AWKA/Nigeria: The Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University has unveiled the Deep Decarbonisation Pathways (DDP-Nigeria) project report, representing a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions and spearheading sustainable development across Africa.
Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of CCCD and the report’s Coordinating Lead Author, announced the release of the report in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Lagos. The DDP-Nigeria project, a national research and capacity-building initiative, is part of the 2050 Facility funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).
The project, with the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) as the Programme Coordinator and contributions from the International Research Center on Environment and Development (CIRED) France, was conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, through the Department of Climate Change (DCC) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
According to Prof Okereke, the DDP-Nigeria project was designed to align with the country’s environmental and economic development aspirations, focusing on three central pillars: mobilisation and capacity building of local teams of experts and researchers, production of Nigeria context-sensitive low-emission development strategies, and structuration of a community of practice among Nigerian and African research institutions to facilitate climate change knowledge sharing.
The DDP report provides detailed analyses across key energy sectors, offering various trajectories Nigeria could follow to meet its net-zero commitments. It includes scenarios such as Business as Usual (BAU), Currently Policy Scenario (CPS), Gas Economy Scenario (GES), and Renewable Energy Scenario (RES), all of which provide alternative pathways for Nigeria’s energy transition.
Key findings from the report indicate that the energy sector contributes about 54 per cent of national emissions, with more than 50 per cent of emissions from the oil and gas subsector. Under a BAU scenario, Nigeria’s cumulative emissions would reach about 1053 MtCO2eq by 2060.
However, scenarios like CPS, GES, and RES could significantly reduce emissions, with RES being the only scenario capable of achieving the government’s net-zero emissions pledge at COP26. The report also highlights the economic implications of these pathways, indicating that international financial aid (IFA) amounting to 880 billion USD over 39 years could drive the Renewable Energy Scenario.
In conclusion, Prof Okereke emphasized the importance of utilizing natural gas as a transition fuel and increasing the use of renewable energy sources to achieve decarbonisation. He described the DDP-Nigeria report as a blueprint for sustainable development, integrating economic growth with environmental stewardship, ushering Nigeria into a transformative era.
