GREEN ECONOMY AS A VIABLE STRATEGY FOR ABATING CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS IN NIGERIAN CITIESEfik paper

GREEN ECONOMY AS A VIABLE STRATEGY FOR ABATING CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS IN NIGERIAN CITIES

being a position paper at the TREES ON REATH CONFERENCE, Marc28, 2013.Ogori/

Magongo LGA ,Kogi State

Surveyor EfikNational Coordinator, Climate Change Network Nigeria

Member, National Technical Committee on REDD+ of the Federal Ministry of Environment

Chair, REDD+ Working Group, CAN-West Africa

10/06/2011 Surveyor Efik, CCN-Nigeria 2

PAPER OUTLINE

Part 1: Defining climate change: What is climate change; evidence-based scenarios; causes of climate change; Factors leading to excess emissions of GHGs; impacts of climate change; scenes of impacts

Part 11: Cities/Local Governments in CC; Why cities/Local Governments; what LGs/Mayors should do; strategic actions for climate resilience;

Part 111: Green economy initiativeWhat is green economy initiative; identifying the green economy sectors; green economy initiative/job creation; green economy opportunities/actions

Part 1V: ConclusionKey steps for Mayors, NiMACC

Illustrations: 9 figures of illustration.

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WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?• “A change of climate which is attributed directly

or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods” (UNFCCC)

• Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) levels in the atmosphere are higher than at any time in the past 650,000 years. This is caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), destruction of forests. (UNFCCC)

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Pix: DARE Kaduna

EVIDENCE-BASED SCENARIOS

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Abuja Atmosphere, clear & whitish. No industries

Lagos Atmosphere, brownish dust due to industrial pollution

Biodiversity loss

Ecosystem DestructionPix: UNEP

Figure 1


CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Excess concentration of GHGs in the Atmosphere caused by human activities

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Methane (CH4)• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and• Perflourocarbons (PFCs)• Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)• (UNFCCC)

Due to gas flaring, bush burning, automobiles, deforestation, industrial activities etc.

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FOREST DESTRUCTION (DEFORESTATION)

FACTORS INFLUENCING CLIMATE CHANGE

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Human activities leading to excess emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere•Deforestation•Industrial activities•Wastes•Transportation (Automobiles)

•Energy supply (Fossil fuel etc.)

Figure 2


IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that the West African Sahel and Central Africa will experience some of the highest temperature increases than anywhere in the world over the next few decades; - (IPCC AR4 2007)

• And, that “In all four regions and in all seasons, the median temperature increase (in Africa) lies … roughly 1.5 times the global mean response.” (IPCC WG 1 Projections 2007)

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SCENES OF IMPACTS

Flooding

Oil Spillage Sea Level Rise

Desertification

YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

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Figure 3


CITIES/LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• Firstly, cities are home to 50% of the world population (UN-HABITAT 2009) .

• Up to 80% of all energy is consumed in Cities/Local Governments (ICLEI 2009)

• Urban areas generate about two-thirds of national CO2 emissions

• Local Governments, especially fast growing cities in developing countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

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CITIES/LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• By 2050, it is predicted that two thirds of humanity will live in cities.

• In urban areas, greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the generation of energy, through transportation, industrial activity and the burning of fossil fuels and biomass in households.

• Industry is responsible for 43% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. (UNEP 2010)

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WHY CITIES/LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• Urbanization affects climate change, resulting insevere impacts to our cities and livelihoods.

• The severest burden will be borne by the urbanpoor in the City/Local Government slums.

• Climate change actions by African LGs/Cities need to be expanded and capacities strengthened.

• City initiatives need to be integrated in nationalaction plans and global reporting.

• The voice of African Mayors in climate changepolicy debates must be raised urgently.

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• In cities of the developing world, one out of every three people lives in a slum, making them particularly vulnerable to the health and environmental risks posed by climate change (C40 2009).

• Mayors and Local Governments are the governance level closest to citizens (critical when it comes to practical climate actions).

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RURAL URBAN 63% 37%

RURAL URBAN 53% 47%

RURAL URBAN 40% 60%

Figure 4: Global Population Rural/Urban

1970

2000

2030

Source: UN-Habitat



• The emissions from transport and vehicles are rising at rate of 2.5% each year and contribute not only to CO2 emissions but also to local and regional pollution problems.

• Electrical energy for public lighting and electricity consumption by households, industry and commerce are another source of emissions.

• Finally, the reduction of a city’s ability to reabsorb CO2 through sufficient green space is another element of concern, as well as poor waste management systems that releases CFC’s and gases such as methane

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WHAT LOCAL GOVTS / MAYORS SHOULD DO

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ADAPTATION

• Energy efficiency in local government facilities, e.g. street lighting and water pumps

• Foresighted transport and infrastructure planning• Compact and dense urban patterns to reduce

travel distances and infrastructure networks• Promote energy efficient building materials• Landfill methane recovery• Protect forests and watersheds (Biodiversity)• Behavioural/Lifestyles change

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MITIGATION

• Plant trees, plant trees and plant trees• Operate a low-carbon economy• Reduce dependence on fossil fuel based energy• Promote the use of renewable energy• Finance: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)• Expand and Conserve the forest (REDD+)• Stop deforestation • reduce dependence on fuelwood energy• Stop gas flaring

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STRATEGIC ACTIONS FOR ABATING CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

REDUCE greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) immediately and significantly. Measure and report on annual reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and constantly work to increase reductions such that by 2050 GHG emissions will be reduced worldwide by 60% from 1990 levels and by 80% from 1990 levels in industrialized countries.IMPLEMENT sub-national, national and international frameworks that are complementary to LGs function by providing resources, authority and sufficient mandate to carry forward these roles and responsibilities. BUILD a sustainable energy economy through energy savings and the application of new and existing renewable and high efficiency technologies, to reduce dependence on fossil and nuclear fuels and aim for lowest-carbon options.

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• EXECUTE climate change adaptation and preparedness measures through local government planning, development and operational mechanisms

• ADVOCATE that every national delegation participating in the UNFCCC negotiations include local government chairperson and some designated representation to ensure that local climate priorities and actions are included in future negotiations.

• PERSISTENTLY CALL for national governments to join the international community to undertake binding carbon limits to rapidly and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short-term and by at least 60% worldwide below 1990 levels by 2050.

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• Sustainable urban planning (for mitigation and adaptation activities

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency (local regulations, architectural designs etc) Investments in renewable energy would earn carbon/revenue to the Local Government.

• Sustainable transport ( walking, bicycles, improving public transport)

• Public procurement of sustainable goods and services (for climate neutral activities)

• Local actions for biodiversity (to improve protection forests and watersheds)

• Change citizen’s behavior activities.• Improve the resilience of local communities (Planting of tress

and investment in biodiesel production for energy, transport, cottage industries and businesses)

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GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE

Source: UNEP. Planning for cities in the transition towards a Green Economy, March 2009.

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Figure 7


WHAT IS GREEN ECONOMY

• A Green Economy is characterized by substantially increased investments in economic sectors that build on and enhance the earth’s natural capital or reduce ecological scarcities and environmental risks.

• These investments are driven by or supported by national policy reforms and the development of international policy and market infrastructure. (UNEP 2009)

“Among the most significant implications of the shift to a greener economy is its potential to mitigate climate change

and assist countries in coping with its growing impacts” – Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General.

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GREEN ECONMY SECTORSEleven Sectors Include:

• Renewable Energy, • Low-carbon Transport, • Energy Efficient Buildings, • Clean Technologies/Manufacturing, • Improved Waste Management, • Improved Freshwater Provision, • Sustainable Agriculture • Forest Management/Biodiversity conservation and

Ecosystem Mgt.• Sustainable Fisheries• Tourism• Sustainable Cities (Ecocities or Ecopolis or Green cities)

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GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE /JOB CREATION

•As the name implies cooking with the save 80 saves 80% of the wood consumption compared to the traditional open fire place.•The save 80 needs just about 250g of wood to prepare a delicious pot of jollof rice that can feed 15 people.•With its interior parts being made of stainless steel, a guarantee of 10 years is given to every stove

SAVE-80 STOVE

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Figure 8


GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVE /JOB CREATION

•A combined usage of the save 80 and the wonder box is recommended to further save fuel used on the save 80.•The wonder box is a heat retaining box which can be used to cook via retained heat and keep the contents at a high temperature for many hours.•Cooking with the wonder box is simple and needs no surveillance

WONDER BOX

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Figure 9


OTHER GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVES/JOB CREATION

• Converting waste to energy• Generating biodiesel from Jathropha plant• Generating biodiesel from waste groundnut

oil• Generating biofuels from agricultural produce• Wind energy• Solar energy

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Green Economy Actions for Building Resilient Cities

Green Economy Actions for Building Resilient CitiesThe following suffice as some key city resilient actions to be taken by Mayors/Local Government Authorities:

Key Principles/PoliciesNational policy: frameworks for enabling green-growth urban developmentUrban/city/local government policy: integrated green-growth urban planning as key organizing principleGreen savings: reducing waste, recycling materials and cutting costsGreen Economy: new businesses and jobs by environmental protection and restorationGreen Talent: investing in technical, entrepreneurial and workforce skills

Energy SufficiencyUse the 2000 watt society concept as an operative policy principleModify building codes to make resource efficient building practice the normEnsure the use of composted, city-derived bio-waste for bioenergy production


Green Economy Actions for Building Resilient CitiesSolar City’ Development

Mandate solar city development as national policy priorityPrioritize feed-in legislation for renewable energy systems, allowing owners to sell electricity at advantageous ratesSupport renewable energy as an important new manufacturing industryCreate enabling policies for renewable energy development in the urban hinterland

Water SecurityBalance urban, agricultural and commercial uses of water, and their relative social, economic and environmental benefitsWaterproof cities by encouraging water efficiency and rainwater collection in households and businessesMake waste water recycling and storm water use a central plank of water policy

Implementing zero wasteDevelop new enterprises for processing organic wastes into soil enhancing materialsMake sewage reprocessing and nutrient capture a central plank of waste managementImplement policies for the cost-effective reprocessing of all technical wastesUse zero waste policy to create new green businesses and jobs



Solar City’ DevelopmentMandate solar city development as national policy priorityPrioritize feed-in legislation for renewable energy systems, allowing owners to sell electricity at advantageous ratesSupport renewable energy as an important new manufacturing industryCreate enabling policies for renewable energy development in the urban hinterland

Water SecurityBalance urban, agricultural and commercial uses of water, and their relative social, economic and environmental benefitsWaterproof cities by encouraging water efficiency and rainwater collection in households and businessesMake waste water recycling and storm water use a central plank of water policy

Implementing zero wasteDevelop new enterprises for processing organic wastes into soil enhancing materialsMake sewage reprocessing and nutrient capture a central plank of waste managementImplement policies for the cost-effective reprocessing of all technical wastesUse zero waste policy to create new green businesses and jobs



Green BusinessBoost the creation of green business by effective use of government procurementEncourage resource efficiency in all businessesCreate ‘green incubators’ across the cityMake environmental resilience the basis for new businesses and jobs

A culture of restorative urbanizationUtilize both global networks and local expertise in developing restorative urbanizationEnsure that it is addressed in the education system, and through meetings and eventsEncourage imaginative reporting on urban restoration measures by the mediaProduce regular reports on implementation of eco-restoration policies and practicesEnsure that all citizens take a stake in restorative development.

Thus, the application of the services and actions of green economy as elucidated in this paper, would indeed, transform the World cities from, according to World Future Council, “Petropolis to Ecopolis” and save the World’s three billion prospective victims of climate change impacts that are currently inhabiting the cities, especially in the fast-growing ones of the developing countries.


ADVANTAGES OF GREEN ECONOMY INITIATIVES

• Revive the world economy, create new and decent jobs, and protect the vulnerable

• Reduce carbon dependency, ecosystem degradation, and water scarcity - 1% of GDP in green sectors over two years

• Eliminate persistent poverty by 2015…achieve the MDGs

• Seed a process of transformative change by rebalancing financial and economic capital, human capital and natural capital

Source: “Rethinking the Economic Recovery: A Global Green New Deal”, UNEP, Feb 2009

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CONCLUSIONKEY STEPS FOR MAYORS• Local Authorities to be part of national delegations in

UNFCCC process• Report on city achievements as part of UNFCCC reports:

sub-national policies and measures• Key in and support programmes for cities: UN-HABITAT,

UNEP, UNDP, UNITAR, World Bank, ICLEI, etc• African Climate Change Centre in Addis Ababa (UNEP

GC25), WMCCCC, AMCCCC South Africa,• Direct involvement of large cities – sustainable

development packages (post Kyoto)• Establish National Alliance of Mayors on Climate Change;

e.g. Nigerian Mayors Alliance on Climate Change (NiMACC), co-facilitated by CCN-Nigeria

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STATEMENT OF FACT

“Our green economy mantra is called pro-growth, pro-job, pro-poor, pro-environment

and of course, pro-business”. – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia

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REFERENCES1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), www.unfccc.int2. IPCC, Contribution of Working Group I to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Chapter 11, Regional

Climate Projections 2007, page 866-8673. UNEP 2010. Green Economy Report: A Preview, May 2010. www.unep.org/greeneconomy4. UNEP 2009, Annual Report – Seizing the Green Opportunity. www.unep.org5. UNEP 2010. Moustapha Kamal Gueye: Planning for Cities in the Transition towards a Green

Economy; UNEP/UN-HABITAT Training Event 5th World Urban Forum, 24 March 2010, Rio de Janeiro

6. UN-Habitat 2009, Climate Change and African Cities, UN-Habitat, Kenya. Cecilia Ngenga. 7. OECD 2010, Cities and Climate Change, OECD Publishing,

http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/ISBN: 9789264063662-en. 8. Herbert Girardet/World Future Council 2010. “Regenerative Cities”. A publication of Commission

on Cities and Climate Change of the World Future Council and HafenCity University, Hamburg, October 2010. www.worldfuturecouncil.org

9. WWF, Living Planet Report 2010, wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/…/living_planet_report/2010_lpr/

10. ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. Local Government Roadmap 2010. www.iclei.org/climate-roadmap.

11. United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), 201012. C40 Climate Leadership Group 2009, http://www.c40cities.org/climatechange.jsp 13. CCN-Nigeria, Gender and Climate Change Disaster: A Perspective on Nigeria’s Preparedness, Paper

presented at the Gender Caucus Workshop preparatory to COP15, organized by Heinrich Boll Stiftung, November 2009

14. Climate Change Network Nigeria (CCN-Nigeria), Nigerian Climate Change Perspectives: Focus on Niger Delta; position paper presented at the side event of the People’s Climate Action in Copenhagen, Denmark during COP15 (7 -18 December 2009)

15. DARE, Ahmed Yahaya: Renewable Energy and the Challenges of Desertification, 2008.

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http://www.unfccc.int/

http://www.unep.org/

http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/ISBN:%209789264063662-en

http://www.c40cities.org/climatechange.jsp


THANK YOU

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GREEN ECONOMY AS A VIABLE STRATEGY FOR ABATING CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS IN NIGERIAN CITIESEfik paper