SEO Riders:
– Nigeria allowed slight emissions rise, but must expand renewables to meet 1.5 °C targets.
– Africa must phase out coal by 2034; Nigeria needs over 50 GW wind and solar by 2030.
– Renewables shift would create more jobs and spur GDP—calls for major global finance push.
Climate Analytics has released updated analyses mapping 1.5 °C-compatible pathways for Nigeria and several African countries, emphasizing that although Nigeria’s historical emissions are low, a managed rise of up to 26 percent above current levels can remain within acceptable bounds. However, to stay on track, the nation must radically pivot from fossil fuels—especially coal—and aggressively scale up renewable energy deployment. According to the Climate Action Tracker, Nigeria needs 55–71 percent renewable energy by 2030, rising to 85–99 percent by 2040 to maintain climate alignment.
Experts warn the continent must eliminate coal usage by around 2034, based on consistent benchmarks . The transition holds strong economic upside: shifting to renewable-heavy strategies could generate more jobs and boost GDP—Climate Analytics notes more job-years per MWh than a gas-dependent route. But achieving this requires massive international climate finance, including concessional grants, to build pipelines and infrastructure. The report underscores that wind and solar capacity must grow five-fold by 2030 and eight-fold by 2035. Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Master Plan aims for 10 percent renewable energy by 2025 but the new data calls for a far more ambitious trajectory.
