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The end of the long-running fuel subsidy last month in Nigeria has increased interest in solar, which could accelerate progress toward mitigating climate change in Africa’s largest economy. But the government needs a clear plan to make the most of this new opportunity to advance Nigeria’s climate goals.
The end of the long-running fuel subsidy last month in Nigeria has increased interest in solar, which could accelerate progress toward mitigating climate change in Africa’s largest economy. But the government needs a clear plan to make the most of this new opportunity to advance Nigeria’s climate goals. Experts say, reducing fuel costs may be a popular but environmentally and economically costly system.
The state petroleum company, NNPC, says Nigeria spent 4.39 trillion naira (US$9.7 billion) on the subsidy last year. That left the government struggling to finance infrastructure projects, including rail systems that could help reduce emissions from vehicles. Gas-powered generators also contribute significantly to emissions. This has proliferated under the subsidy in a country where only half the population of more than 200 million have access to grid electricity. Those who do often endure blackouts.
Solar adoption, on the other hand, has largely been hampered by relatively high upfront costs, with only 1.25% of Nigerian households installing those systems. If 30% of Nigerian households turned to solar by 2030, five million metric tons of carbon dioxide would be avoided, reducing emissions from households by 30%. While analysts feel that the removal of fuel subsidies may lead to the spiking cost of living in the initial years, in the long run, that is the only response to climate change not only in Nigeria but in many countries struggling with higher carbon emissions.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/can-nigeria-walk-the-talk/
Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest carbon emitter, following South Africa, and is considerably affected by climate change fallout such as sea level rise and flooding, which threaten livelihoods, food security, and increased conflict.
