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A
KEYNOTE
ADDRESS
BY
THE
HONOURABLE
MINISTER
OF
ENVIRONMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE GREEN ECONOMY AT
THE 2016 5TH NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT FORUM ON OCTOBER 20,
2016.
Protocol:
I am delighted to be taking part in the Niger Delta Development Forum. This
Forum is convened to inform relevant stakeholders in the oil and gas industry in
the Niger Delta Region on the need for continued effort for sustainable
development despite the recent slump in the oil prices, the degradation of the
land through enormous amount of pollution over the years and the instability
caused by insecurity. The continued struggle to balance the need for inclusive
economic growth, social stability and protection of the environment is imperative
for the development of the Niger Delta.
At the Federal Ministry of Environment, and in line with this
Administration’s focus towards revitalizing the economy, improving security and
tackling corruption, we are changing the narrative of how people perceive the
environment and its bearing on sustainable development. For us it’s about
Empowering People, Taking Climate Action and Protecting the Environment, all of
which concern the Niger Delta today.
As part of our mandate, the Ministry is responsible for managing and regulating
all environmental issues ranging from erosion, desertification, climate change, oil
spills, gas flaring, in Nigeria and continues to provide the foundation as well as
facilitating the fight against all forms of environmental degradation arising from
oil related and environmental based activities.
In carrying out this function, the Ministry is at the fore front of devising
strategies, frameworks and entering into partnerships that would enable it meet
its statutory mandate. The Ministry is also in the process of strengthening its
regulatory functions to enable it perform better and meet the current
environment challenges in line with domestic and international Conventions.
Seated here today, I see concerned faces for the Niger Delta and its
development. I applaud the courage of all to ensure that development is done in a
sustainable manner however, there are some stark realities which must be
contended with as we look to the future.
Climate Change
Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with significant
impacts expected in all regions of the country and in all sectors of the economy.
It is already having a deleterious effect as witnessed in the 2012 flooding which
has been acclaimed as the worst in five decades. Recent estimates by the Ministry
of Environment (2011) suggest that, in the absence of adaptation, climate change
could result in a loss of between 2% and 11% of Nigeria's GDP by 2020, rising to
between 6% and 30% by the year 2050.( NASPA Document)
4.
Nigeria, and all the countries of Sub‐Saharan Africa, are highly vulnerable
to the impacts of Climate Change, according to the Third, Fourth and Fifth
Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It was
noted that Nigeria specifically ought to be concerned by Climate Change because:
 of the country’s high vulnerability due to its long (800km) coastline that is
prone to sea‐level rise and the risk of fierce storms almost 2/3 of Nigeria’s
land cover is prone to drought and desertification;
 its water resources are under threat which will affect energy sources
(Kainji and Shiroro);
 rain‐fed agriculture and fishing activities from which 2/3 of the Nigerian
population depend primarily on for food are under serious threat;
 Nigeria has a very high population pressures—160 million people surviving
on the physical environment through various activities within an area of
923,000 square kilometres;
 Nigeria lacks the financial capacity and technological know‐how to combat
the postulated negative impacts of Climate Change.
The Niger Delta Region by virtue of its location, activities of the petroleum
sector and lifestyle of the people make it highly prone to the impact of Climate
Change. The Region is bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the east
by Cameroon. Also the Niger Delta is known for her rich and diverse ecological
zones such as the Mangrove and coastal forest, the fresh water swamp forest,
lowland rain forest zone and derived savannah zone.
Currently, the Region is experiencing serious environmental challenges as a result
of oil spills. Farm lands, water and the general ecosystem are polluted due
to crude oil exploration and production activities by OIC’s, illegal activities
of saboteurs and militants, who blow up of pipelines and oil facility
installations. All these activities have led to severe spillages leading to
degradation of the Niger Delta. The region contributes a good percentage
to the concentration of greenhouse gas emission in Nigeria largely due to
activities of the petroleum industries within the Region, especially gas
flaring, oil and gas leakages from pipelines, well blow-outs etc. resulting in
oil spillages.
Furthermore,
militancy
activities,
illegal
refineries,
military
operations,
deforestation activities, cooking with firewood and also, the nature of the terrain
especially the wetlands, also contribute to GHGs concentration. Wetlands
especially the swamp forest are a natural source of atmospheric methane.
Coupled with the socio-political problems that has resulted in increased poverty
levels in the region, climate change also has contributed to the hardship faced by
the people and while it is important to continue to highlight the damage caused
by climate change in the Niger Delta region, it is rather more imperative to look
out for measures that can be put in place to mitigate the emission of the
greenhouse gases. These measures which are part of the Government Policies on
Climate Change will help build climate change resilient communities. We also
recognise that Green Economy is also part of the mitigation approach to GHG
emissions.
The Government of Nigeria acknowledges the importance of developing a national
response to climate change and it is taking steps towards building a governance
structure to manage the issue. In this regard, the Government first created a
national focal point: the Climate Change Department within the Federal Ministry
of Environment. It also mobilized the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate
Change. To build on these actions, and to ensure a truly national response to the
significant and multi-facetted impacts of climate change, Nigeria launched the
National Policy on Climate Change; National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of
Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN),
The Government has continued to create awareness on Climate Change and
its impact. It also has developed an energy mix and is moving towards increased
focus on renewable energy. It has also started the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in respect to Climate Change as well as
adopting the UNFCCC Paris Agreement.
Climate Change and the pursue for green economy aims at reconciling lowcarbon and sustainable development with other valued outcomes, such as, poverty
alleviation, and high economic growth. social equity, while significantly reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcities’ (UNEP 2011).
Green Economy
As part of our new vision, we hope to propel the country towards a Green Economy.
A Green Economy is a system of economic activities related to the production,
distribution and consumption of goods and services that result in improved human
wellbeing over the long term, while not exposing future generations to significant
environmental risk and ecological scarcities. A green economy is an inclusive
concept comprising economic, social and the environmental pillars of growth. In
other words, it can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient
and socially inclusive. It emphasizes the intersession between the environment
and economy which should resolve and improve social and governance related
challenges.
The paradigm shift needed to achieve a green economy would need to be a winwin economic-environmental model which would ensure that projects and
programmes are co-beneficial, in bringing in revenue from both environment and
economic investments.
Nigeria is struggling to diversify its economy by creating a resilient diversified
income base through improving the full value chain of Agriculture, identifying
alternative renewable energy sources, investing in our natural resource base such
as solid mineral. However, all these will have an adverse effect if people and
planet are not front and center.
Many developing countries have already started greening their economies.
Countries like Brazil and South Africa have a Green Economy Plan other have
passed
Sustainable
Development
Acts
to
underpin
policy
making
and
implementation.
Our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) points towards this. It aims
to
foster low-carbon, high growth sustainable development and build a climate
resilient society. To foster a green economy, we must begin to define in serious
terms what green means.
UNEP estimated in 2011 that global employment in Agriculture could increase by
4%; Forest conversation and reforestation could boost formal employment in this
sector by 20% by 2050’, improved energy efficiency across all transport modes
combined with modal shift would increase employment by about 10% above
business as usual but all these cannot be achieved if the right thinking, financial
instruments and institutional framework in not in place.
A green economy over time, achieves higher rates of GDP growth – here’s how:
Currently, Nigeria is the second largest emitter of flare gas (only second the
Russia) emitting around $1.8 billion worth of gas annually. This is reported to be
accompanied by huge economic losses of up to $868.8 million, about N173.76
billion in 2014 and $2.5billion annually due to waste despite the country’s rampant
energy poverty. Gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious
implications for both Nigeria and the rest of the world. The burning of fossil fuel,
mainly coal, oil and gas-greenhouse gases-has led to warming up the world and is
projected to get much, much worse. This can be seen from recent rainfall pattern
reduction and distortions, and El Nino. Oxides from flaring also deplete soil
nutrient hence reducing vegetation and nutritional value of crops within such
environments. Other negative effects can be seen from reduced quality of life
from various forms of pollution, increase in diseases and resistant vector
behaviour, increasing erosion, flooding, and conflict over loss of livelihoods etc.
Based on Nigeria’s significant hydrocarbon resource and the fact that gas could
provide over 25,000 GWh of power, Nigeria would be a leader in providing
alternative green energy, opening a whole new sub-sector - providing jobs and new
skills, and encouraging innovation, technology and research.
On the part of the Federal Government and all other relevant stakeholders, there
are measures required to attain the dictates of the Green Economy. These
include:
a. Formulation of Policies on Green Economy. Thinking green would mean that
policies reflect the concerns and priorities of the public especially target
groups and affected communities. It would further ensure that policies
address the poor and most marginalized, encouraging wealth generation
trickle down.
b. Coordination of the critical sectors required to respond to the key
priorities. Ensuring governance and institutional capacities are fit for
purpose
c. Regulations and legislations supporting the set objectives of Green
Economy
d. Transition from fossil fuels to renewables will require that we reduce our
dependence on the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, the emissions
from which are the primary cause of climate change
e. Develop green, renewable sources of energy instead of fossil fuels, and
promote economic decision-making that supports green technologies,
instead of further fossil fuel extraction.
f. Place a value on Nature through incentives, taxation, regulation and other
means, and will seek to maximize natural capital, social capital and
intellectual capital, as well as financial capital across all sectors.
g. Building synergies with partners across constituencies such as business,
communities, local governments and our international partners
In concluding, it must be stated that Climate Change is no longer a future threat,
it is here with us today. Government will continue to work on strengthening and
implementing resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and
disasters with particular focus on the Niger Delta Region. Similarly, more efforts
will be put into Improving education, awareness-raising and human and
institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction
and early warning.
Whilst Government remains committed in her obligations in this regard, in order
to achieve a sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region, all hands must be
on-deck.
So we call on the relevant stakeholders and our international partners at all levels
to continue to do all they can and should to help us secure the present to save the
future.
Thank you all.