SEO Riders:
– Global methane emissions reach alarming levels despite improved monitoring
– Nigeria’s methane reduction efforts hindered by data inaccuracies and regulatory challenges
– Calls for stronger enforcement to curb methane emissions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector
Recent reports indicate that global methane emissions continue to rise, posing significant challenges to climate change mitigation efforts. The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that, despite technological advancements in monitoring and increased transparency, methane emissions from the energy sector remain near record highs. In 2023 alone, over 120 million metric tons of methane were released, with emissions from abandoned oil and gas infrastructure now exceeding those of some entire countries .
In Nigeria, the situation mirrors global trends. The country, accounting for 16% of sub-Saharan Africa’s methane emissions between 2010 and 2020, faces challenges such as gas flaring, venting, and fugitive emissions from aging infrastructure. Efforts like the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Program (NGFCP) aim to address these issues, but implementation has been slow .([Resource Governance.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s reliance on self-reporting for emissions data, coupled with inconsistent measurement methodologies, hampers accurate tracking and mitigation efforts. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is urged to enhance policies and enforcement mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability in methane emissions reporting .
