…Challenges US, China to do more for earth
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
In keeping with the international effort to reduce methane emissions, President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ending gas flaring in Nigeria.
He made the declaration yesterday at the ongoing United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) summit on methane and other non-greenhouse gases in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The President informed the world that Nigeria has already implemented harsh penalties for defaulters. The President shared the podium alongside Dr. Sultan Ahmed al-Jabar, the President of COP28, John Kerry, the US Special Envoy on Climate, and Xie Zhenhue, the Chinese Envoy on Climate.
Acknowledging the host nation’s initiative to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, the President stated that he understood that commitments were required from all parties to keep global warming to 1.5C by the end of the century.
President Tinubu said: “Sitting here in this room, I know that we have to commit ourselves. We have been doing so before today. We are committed to critical steps to reduce methane emissions by ensuring gas flaring is eliminated. There is a huge penalty for that. There is equally a huge incentive to do so.
“The measures that are taken here are a welcome development, no doubt about that. I am with the leadership of the UAE for the commitment shown so far.
“We are consolidating on gas export, usage domestically and export to other countries. I can assure you that we will be partners in progress to achieve renewable energy.
“We are committed to energy mix, we are providing cooking gas for our large population. We will continue to do that.
“We have signed off on reduction of methane. We will leverage on new technology and we hope that the two giant nations and the Emirates will be able to help us.”
He emphasised that the earth urgently needs healing and that the two largest economies in the world, the US and China, are the main contributors to greenhouse emissions.
While expressing delight that both countries were represented at the summit, Tinubu said: “What I know of Africa is the fact that de-risking in additional investment and technological knowhow is very necessary and the largest economies that have benefitted immensely should do more, real fast because the earth needs healing and needs more attention.
In his earlier speech, Sultan al-Jabar emphasised that the current initiatives demonstrate that limiting the earth’s temperature is a feasible goal.
He noted that with the required collaboration and diligence on the part of the country, it is possible to eliminate all Co2 gases.
In his remarks, John Kerry announced that over $1 billion in new grant funding has been mobilized since COP27 in Sharm el-Shiekh, Egypt.
He expressed happiness that more countries have made methane pledge endorsements.
He said: “Earlier today the United States finalized standards to sharply reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. And those efforts will achieve a nearly 80 per cent reduction. We, United States, are planning a rulemaking review on methane emission standards for landfills. The United States and the European Union launched a global methane pledge two years ago in Glasgow, with 100 countries joining.
“At COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, we were able to grow the list of endorsements to 150 countries. And I’m pleased today to announce a new global methane pledge endorsements from Angola, Kenya and Romania. And I’m particularly excited that Turkmenistan Kazakhstan joined yesterday and Kosovo President Costco is here to join today. We’re working to turn the pledge itself into action.”
On his part, the Chinese Envoy said his country was willing to cut down on greenhouse gases but lack the capacity to do so. He, therefore, called for support from the international community.