Climate change and air pollution due to human activities stand as pivotal drivers for global energy transition, impacting economies and ecosystems worldwide.
While countries like China and India grapple with the pressing issue of local air pollution, Nigeria and other African nations also face challenges posed by environmental degradation, making the urgency of an energy transition imperative.
In Nigeria, where economic growth is intertwined with energy demands, addressing the dual challenge of climate change and local air pollution becomes crucial.
Nigeria heavily relies on fossil fuels to drive it’s economy, but this contribute heavily to both air pollution and carbon emissions.
The nation’s journey towards sustainability involves untangling this web and embracing cleaner, more efficient energy alternatives.
At least two-thirds of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributed to fossil fuel energy supply and usage.
The Paris Climate Agreement, with its ambitious target of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and a more stringent goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, necessitates a radical transformation in energy systems.
For Nigeria and other African economies, meeting these targets requires not only reducing emissions but also ensuring energy availability for economic growth.
The challenge is daunting, demanding an 85% reduction in the carbon intensity of global economic activity between 2015 and 2050.
This translates to a decline of over 70% in CO2 emissions compared to the Reference Case.
An analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), known as The REmap Case outlines a specific roadmap for achieving these reductions.
The Key pillars outlined include a higher energy efficiency and a substantial increase in renewable energy adoption.
In Nigeria’s context, where energy demand is rising, embracing these strategies is critical.
The analysis indicates that these measures can potentially achieve 94% of the required emissions reductions by 2050 compared to the Reference Case.
The remaining 6% according to the analysis involves options like fossil fuel switching, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The power sector is projected to contribute more than 10 Gt to the 25 Gt emissions reduction in 2050. The G20 countries, including Nigeria, play a pivotal role in this transition.
As a part of this, the share of renewable energy in Nigeria’s total primary energy supply is expected to rise significantly, from 14% in 2015 to 63% in 2050.
The transition entails a shift from an 86% fossil fuel share to a 37% share, demonstrating a move towards a more sustainable energy mix.
Importantly, this occurs while maintaining nearly constant energy use between 2015 and 2050, even as economic activity triples.
Nigeria’s journey towards renewable energy and sustainability faces unique challenges.
These include majorly energy resource endowment, demand projections, current renewables share, and other factors. However, the constant variables across economies is a substantial increase in the share of renewables.
The deployment of renewables, especially in the power sector, becomes crucial.
The findings of IRENA’s REmap analysis align with other major studies, emphasizing the significance of energy efficiency and renewable energy in global energy transitions.
Despite different opinions regarding the potential role of energy efficiency, the consensus is clear, that renewables growth is a key pillar for the energy transition.
The REmap Case stated that a boost in the global GDP by around 1% in 2050 is possible compared to the Reference Case.
It argued that the economic growth will be driven by higher investments in renewables and energy efficiency, supported by pro-growth policies and the use of carbon pricing.
Despite the fact that job losses in the fossil fuel sector would be massive as the world transition to renewable energy , the analysis says this will be boosted by new jobs in renewables and energy efficiency, resulting in a net gain of 11.6 million additional jobs in the energy sector.
A country like Nigeria, where employment is a critical concern, embracing renewable energy offers the dual advantage of mitigating climate change and fostering economic growth through job creation.
The path to a sustainable energy future for Nigeria involves a concerted effort towards renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and aligning policies with global climate targets.
As part of the global energy transition, Nigeria’s commitment to reducing emissions, embracing renewables, and fostering economic growth through sustainable practices will contribute not only to local environmental well-being but also to the broader global endeavour for a greener, more sustainable planet.
By Dare Akogun
