Set Target on Methane Abatement Now – CSOs Tell State Governments

…Methane Abatement Policy Brief Unveiled
By Ekemini Simon
As Nigeria target to reduce methane emissions by 45 percent by 2025 and 60-75 percent by 2030, Civil Society Organisations comprising of Environmental Centre for Oil Spill and Gas flaring (ECOSGF), African Initiative for Transparency Accountability and Responsible Leadership, (AfriTAL), and Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) have said that Nigeria can only meet its target if sub-national governments also set target on the abatement of methane.
Methane is the second most abundant GreenHouse Gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide and has over 80 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide over 20 years thus contributing to over 30% of global temperature rise which inturn causes climate change.
The CSOs called on State Governments to immediately set their methane abatement target and work towards meeting its target during its workshop on methane abatement in Nigeria with special focus on Methane emissions from anthropogenic sources. The workshop which was held on Thursday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was with funding support from TrustAfrica.
The organisations said to abate methane, there must be effective monitoring, measurement, and reporting, continuous education and awareness creation and stakeholders’ engagement / involvement in the abatement.
Other steps they mentioned that must be taken include implementing methane emission reduction technologies and practices, capacity building, research and development.
In his presentation, a Researcher from ECOSGF, Dr. Soberekon Afiesimama said that despite years of awareness about the climate crisis, GHG levels continue to soar because historically, much of the focus has been on carbon dioxide.
He noted that it is now clear that a rapid and sustained reduction in methane is also key to limiting global warming and climate change, especially as methane has contributed to over 30 percent of global temperature rise since the industrial revolution.
Afiesimama, who noted that methane is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic (human-induced) and natural sources, explained that anthropogenic emissions represent roughly 60 percent of the total methane emissions while natural sources take 40 percent.
The expert said anthropogenic methane emissions are mainly from three sectors: fossil fuels 35%; agriculture 42%; and waste, ~20%.
He noted that the total methane emission from human activities is between 350-390 million tonnes annually while natural methane emissions come primarily from vegetated wetland, freshwater systems, natural geological sources, the Arctic, among others.
Afiesimama said methane emissions in Nigeria followed the global pattern with the oil and gas sector contributing the most 23% (78 Mt/year) while Coal is 12% (41 Mt/year).
While noting that agriculture accounts for 42% (147 Mt/year) of anthropogenic methane emissions, the researcher said 30 percent is emitted through the fermentation that takes place in the digestive system of animals, 4 percent through manure Management and 10 percent through rice cultivation.
He also noted that waste accounts for 20 percent (43 Mt/year) of anthropogenic methane emissions even as landfills are the third -largest source of global anthropogenic methane emissions (11%).
Afiesimama said the strategies for reducing emissions include a combination of technological solutions and behavioural change within the oil and gas sector and agricultural and waste management sector.
In the oil and gas sector, the researcher said 70 percent of emissions can be abated using technologies and natural gas can be used for power production, vehicle fuel (CNG), and LPG.
He called for the elimination of the flaring of associated gases and adoption and implementation of regulatory standards in the downstream, midstream and up-stream sectors.
In the Agricultural/waste management sector, Afiesimama recommended the use of biodigester technology to capture methane as a source of energy.
He said there is a need to reduce food waste, alternate wetting and drying of rice cultivation and stop open burning of waste.
Some of the benefits of methane abatement highlighted includes reduced GHGs and associated air pollutants, provision of a local source of energy, conversion of waste products into a revenue source and creation of renewable energy that can replace fossil fuel use.
Others are job creation, prevention of premature deaths, prevention of crop losses, and improved agricultural practices.
Earlier, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Chief Uno Uno said the Ministry is committed to continually provide conducive environment for oil and gas investments in the State and work in synergy with relevant government agencies, communities, NGOs and other critical stakeholders to effectively ensure the implementation of robust policy guidelines for a healthy environment.
He commended the organisers of the workshop taking seriously the issues of methane abatement and called on stakeholders to effectively play their roles with harmony of purpose to bequeath lasting environmental legacies for future generations.
In her keynote address, Ogo Chukwudi of TrustAfrica said it is time governments at all levels become more intentional about methane abatement as that will reflect in practical policies in waste management, agricultural practices and fossil fuel emissions. She said while significant attention has been given to emissions from fossil fuel extraction and use, emissions from human activities such as agriculture, waste management and other sectors have received comparatively less attention.
Chukwudi insisted that paying attention to the human induced sources of environmental change is key for a comprehensive methane abatement and climate change mitigation in Nigeria.
On his part, Dr. Louis Ogbeifun while presenting the Policy Brief on ” Methane Abatement in Nigeria: A Special Focus on Methane Emissions from Anthropogenic Sources” said the methane abatement project emphasizes the need for a multisectoral approach to targeting emissions from oil and gas, waste management and agriculture sectors. He said although the project activities are concentrated in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers States due to their economic activities and environmental challenges, the focal States serve as a model for methane abatement with the aim to set a precedent for nationwide implementation.
Ogbeifun said to achieve methane abatement, ECOSGF in partnership with AfriTAL and other partners will carry out awareness and education, policy advocacy, utilise technology and innovation and also foster collaboration with local communities and stakeholders through community engagement as its key strategies to attaining methane abatement.
He called on relevant government agencies to implement and enforce methane reduction policies, the Civil Society organisations to drive advocacy and community outreach and private sector to innovate and develop technologies for methane abatement and efficient waste management.
The event witnessed presentations on how biogas digester is used in turning wastes to energy and fertilizer.
The workshop which also had panel discussions anchored by the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, Comrade Umo Isuaikoh with resource persons from National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESDRA), Climate Change Department, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources and Nigeria Environmental Society witnessed commitments on the various agencies of government to collaborate with the academia, private sector and communities in making policies and pushing for policy enforcement towards methane abatement.