Climate Change: FG Launches Green House Emission Project
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The federal government has launched the Gas Emission project in order to reduce the impact of the emission of greenhouse gases on climate change.
Speaking at the inception workshop in Abuja with the theme, ‘Abating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Obsolete Refrigeration and Air conditioning Equipment in Ghana and Nigeria (AGORA)’ National Ozone Officer, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Idris Abdullahi, said the project is aimed at creating a future where energy-efficiency and climate-friendly cooling and refrigeration technologies will be of standard.
According to him, the project is also an avenue to promote energy-efficient and low global warming potential (GWP) technologies by strengthening policies that facilitate the transition to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Abdullahi who disclosed that the project is at its initial stage and will last up to three years said, “The project presents another opportunity to further advance the promotion of Energy Efficient and Low GWP technologies in the RAC sector by establishing and strengthening policies, regulations and partnerships.”
He recalled that Nigeria is a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and has ratified all its amendments, the recent being the Kigali amendment on phase-down of Hydrofluorocarbons, which are greenhouse gases used mainly as cooling agents in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.
He said, “Over the past three decades, Nigeria has been implementing the Protocol’s Ozone Depleting Substances Phase out Programme in the relevant sectors, such as Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Foam, among others.”
The representative of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Shehu Mustafa, while highlighting the objective of the project, said it focuses on accelerating the transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners RAC in Nigeria and Ghana.
He emphasised that the commission is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and promoting climate-friendly cooling solutions, thereby contributing significantly to Nigeria’s climate goals and sustainable energy access.
“The project will help to shape the future of air conditioning and future of air conditioning and refrigerating standards in Nigeria, driving advancements in energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
Also speaking, the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Africa, Mr. Joel Darkwah, said that the project will support sustainable cooling solutions as well as ensure a more circular economy in Nigeria.
“The country has been implementing the Montreal Protocol for years, hand in hand with international agencies such as UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP or the Italian Government – building technical capacity, strengthening its enforcement mechanisms, and bringing new and high-performing technologies to the country”.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Ozone Office, in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria, United Nations Environment Programme and the United for Efficiency (UNEP-U4E), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
