A report by the report by the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), has found that 17 countries account for including Nigeria accounts for 78 percent of global energy related carbon dioxide emissions in the world and is now calling for radical action to decarbonize the world’s energy supply and improve energy efficiency to keep the global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
ETC is made up of global experts from energy companies, the investment sector, public and academic institutions and foundations and aims to identify ways to change the world’s energy systems to low-carbon sources.
It commissioned consultancy Ecofys to analyze the national climate plans of 17 countries and regions which account for 78 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Those countries are China, United States, India, Russia, Japan, Iran, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, Argentina, Vietnam, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the European Union.
“To keep below 2 degrees, the share of low-carbon energy sources in the global energy supply mix needs to rise at least one percentage point a year and energy productivity needs to grow at a minimum of 3 percent a year,” says the ETC.
Countries are measured using Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) plans, developed as building blocks of a landmark deal reached in Paris last December to limit the rise in global average temperature to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius this century.
“The 17 INDCs analyzed show an increase in the use of low-carbon energy of only 0.4 percentage points per year and improvements in energy productivity by just 1.8 percent per year, far below what is required,” said Adair Turner, chairman of the ETC.
Nigeria’s oil exploration which involves the burning of fossil fuels is the largest contributor to carbon dioxide emission.
According to the information from the United Nations, Nigeria significantly out-emits the other African non-signatories, with 0.66 percent of global annual emissions.
“The pollution from turning fossil fuels into energy threatens the environment and its ecosystems. It can also have a negative impact on our health. Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels helps minimize the pollution and damage done by the use of fossil fuels.
When we burn fossil fuels to start our cars and power our appliances, We release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. These pollutants have a number of negative effects on the environment, threatening people, plants, and animals throughout Nigeria,” states Eyitayo Alimi, new media head marketing communications outfit.
“A far faster transition is needed to achieve the ‘well below’ 2 degree goal. We must focus not only on decarbonizing power, but also on taking the carbon out of other energy supply and dramatically increasing global energy productivity improvement,” Turner added.
Last week, 175 nations took the first step of signing the Paris Agreement but scientists have said current INDCs are not enough to keep warming below 2 degrees.
ISAAC ANYAOGU
