President Bola Tinubu’s op-ed, ‘Africa can become the world’s green manufacturing powerhouse’, published on the Cable News Network (CNN) on Tuesday, highlights a number of geopolitical, domestic and diplomatic issues revolving around climate change, and how Nigeria can be a powerhouse of green energy in Africa.
Below are 5 key takeaways from Tinubu’s CNN op-ed:
1. Leadership on Climate Action
As the President of Nigeria and Chair of ECOWAS, Tinubu highlights his commitment to addressing climate change at COP28. Nigeria has launched initiatives like the Nigerian Carbon Market to uphold its commitment to a cleaner world, and Tinubu commits to eliminating methane and non-CO2 greenhouse gases, demonstrating leadership in Africa’s decarbonisation efforts.
2. Regional Challenges and Urgent Collaborations
Tinubu emphasises the pressing issues in West Africa, such as the Sahel crisis and the loss of water resources. He calls for urgent international collaboration, especially in financing and technology, to tackle issues like the 90% loss of Lake Chad. Tinubu stresses the need for coordinated action to prevent desertification and its severe consequences on Nigeria’s arable land and communities.
3. Domestic Actions and Challenges
Despite economic challenges, Nigeria has taken significant steps like enacting the Climate Change Act and committing to net-zero emissions. The country mobilises youth for tree planting, signs agreements with energy firms to reduce greenhouse gases, and commits to developing hydrogen capacity. Challenges, including global conflicts affecting cooperation, are acknowledged by President Tinubu.
4. Energy Transition and Economic Diversification
Tinubu also emphasises the necessity of transitioning from fossil fuels to wind and solar – Nigeria being a major oil producer. Tinubu says the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan (NETP) has been implemented to make the shift in key sectors, namely, power, cooking, Oil & Gas, transport, and industry. Tinubu adds that the NETP, a data-driven strategy for net-zero emissions, requires a substantial annual investment of $10 billion until 2060. Ultimately, the article reveals that Nigeria has the ambition to compete with Russia in supplying energy to European markets through natural gas and green energy.
5. Global Cooperation and Climate Financing
Tinubu calls for fair and cooperative approaches, urging developed nations to honour commitments, including contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund and the $100 billion annual climate financing pledge. The African Climate Summit’s adoption of the Climate Positive Growth paradigm envisions Africa as a leading green manufacturing hub with targeted financial support and access to global markets. The article advocates for a choice between maintaining the economic status quo or genuinely reducing emissions for a better and equitable global future.
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