Nigeria at COP27: A right to burn fossil fuels

Background (COP and UNFCCC)

Why is Nigeria at COP27? And what COP27 is? Is Africa’s and or Nigeria’s relationship with COP an important one? What is all the talk about global CO2 emissions and what is the continent’s contribution to the emission? Why is Nigeria and Africa demanding monies from the West?

Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual (COP26 was impacted by Covid and postponed) climate change conference. The first COP (COP1) held in Berlin, Germany in 1995. COP is the main decision body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and include all the 197 signatories to the UNFCCC (Signatories = Parties = Countries).

Purpose of COP and UNFCCC

So, what’s the purpose of it all? Well, Carbon dioxide emissions are the primary driver of global climate change hence, the parties agreed to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.” In plain language, they agreed to limit carbon emissions at a level that could save our planet from possible future catastrophic climate events.

Flood disaster in Nigeria

COP21

Now, we jump from COP1 to COP21. The 21^st conference held in Paris, France. It produced the historic Paris Agreement which is legally binding treaty signed and adopted by all parties except the USA (Trump and the US – one of the biggest polluters – walked away). The treaty entered into force on the 4^th of November 2016 and the plan going forward is to limit Global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Countries are to communicate the actions they will take to reduce greenhouse emissions and build resilience to climate change. Furthermore, COP21 agreed that the developed world will take the lead in providing financial support to the developing world to help mitigation and adaptation efforts. Afterall, Africa was and is not a significant contributor to global emissions, being responsible for only 3.7% (2021). Asia, America and Europe are responsible for 53%, 18% and 17% respectively.

Nigeria’s CO2 Emissions

Perhaps another way to state this more clearly to a local audience is that Nigeria’s per capita emissions of carbon dioxide is less than 1 metric ton per person (0.6 tons per person) compared with a global average of 4.5 tons per person. In brief, each Nigerian generate 8 times lesser emissions than the global average (remember CO2 emissions are the cause of climate trouble). Nigeria’s figure of 0.6 is 24 times lesser than the US value of 14.4 per person. It is also several order lesser than the 11.4 of the Russian Federation, 7.8 of Germany and the 7.1 of China. Is it clearer now why Nigeria (and Africa) is annoyed about the execution of the climate deal?

Nigeria and the countries in Africa are suffering climate disasters that are directly linked to the recklessness of the rest of the world particularly the developed and industrialized world. To add salt to injury, the developed world is asking Africa to make the most sacrifice. Nigeria at COP27 will express her frustrations.

Country	CO2 Emission per capital (tons)	CO2 Emission (Billions of tons)
China	7.1	11.5
United States of America	14.4	5.0
Russia Federation	11.4	1.8
Germany	7.8	0.7
Nigeria	0.6	0.1

Nigeria at COP27

So, fast forward to the 27th Conference of the Parties, which is ongoing in the beautiful Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Nigeria’s president pens a most powerful op-ed in the Washington post – Muhammadu Buhari: How not to talk with Africa about climate change. This is a Nigeria at COP27 stand. The president described the unprecedented floods in Nigeria and its associated human suffering. We expressed his frustration with western hypocrisy and irresponsibility in failing to meet their commitments to fund climate mitigation and adaptation projects in the developing world.

The president gave some good advice to the parties meeting at COP27. Firstly, to put their money where their mouth is. Secondly, to channel more of the monies to adaptation projects as Africans are already feeling the pinch of extreme weather events. Lastly, to keep their nose out of Africa’s business and stop telling us how to use our resources as we are obviously not the polluters.

Furthermore, he reminded the West that Africa needs to build up its infrastructure, provide power to its citizens and pull them out of poverty. Doing this will not produce even the slightest dent to the global 1.5 degrees Celsius target. Africa will not remain poor for the greater good of the world!

Are Nigeria’s 2023 Candidates up to the task?

Recently, one candidate (PO) shockingly revealed his lack of knowledge of the important topic of greenhouse emissions. Thankfully, he redeemed himself much later and described plans to dredge major rivers, a form of adaptation effort. A second candidate (BAT) appears to have a firmer grip on the issues. He aptly described the politics around CO2 emissions by likening it to rats eating a poisoned holy communion. A kind of ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ situation. He unapologetically insisted that Nigeria will pursue its growth and developmental programs and would not play ball with the West if we don’t get paid. A third candidate (AA) says he will retool disaster awareness agencies (NIMET, NHSA) and improve their capacity to forecast weather disasters. Further, AA said he would pay attention to completing the famous Dasin-Hausa Dam.

Conclusion

President Buhari op-ed has been well received by Nigerians and Africans. Many believed it is a powerful stickup to the West. There has been some push back as well. One commenter snapped – “the West is not your bank, use your oil revenue productively”. Others suggested that Africans like to revel in self-pity and victim mentality. Should Africans have to pay for the climate problems created by the rest of the world?