Climate Change: Nigeria Should Reduce Emissions, Harness the Sun to Make Citizens’ Lives Better, Says German State Secretary Morgan

In a warning about the impending challenges posed by climate change, German State Secretary and Special Representative for International Climate Policy, Jennifer Lee Morgan, has emphasised the urgent need for global action to mitigate its devastating effects.

Speaking to ARISE News on Tuesday about the pressing effects of climate change on the younger generation, Morgan highlighted the critical importance of reducing emissions to curb climate change and global warming.

“I think we are seeing the challenges right now and for the younger generation, if we don’t change course and drive down the emissions that are causing the climate change and global warming, then there will be more intense drought and that means food issues, like price, the security and availability of food, more floods, heatwaves…I mean we are seeing more and more high temperature days across Nigeria, leading to massive health issues. The consequences will hit them very hard if we don’t turn the course around right away.”

Reflecting on the Paris Agreement, signed by all 196 countries in 2015, she stressed the collective responsibility to take action, adding that developed countries like Germany must lead the charge in this endeavor.

“All 196 countries signed the Paris agreements and ratified it in 2015 and that means collectively we have all said we are going to take action to reduce emissions by about half globally by 2030 and get them to zero by 2050 but that means developed countries like Germany really need to take the lead and that is what we are working to do to drive down our emissions but it is really about the transformation of our economies; it is about driving forward renewable energy, about creating those new jobs also here in the African continent and that means collaborations and collective efforts.

“Yes, each country needs to take its actions but we need to work together to get the financing and investments to countries like Nigeria and across Africa. The build up of solar energy, wind energy; to bring those benefits to use in this continent and other countries.”

Highlighting the need for international cooperation and investment, Morgan underscored the importance of supporting countries like Nigeria in their transition to renewable energy.

“I think Nigeria with its energy transition plan has this incredible opportunity to be transitioning away step by step….this is why Germany and Nigeria are working closely together to build up that capacity, in other to be shifting in that direction overtime. We are talking about a massive challenge but a great opportunity. We in Germany are moving first.

“In terms of cost, we can see in Germany that the cost of renewable energy has actually dropped automatically and the cost of electricity is lower because we are building about 56% renewables in our electricity grid right now. In Africa, that is not the case. It costs eight times as much to get renewables moving as in Europe. So, what we are working on together is how to shift that and how to bring down the cost of capitals and the risks in investing in Africa, through things like getting policy frameworks here but also bringing in private sector finance (and) working with international finance institutions to be able to scale up solar energy here in Africa.

“It’s about harnessing the sun which Nigeria has a great amount of, into the latest technology to make your life better.”

Chioma Kalu

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