Nigeria Secures COP31 Support for Methane Reduction Initiative

• Nigeria is among 14 developing countries receiving support for methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse gas reduction through the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator.
• The initiative, announced at COP31, provides technical assistance and project development support, with $50 million in funding and a goal to assist 30 countries by 2030.
• Philanthropic organizations pledged over $480 million in new funding for emissions reductions across various sectors at the summit.
• Experts noted that at least 75% of fossil fuel methane emissions can be cut with existing tech, over 60% at no net cost.
• The World Bank Group is supporting methane reduction programs in 45 countries, aiming to reduce 11 million tonnes of emissions and benefit over 160 million people.

For Nigeria, this support signals a heightened focus on Nigeria greenhouse gas reduction and potential for new compliance obligations related to methane and other non-CO₂ emissions.

Nigeria has been identified as one of fourteen developing nations slated to receive crucial backing under a new global initiative aimed at curbing methane and other potent greenhouse gases. This announcement, highlighting Nigeria methane reduction COP31 support, was made during the Leaders' Level Methane and Other Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases Summit, a key event at the ongoing COP31 climate conference held in Antalya, Türkiye. The program, officially named the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator, is designed to furnish participating countries with technical assistance, dedicated national teams, and aid in developing projects that are ready for investment, all geared towards significantly reducing emissions.

Initially unveiled at COP30, the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator first included Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa. During the recent COP31 methane summit Nigeria, UK Minister of State for Climate Transition Katie White, representing the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), declared an additional $25 million in funding. This expansion will extend the initiative's reach to seven more countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Fiji, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan. With this new commitment, the total announced funding for the program now stands at $50 million, with an ambitious target to support 30 developing countries by the year 2030.

The commitment to the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator forms part of a wider international push to accelerate the reduction of methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. At the same COP31 summit, philanthropic organizations pledged over $480 million in new funding. This substantial sum is earmarked for initiatives across various sectors, including energy, agriculture, and waste, as well as for actions addressing black carbon, promoting clean cooking, and improving transport and cooling systems. This latest philanthropic contribution builds upon more than $530 million already provided by these organizations since the Global Methane Pledge was launched in 2021.

Experts at the summit underscored the feasibility and economic benefits of methane reduction. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), highlighted that at least 75 percent of methane emissions from fossil fuel operations could be mitigated using existing technologies. Crucially, he noted that over 60 percent of these reductions could be achieved at no net cost, pointing to significant economic opportunities, particularly through measures preventing gas release or waste during fossil fuel activities. Similarly, Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, reported that the bank is actively supporting methane reduction programs in 45 countries, tripling the number committed to at COP28. These programs are projected to reduce 11 million tonnes of methane emissions and benefit more than 160 million people, with examples like Brazilian dairy farms increasing yields by 10 percent while cutting emissions by six percent, and a $1 billion rice program in India assisting over 300,000 farmers.

The Leaders' Level Methane and Other Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases Summit, which provided the platform for these announcements, was co-hosted by Brazil, China, and the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the COP31 Presidency. The proceedings were chaired by Ed Miliband, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Prominent figures in attendance included Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, China's Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu, and senior representatives from various international organizations, underscoring the high-level commitment to addressing this critical climate challenge.

During the summit, Prime Minister Mottley issued a strong appeal for enhanced international cooperation to tackle methane emissions across the fossil fuel, agriculture, and waste management sectors. She stressed the necessity for governments and international partners to provide financial assistance to farmers, enabling them to adopt more sustainable practices. For Nigeria, this support signals a heightened focus on Nigeria greenhouse gas reduction and potential for new compliance obligations related to methane and other non-CO₂ emissions. The Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator Nigeria offers a direct pathway for Nigeria to translate its climate change funding commitments into tangible actions, fostering both environmental protection and economic development through targeted projects.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Nigeria, particularly those advising clients in the energy, agriculture, and waste management sectors, should monitor the development of new environmental regulations and investment opportunities stemming from this international initiative. This support signals increased regulatory focus and potential for new compliance obligations related to methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions, requiring proactive client advice on risk mitigation and project development.

Source: Original reporting via COP31 conference updates