Climate Change, N’Delta And The World At Denmark

One of the World’s topical issues today is climate change and its implication to developed and developing nations. This issue can be compared with the global economic recession in some developed economies like USA and oil spill and environmental pollution in developing nation like Nigeria. This issue has become more imperative, given that the world will gather to deliberate on the same in December 7, at Denmark.

Climate change, according to frame work convention on climate change is defined as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable period”.

From this definition it is obvious that climate change may be natural or human caused. Some of the human causes of climate changes are: gas flaring, dust from cement industries, burning of fossil fuels, electricity generating industries, burning of bushes, deforestation, green house gasses, spray from pesticides, air conditioners and waste from industries. One of the most human induced climate changes came from gas flare. Gas flare gives rise to green house effect which, include (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxide, menthsine, chloro fluro carbon and ozone). These substances trap heat in the atmosphere instead of allowing it to radiate back into space.

 It is important to note that without the green house gasses, the earth will be about 60o cooler than it is today and life will be impossible meaning that there are positive sides of the green house gases.

However, human activities enhance the green house effect primarily by burning fossil fuel (coal, oil and natural gas). These fuels are stored carbon, formed from organic matters, burning them return carbon to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, the gas that contributes most of the enhanced green house effect. Other green house gasses are less common than carbon dioxide in the atmosphere but have potent effect. There are nitrogen oxides, (chloro fluro carbon). These have impact to the atmosphere.

The negative consequence of climate change include but not limited to global warming, plant and animal depletion and extinction, respiratory and other diseases, severe storm leading to flooding and the spread changes in ecological imbalance. The net consequence of this is that these regions and places can not adequately address the problem of hunger and poverty occasioned by climate change.

Nigeria is a Federation of 36 States and 776 Local Government Areas; it has a unique Federal Constitution. A strong centre and weak States and Local Government Areas.

The constitution is the grand norm of the people controlling the activities of the states and creating areas of jurisdiction for the various tiers of government. Powers are shared between the Federal Government (central government) and the corresponding States and Local Government Authorities. Nigeria runs a bicameral legislature at the centre, a single and monolithic economy derived from oil and gas. Crude oil and gas account to 800% of the export earning for the country. The said crude oil is found and located in the Niger Delta region of the country. The Niger Delta region is made up of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States. But for political and selfish interests, the geographical location of Niger Delta has extended to Edo, Ondo, Akwa lbom, Cross River, Abia, and lmo States. All these states are located in the southern part of the country. The total land mass of both Natural and political Niger Delta is 70,000 KM2  square meters.

The main feature of these regions apart from the presence of highly prized crude oil is the low topography and the geology is made up of homogeneous sedimentary rocks. The region displays a typical dendrite drainage pattern. This is because most of the tributaries join main Rivers at oblique angles. There are thick forest and marine environment, high vegetation, costal areas like creeks, rivers and sea beds. The region has also the greatest wet land in Africa and mangrove forest in West Africa.

Since 1956 the region has become synonymous with resources of Nigeria. It is said that crude oil exploitation has accounted for over 90% of the nation’s foreign exchange and over 80% of the nation’s (GDP) as well as 95% of the National Budget.

The Niger Delta people are very bard working people and contribute to the National economy through Agriculture. The major occupation is fanning and fishing both at subsistence and commercial levels and also contributing to the food need of the country.

In this region, are key major oil and gas companies and multinational corporations. Some of these companies include SHELL BP, GULF, MOBIL, TOTAL, ELF, AGIP SAFRAP, TEXACO, CHEVRON. Some of these companies carry out exploratory activities while others carry out geological and seismic activities. The search for oil includes such activities as seismic and geological, exploratory, production, refming and transportation of final product either through the marine vessels or through trucks. Each of these activities leave behind, environmental problems and degradation one of which is gas flaring leading to green house effect and global warmingi.

Although, the Nigerian government through the Nigeria National Petroleum corporation entered into a joint ventures with some of these oil companies, the level of environmental pollution and degradation in the region where the prospecting and exploration take place has not improved . Oil spill takes place almost every day in tins Nigeria

Since 1956 the region has become synonymous with resources of Nigeria. It is said that crude oil exploitation has accollilted for over 900/0 of the nation’s foreign exchange and over 80% of the nation’s (GDP) as well as 95% of the National Budget.

The Niger Delta people are very hard working people and contribute to the National economy through Agriculture. The major occupation is farming and fishing both at subsistence and commercial levels and also contributing to the food need of the country.

In this region, are key major oil and gas companies and multinational corporations. Some of these companies include SHELL BP, GULF, MOBIL, TOTAL, ELF, AGIP SAFRAP, TEXACO, CHEVRON. Some of these companies cany out exploratory activities while others cany out geological and seismic activities. The search for oil includes such activities as seismic and geological, exploratory, production, refining and transportation of final product either through the marine vessels or through trucks. Each of these activities leave behind, environmental problems and degradation one of which is gas flaring leading to green house effect and global warming.

Although, the Nigerian government through the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation entered into a joint ventures with some of these oil companies, the level of environmental pollution and degradation in the region where the prospecting and exploration take place has not improved 14. Oil spill takes place almost every day in the region.

The nationalization of the oil and mineral resources by the federal government of Nigeria has not help matters. This region that produces the crude, rather than having good shares in the benefit of the natural resources are exposed to environmental pollution and degradation from the oil prospecting and exploratory companies. This has led to the high level of insecurity in the region and agitation for resource control and management  as can be seen in the case of A.G OF ABIA STATE AND 36 ORS VS. A.G FEDERATION.

The Nigeria government set up an emission target for 2004. There is also an LNG in Bonny in Rivers State for abolition of flare since 2004. but due to non corporation by multinational cooporations, the date has been extended to 2010 and thereafter emission of gas still continue because of lack of cooperation from (MNC) and industries in Nigeria.

AI-GORE (2007) had to say that the negative effect of climate change would be severe for poor nations. Gas flare shall be felt by poor region and poor people of the World. The Niger Delta people are said to be the poorest in Nigeria and Africa living below $1 (US) dollar per day. Diseases, hunger, unemployment, poor infrastructural facilities, plant and animal extinction, flooding, desertification, are the common feature of these regions. This region is very vulnerable to climate change and the negative effect.

This essay is therefore, intended to examine, the effect of climate change on the oil and gas producing region of Nigeria. The study will also include providing solution to the climate changes and the adverse effect on the rich region and poor people of the Niger Delta. .The study will involve, evaluating the United Nation Conference on human environment 1972 at Stockholm.. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 1972 and the KYOTO Protocol of 1994 open for signature in 1998. Attempt would be made to find out the reason for the exclusion of the developing nation from the framework plan on climate change and the preparedness of the Niger Delta region to natural disaster given the fragile ecosystem induced by decade of oil exploratory activities in the region locally too, some oil companies have constructed some gas recycling plants and others are cuing from there. Internationally, awareness in this regard has been created by the United Nation Conference of 1972 in Stockholm, the Rio declaration on Environment and Development in 1997, the KYOTO protocol of 1994. In fact the present Copenhagen conference of head of states is aimed at enlarging and expanding the activities and conclusion reached in KYOTO (JAPAN) as some of tile decisions and actions plans have been rested and tried with minimal progress in this regard. A new approach perhaps need to be adopted by the meeting of the heads of states this time around to reach an acceptable globally binding agreement on climate change.

Unarguable, both locally and internationally climate change is being addressed but will the adverse consequences arising from the unregulated use of the air and its component completely phase out as a result of these efforts? How can the natural causes of climate change be handled by the conference? For us in Nigeria and Niger Delta, these questions call for answers. This is more so, as oil production is on daily basis, injustices are springing up hourly, local method of refuse disposal system are on  the increase, bush burning for fuel cards and grazing are part of our national lives.

Indeed, it is almost true to say that these factors are endemic and thus cannot be totally eradicated. What are therefore the solution particularly taken into account the vulnerability of the Niger Delta people?

Firstly, alternative energy use must be put in place; such energy use like wind and solar energy must be embraced. This will reduce the present energy regime of burning electlicity and churning out carbon­dioxide. The alternative energy left will erase or reduce the use of generators that is a common place in every house hold in Nigeria. Therefore, rather than generating more mega watts of electricity without knowing the dangerous implication of the effect to the people of Nigeria, as quoted by the vice president, recently, more effort be directed at engaging in wind and solar energy as practiced currently in advance and developed societies.

Secondly, clean development mechanism as currently in place in USA should be totally embraced. This involves all friendly environmental practices that are not only sustainable but will endure all weather and remain human friendly. These practices will eradicate the growth of carbon emission companies; encourage the adoption of petroleum production, distribution processes that are environmentally safe and friendly, a safe refuse disposal systems, alternative local cooking energy system, and alternative use of fallowed bush for Agriculture that will not involve buming, plant treatment chemicals and a lot more.

In addition to the above short term measures out- lined above, the government of Nigeria should, as a matter of urgency, place more emphasis now on Agriculture and other alternative import and export sources of income rather than the oil and gas sectors. More than any other factor, gas flare and carbon emission from the oil and gas companies have contributed more to climate change in the Niger Delta region than any other factor. If the government does not see beyond the amnesty and continue to dig deep into devastating sector (oil and gas), then the lives of the Niger Delta people is not only short- changed but shall remain precarious. The time to act is now, even as the Nation awaits the outcome of the meeting of the heads of states and government at Copenhagen Denmark on climate change, we must warn ourselves of the impending natural disaster in this region. Noting that natural disasters are not preventable but its effect can be minimised by conscious positive act from human beings. Climate change can be reduced by concerted positive actions by man that will improve his environment.

The poor people and region of the Niger Delta should be prepared to face any natural disaster, but we plead God’s mercy and pray that our leaders act now and listen to the world in Denmark come December 7.

S. C. Dike