Nigeria Launches Its Long-Term Low Emission Strategy

Nigeria has advanced pace in its efforts to achieve the “net-zero carbon by 2060” commitment made at COP26 Glasgow, as it launched its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the Africa House in the Blue Zone, COP28 Dubai. The LT-LEDS which builds on the initial 2050 Long-Term Vision for Nigeria (LTV 2050) submitted to UNFCCC in 2021 at COP26, is Nigeria’s policy document streamlining her pathway to net zero by 2060. It also builds on the country’s momentous Climate Change Act, 2021.

This policy document which was developed by the Nigerian government in collaboration with diverse key stakeholders, involved extensive conversations that took into account the country’s peculiar challenges and national development needs.

It outlines measurable and implementable mitigation and adaptation pathways and strategies for transformation across all sectors of the economy based on relevant macroeconomic modeling that aligns with identified national development needs.

The Policy focuses on synergy in energy, Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU), and transportation sectors. To meet its energy needs, Nigeria targets an acceleration in energy efficiency, an increase in renewable energy generation by 60%, the promotion of smart grid technology, and the protection and strengthening of energy infrastructures. For AFOLU, it targets an increase in cover by 25%, promotion of animal ranching, implementation of climate-smart agriculture, and the strengthening of forest management.

In the Transportation sector, it aims to encourage low-carbon modes by adopting electric, ethanol, CNG, and LPG vehicles, and increased investment in climate-proofed transport. To drive economic growth in the industrial sector, it suggests adopting the use of green technologies while using gas as a short-term transition fuel. The reformation of the oil and gas sectors through the adoption of carbon capture at 10% annual growth, improved emission management, elimination of gas flaring by 2030, and the enforcement of the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) policy.

Other measures include strengthening river basin governance and enhancing capacity for smart water management, improving waste management, and encouraging green building construction. The document also identifies effective international collaboration such as technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and financial support as key to the effective implementation of the policy.

According to Mr. Richard Baron, Director, 2050 Pathways Platform, LT-LEDS promotes sustainable social and economic development for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, coordinating public policy change, leverage on opportunities provided by climate action, and creating a deeper dialogue on climate change. He also added that it improves the ability to anticipate and manage risks and identify short-term actions, building a climate-resilient society over the medium to long term.

In his closing remarks, the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, charged all hands to be on deck to ensure that this policy document does not end up on the shelf, but that the many projects identified should be translated into practical investment, stating that the next steps are the development of an investment strategy and an implementation plan.