Nigeria is regarded as one of the ten most climate-vulnerable countries globally. With multiple sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the country lags in its quest to control and limit them.
2021 witnessed an increase in greenhouse gas emissions across the world following the full return of economic activities after the pandemic-imposed lockdown. Carbon dioxide emissions increased by over 2 billion tonnes to 36.3 billion tonnes in 2021. This represented a 6% increase over that of 2020.
Methane (CH4) emissions also increased by 3.7% in 2021 over 2020. This increase was owing to the increased demand for natural gas and other fossil fuels.
While carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuels remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, other sources contribute. Over three-fourths of global greenhouse comes from transportation, electricity, and industrial activities, while agriculture and residential actions contribute 24% of greenhouse gas emissions.
In Nigeria, 38.2 percent of GHG emissions came from the land-use change and forestry sector, followed by the energy, waste, agriculture and the industrial processes sector which contributed 32.6 percent, 14.0, 13.0 percent and 2.1 percent respectively to GHG emissions.
Some of these actions are perceived as normal in Nigeria, but if checked could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Abattoir
Daily, hundreds of domestic animals are slaughtered at abattoirs across the country. The activities at these abattoirs involve slaughtering the animals and preparing them for sale and this includes singeing the animal skin and washing the internal organs before butchering.
The animals at these abattoirs are singed with used tyres from vehicles. This process emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and contributes to the degradation of the environment.
Also, washing and disposing of animal waste at the abattoirs poses a significant threat to the environment. These waste products are sources of methane which is emitted into the atmosphere daily.
Refuse Dumps
One of the common features of most streets in Nigeria are huge dumps of waste attributed to poor waste disposal management. Solid waste from households and sometimes commercial waste are dumped on the streets.
With at least 32 million tonnes of solid waste generated annually, Nigeria generates one of the highest in Africa. Asides from envirtaking away from the aesthetics of any environment, there are greater implications for climate health.
The decomposition of this waste creates and emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, traps heat and causes extreme weather conditions.
Deforestation
Deforestation in Nigeria is driven by the demand for agricultural land, timber, wood for fuel, and mining. Agriculture alone accounts for at least 80% of deforestation activities globally. The continuous felling of these trees and depletion of biodiversity have grave implications for the country.
Trees take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen during photosynthesis. This process reduces the carbon dioxide stored in the atmosphere. When forests are cut down, the stored carbon is thus rereleased into the atmosphere, increasing its quantity.
The relationship between deforestation and climate change is direct and continuous deforestation denies society not only of a natural process of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but also serves to increase this dangerous emissions.
As the country looks toward renewable energy to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions, efforts should be made to ensure these other sources are addressed.
Some corrective measures could include, treating solid waste before being disposed of to reduce its contribution to greenhouse gases emitted. The country can embark on afforestation to replace felled trees, a better way of animal skin removal and proper waste disposal can be adopted at abattoirs.