By Adewale Sanyaolu
As global discussions over climate change intensify, Africa, despite its lower carbon emissions compared to other regions, remains vulnerable to its adverse effects. A carbon footprint, which measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities, underscores the urgent need for sustainable practices across the continent.
Africa’s total carbon emissions in 2021 amounted to 1,445.00 million metric tons, significantly lower than major emitters like China, the United States, India, and Russia, whose combined emissions totaled 21,809 million metric tons. Within Africa, countries vary widely in their emissions contributions, with Nigeria accounting for just 9.47 per cent, contrasting sharply with South Africa’s 30.17 per cent, Egypt’s 17.27 per cent, Algeria’s 12.19 per cent, and other nations totaling 30.89 per cent.
Globally, there has been an increasing impact of climate change which poses significant risks to the planet’s ecosystems and human societies with the root cause for the adverse climate effects being carbon emissions fueled by human activities.
A further breakdown of the numbers shows China coming tops with 12,466.30, United States; 4,752,00, India;2,648.70 and Russia;1,942.00
To address this worrying trend and possibly protect and rehabilitate Africa’s natural carbon sinks such as forests, oceans, coastal mangroves, wetlands and grasslands, the Sahara Group, as part of its efforts to promote sustainability through media advocacy, organised the maiden edition of Asharami Square.
It was a forum heald last where experts converged to highlight the importance of protecting our environment and discuss pathways to reduce net emissions.
Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group, Ejiro Gray, highlighted that the energy sector is considerably the sector with the highest Co2 emissions in Africa.
She added that, still energy demand in Africa will keep rising, driven by increased use of oil and gas as well as a growing reliance on renewable as it strives to reduce carbon emissions.
According to Gray, natural gas development and commercialization, increased set of renewables, investment in low-cost / low emissions clean energy solutions, Carbon Capture Storage / Carbon Capture and Reutilization are other factors that can help accelerate Africa’s march towards sustainability.
“Natural gas presents a viable opportunity to serve as a transition fuel as Africa continues to gradually invest in renewable energy. It is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel, producing fewer CO2 emissions compared to coal or petroleum. In 2021, Africa’s natural gas reserves totalled over 620 trillion cubic feet. By developing and monetising these reserves through processing and eventual usage of CNG, LNG, LPG and other gas products, Africa can leverage its natural gas resources to support sustainable energy development,” Gray said.
Gray maintained that, developing intentional policies and investments on protecting the continent’s carbon sinks would enhance carbon sequestration and reduce net emissions.
She said these natural landscapes act as significant carbon reservoirs, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, adding that developing reforestation and afforestation programs, implementing strict conservation policies, and providing financial incentives for conservation projects are critical for combating climate change in Africa.
In his presentation titled ‘‘Carbon Footprint and the African Narrative: Egbin Power Plc Perspective’’, Managing Director of the power firm, Mr. Mokhtar Bounour, said carbon emissions reduction and energy security remained a crucial focus in the global sustainability agenda.
He added that shared commitment, synergy and decisive actions are the cornerstone of accelerating the transition to cleaner energy and achieving a sustainable environment.
Bounour explained that having analyzed the percentage of global greenhouse emissions attributable to sectors such as; electricity/heat production, agriculture/forestry and land use, transportation, industry and others, synergy and renewed commitment among stakeholders is the way to go.
While highlighting Egbin Power’s unwavering commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy sources, Bounour stressed the need for deepened engagement and advocacy to further prioritize sustainability.
He outlined Egbin Power’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, which includes an array of pragmatic initiatives such as obsolescence management, asset upgrades, energy efficiency improvement, sustainability and environmental impact management, and fugitive emissions minimization.
These programmes, he said, are strategically designed to effectively address carbon emissions and promote cleaner energy initiatives.
According to him, Egbin Power drives sustainability through afforestation, adoption and enforcement of ANSI Lighting Design Standards for the Egbin built environment, a gradual switch from Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the company’s operations, among other interventions.
“These actions demonstrate Egbin Power’s commitment to thinking globally and acting locally, ensuring that deliberate and impactful steps are taken to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness actively.
As a responsible organization, Egbin Power is steadfast in its commitment to promoting sustainability. Our roadmap and initiatives are designed to align with global sustainable development goals and to ensure that we contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable energy landscape in Africa.
Our pragmatic initiatives which include obsolescence management, asset upgrades and overhauls, energy efficiency improvement, sustainability and environmental impact management, and fugitive emissions minimization as part of programs designed to address carbon emissions.
We are committed to treating the environment with the utmost care, knowing well that every activity we engage in – either as an individual or collectively as an organization – has an impact on the ecosystem,” Bounour explained.
Publisher of CEO of Newstide Publications Limited, publishers of Prime Business Africa, Mr. Marcel Mbamalu, in his presentation titled ‘‘Reporting Carbon Footprints: A New Phenomenon” explained that the 21st century has continued to shatter records in environmental degradation, leading to rising temperatures and associated climatic disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, high winds, droughts, and numbing cold weather.
According to him, the decade of 2020-2029 may take over from 2010 – 2019 as the hottest decade ever recorded. As a result, interest in carbon emission as a major cause of climate change has been growing rapidly.
‘‘The United Nations declared 2023 the hottest year in history, with projections that future years may still be warmer,’’.
As part of efforts to limit carbon footprint, Mbamalu disclosed that high polluters are made to pay or to take responsibility for their actions, while seeking ways to put a permanent end to emissions.
He stated that one of such ways is to impose a tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels emitted by carbon-based firms and industries, a situation described as carbon tax, adding that such taxes are aimed at compelling firms to seek more energy efficient industrial systems.
‘‘While companies pay carbon tax, the consumer is made to bear the eventual cost by purchasing finished products such as electricity, transport services, etc. As companies move to more energy efficient technologies, it is hoped that this would also affect the prices of finished products positively and entice carbon-based firms to steer away from fossil fuels.
In a double advantage, funds from carbon tax is used to finance more energy efficient projects such as wind turbines for electricity, solar technologies and battery-powered automobiles, etc. Clearly, the aim is to fight climate change by reducing emissions. Highlighting this in stories will encourage consumers to patronise industries known for going green, and to personally reduce or avoid their own emissions in burning forests, or in using cooking gas, for instance. In contrast, consumers would be encouraged to use solar systems, reduce meet consumption, use public transport, and invest in green energy technologies,’’
On the role of the media in reporting carbon footprints, publisher said the media should constantly portray the health implications of carbon emissions such as heat waves, which have killed scores around the world this year alone, e.g., India.
He maintained that, there are also economic impacts that occur when extreme weather events destroy lives and property.
‘‘The high costs of fuel, water, food and electricity in Nigeria, though often directly related to inefficient government policies, are also a result of low public and private investment in alternative energy sources. The health and economic impacts of carbon emissions create inequalities in societies that make low-income earners to feel the worst consequences of extreme events and high cost of living. This often results in social instability caused by insecurity, rising crime rate, internal migration and conflicts as witnessed in many developing countries.
Of course, the media must showcase positive effort being made to tackle climate change and to efface deeply-etched carbon footprints. This is to encourage the world that the end of humanity is not imminent. Only a few days ago this June, the US announced plans to implement a technology that will directly cool the planet. Advances in wind and solar electricity, battery powered cars are also reviving hope that humans can effectively push back on the forces of climate change by closing carbon footprints.”