, and wildfires have been recurrent. Though different countries experience different effects, the impact on poor and marginalised countries is high.
Regions across Nigeria have witnessed increased water and food scarcity, displacement, and health issues which have varying impact on livelihood and economic stability.
While it’s an uphill task for Nigeria to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the country can take steps toward reducing its impact. Thus, Nigeria’s adaptation process to climate change can come in one or all following methods.
Low Hanging Mitigation Measures
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy, land, and other energy sources in Nigeria will enhance its step to reduction. The country depends significantly on fossil fuels and it accounts for 76.49% of its electricity supply.
Reducing households’ dependency on fossil fuels is one mitigation approach. It will involve adding components to existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and reliance on fossil fuels.
Also, there will be a need to increase the proportion of renewable energy distribution in the country, this would include development of renewable energy standards, thus increasing renewable energy supply. Avoiding excessive deforestation will further help reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Build People’s Resilience
At least 34.97% of the working population in Nigeria is employed in agriculture. This makes the sector highly climate-sensitive, posing a significant risk to the lives and livelihoods of the people. While it’s not possible to reduce these risks to zero, the government must take action to help people manage.
Thus, climate change adaptation needs to be an integral part of the government’s development plans. The success of adaptation strategies depends on high-vulnerable populations having financial, technical, and institutional resources.
The government can help build resilience by building resilient foundations with rapid and inclusive development, revising land use plans and protecting critical infrastructure, managing impacts at the macro level, helping people and firms recover faster and better, prioritising according to needs, and implementing across sectors and monitoring progress.
Financing
Building eco-friendly energy resources need substantial financial commitments by the government. This will involve investments in electric grids that produce clean energy, reforestation, and reducing food risks.
To achieve the ultimate goal of zero-emission by 2030, Nigeria needs at least $27 billion annually. The President, in his speech, noted that the country needs $400 billion to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
While these monies will be difficult to raise locally, some can be sourced internationally for the country to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. West Africa attracted the least financing in the region, 4.4%, between 2010 and 2020 and there is room for Nigeria to make itself attractive to investors to increase funding for its clean energy agenda.
Build Partnerships and Empowerment
Building local partnerships is important for Nigeria’s adaptation plans especially to create awareness in local communities. Undoubtedly, local communities are crucial stakeholders in effective climate change adaptation as their activities play an essential role in greenhouse gas emissions.
In Nigeria, 95.3% of the country’s landmass is designated rural land area. Thus, the effective management of the lands in local communities is important and will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria. Making climate change decisions without involving local communities is counter productive.
All members of the society need to be involved in the quest to achieve zero-emissions in Nigeria. Thus, everyone must be involved in climatic action through education, training, public awareness, public participation, access to information, and international cooperation that will enhance empowerment.
The best approach is to recognise community members’ leadership, knowledge, and skills, especially the marginalised. Getting inclusive participation of the women and youths through providing financial and technical resources and creating economic opportunities for them in climate-friendly industries.
While the horrors of COVID-19 temporarily curbed the emission of greenhouse gas, the resumption of economic activities has reawakened the threat of climate change. Properly done, Nigerians adaptation measures can set a course for improving living standards in a decarbonised economy with fewer adverse health effects.