Nigeria Launches AGORA Project To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

The Nigerian government has launched Abating Greenhouse Gas Emission from Obsolete Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (AGORA) Equipment project to reduce the impact of emission of greenhouse gases on climate change.

The workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Ozone Office, in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria, United Nations Environment Programme and the United for Effiecncy (UNEP-U4E), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), themed “Abating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Obsolete RAC Equipment in Ghana and Nigeria (AGORA)” stressed that the project will tackle climate change issues.

 

Speaking at the inception workshop in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the National Ozone Office, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Idris Abdullahi, said that the AGORA Project is amied at creating a future where energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling and refrigeration technologies would become a standard.

 

According to him the project is also an avenue to promote energy efficient and low GWP technologies by strengthening policies of the transition leading to reduction of GHG emissions.

 

Mr. Abdullahi, who disclosed that the project is at its initiative stage and will last up to three years said “The AGORA project that we are launching today presents another opportunity for us to further advance our efforts towards the promotion of Energy Efficient and Low GWP technologies in the RAC sector by Establishing and strengthening policies, regulations and partnerships to ensure the success of the transition to Energy Efficient and Low GWP RAC equipment thereby leading to the reduction of GHG emissions at the equipment’s end of life and transforming the RAC market through ambitious replacement programmes for old and in-efficient equipment using high GWP refrigerants, initiating market transformation in the air-conditioning sector in Africa and also supporting South-South cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana, since the project will be implemented in both countries”.

 

“The project will help to sharp the future of air conditioning and future of air conditioning and refrigerating standards in Nigeria, driving advancements in energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable economic growth,” he stressed.

Abdullahi recalled that Nigeria is a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and has ratified all its Amendments, the recent being the Kigali Amendment on phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons, which are greenhouse gases used mainly as cooling agents in the Refrigeration & AC sector.

 

He said “Over the past three decades, Nigeria has been implementing the Protocol’s Ozone Depleting Substances Phase out Programme in the relevant sectors, such as the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Foam, among others”.

 

Also, a scientific Officier at the Energy Commssion of Nigeria, Dr. Shehu Mustapha, highlighting the objective of AGORA Project said it focuses on accelerating the transition to energy efficient and climate friendly refrigerator and air conditioner RAC in Nigeria and Ghana.

 

He emphasised that the Commission is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and promoting climate-friendly cooling solutions, thereby contributing significantly to Nigeria’s climate goals and sustainable energy access.

 

“The project will help to sharp the future of air conditioning and future of air conditioning and refrigerating standards in Nigeria, driving advancements in energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

 

In his remarks, the UNEP-U4E, project Manager, Mr. Mzwandile Thwala, also explained that AGORA Project is advancing efforts to integrate energy-efficient and sustainable cooling solutions into Nigeria’s climate goals.

 

He further described the project as a tool in addressing climate challenges as well as driving economic growth and enhancing the well-being of communities in promoting the use of low-GWP refrigerants and energy-efficient ACs in residential and commercial sectors to reduce energy demand and emissions.

 

Thwala outlined UNEP-U4E’s Integrated Policy Approach advocate for an integrated policy approach saying it facilitates the transition to sustainable cooling solution.

 

The regional policy and Technical Specialist Regional Service Centre for Africa of UNDP, Mr. Joel Darkwah, said that AGORA Project will support sustainable cooling solutions as well as ensure a more circular economy in Nigeria.

 

“It is with great pleasure that UNDP is co-hosting the opening of the AGORA project today in Abuja to kickstart the implementation of this innovative project. Nigeria has been one of the leading actors on the Montreal Protocol globally and in Africa and has been recognized as such for decades. It has been one of the most proactive Parties and also a leading member of the Africa group within the institutions”.

 

“This leadership is essential as Nigeria has significant needs in terms of sustainable cooling in view of its diverse economy and population. This can only grow over time, as the needs in residential cooling, but also for cold chain, for example, keep growing. The challenge therefore is how to make this growth sustainable, by selecting the most efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solutions”.

 

“The country has been implementing the Montreal Protocol for years, hand in hand with international agencies such as UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP or the Italian Government – building technical capacity, strengthening its enforcement mechanisms, and bringing new and high-performing technologies to the country”.

 

“In this process, Nigeria has been fully engaged in its national plans to phase out the least sustainable classes of refrigerants, such as HCFCs or HFCs –for which Nigeria has just developed is Kigali Implementation Plan and is presenting it for funding to the Multilateral Fund for the Montreal Protocol. It was one of the first countries, supported by UNDP, to develop and adopt a National Cooling Plan”.

 

“Nigeria, under the leadership of its National Ozone Office, geared by Engineer Idris Abdulahi, and its Energy Commission, has wished to go further and be again one of the precursors on the continent”.

 

“In partnership with UNDP and UNEP, it successfully applied for a grant by the French Fund for Global Environment, FFEM, which aims at supporting innovative environmental solutions in complement to the multilateral institutions. It decided to partner with its neighbor, the Ghanaian Government, to exchange best practices and learn from each other, within the context of ECOWAS.

 

This gave birth to the AGORA project, which aims at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions form current and obsolete Refrigeration and AC equipment in Ghana and Nigeria – a concrete step to support the economy while protecting the climate” he said.

 

He assured that the equipment replaced is handled properly through proper sound disposal.

 

Darkwah charged the media to increase public awareness on this process for the uptake of sustainable cooling options at the household level.

 

 

 

 

 

Oyenike Oyeniyi