- Clean energy has a vital role in combating climate change, achieving SDG7, and fostering economic growth while underlining the importance of renewable energy sources and environmental protection.
- Nigeria has a commitment to low greenhouse gas emissions, marking the significance of achieving net zero between 2050 and 2070 and the pressing need to address energy inaccessibility for over 140 million people, stressing its impact on health, education, and economic development.
Energy is at the main front of protecting the planet; clean energy is crucial in solving the problem of the world battling with climate change caused by a large chunk of greenhouse gases that blanket the earth and trap the sun’s heat through energy production such as burning fossil fuel which includes oil, gas, and coal to generate electricity and heat.
Also, the world is on track to achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG7) to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030. These goals include providing universal access to affordable, reliable and current energy services, sharing renewable energy in the global energy mix, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and enhancing international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
They also involve including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced cleaner fossil fuel technology and clean energy technology, expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developed countries, in particular, least developed countries, small Island developing states and land-locked developing countries by their respective programmes of support.
Furthermore, energy plays the most crucial role in economic growth, progress, and development, as well as poverty eradication and security of all nations. Economic growth depends on the long-term availability of energy from sources that are affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly.
Security, climate change, and public health are closely interrelated with energy. The environment provides a series of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and bio-fuel, which can help in energy efficiency and contribute to climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction.
Eco-system maintenance and protection allow the use and further development of hydropower sources of electricity and bio-energy. These renewable energies are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the earth.
Nature replenishes renewable energy, and it emits little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants in the air. Investment in clean energy is already at a much faster rate than fossil fuel, helping to deliver a peak in global fossil fuel use before 2030.
From 2017 to 2023, clean energy investments increased from around $1.3 trillion to $1.05 trillion. However, the pace of change is still too slow, and more robust policy measures and behavioural changes will decrease oil demand used as a transport fuel for efficiency improvement, rapid uptake of hybrid and EVs and increased biofuel use.
The pace of change varies across different transport modes and depends on the potential for direct electrification.
Finally, Nigeria passed the Climate Change Act that seeks to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions and green and sustainable growth. In November 2021, the framework was established to set a target to reach net zero between 2050 and 2070.
The Act includes provisions to adopt National Climate Change Action Plans in five-year cycles. The Action Plan is implemented by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) established by the Act; this will ensure national emissions are consistent with a carbon budget.
According to the International Energy Agency, over 140 million people, about 71 per cent of the country’s population, do not have access to energy in Nigeria. This is the ability to access modern energy services, including electricity, clean cooking facilities, and modern fuels.
Energy inaccessibility has significant negative impacts on health, education, and economic development. So raising awareness and mobilising action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet must be the most significant effort to achieve clean energy worldwide.