Climate projects refer to specific initiatives, policies, projects, investments, programs, or activities that are designed to address climate change and its impacts. These projects are typically focused on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change or climate-related challenges.
2. INTRODUCTION
Climate projects refer to specific initiatives, policies, projects,
investments, programs, or activities that are designed to address climate
change and its impacts. These projects are typically focused on mitigating
greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change or climate-
related challenges.
3.
4.
5. TERMINOLOGIES
Adaptation: adjustment in a system in response to current or future changes in climate, and to its
impacts. Includes changes and adjustments designed to moderate or offset potential damages or to
take advantage of CC.
Carbon sequestration: the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that occurs mainly
in the oceans, forests and other systems in which organisms capture the gas through photosynthesis.
Climate Change (CC): any change in climate that is directly or indirectly related to human activity
altering the composition of the atmosphere, additional to the natural climate variability observed during
comparable time periods.
6. TERMINOLOGIES
Climate vulnerability: the degree to which human and environmental systems react when experiencing a
disturbance or stress. Usually it is described as a function of three main characteristics: degree of exposition
to climate phenomena, climate sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
Green economy: improvement of people’s living conditions, well-being and social equity while
significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. At its simplest, a green economy can be
thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
7. TERMINOLOGIES
Global Warming Potential (GWP): a relative measure of how much heat is trapped in the atmosphere by
specific greenhouse gases (GHG), compared to the same quantity of carbon dioxide (which has a GWP of 1).
GWP is calculated for a specific time interval, and the values to use are defined by IPCC. The GWP of
missions/reductions are expressed in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Greenhouse effect: GHGs in the atmosphere absorb a portion of the infrared radiation emitted by the
Earth’s surface. As a consequence, heat is trapped instead of being released into space. The greenhouse effect –
within a certain range – is vital; it keeps the planet warm and ensures the maintenance of life.
8. TERMINOLOGIES
Greenhouse gases (GHG): gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and synthetic,
that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. Examples include CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and
SF6. In the future, according to the new IPCC guidelines, to apply from 2015 onwards, NF3 will
also be considered as a GHG.
Mitigation: any anthropogenic intervention that can reduce or control/prevent GHG
emissions as well as increase the sink capacity for removing GHG from the atmosphere.
12. A World Bank assisted project aimed at
addressing the Nigerian gully erosion crisis in
Southeastern Nigeria and land degradation in
Northern Nigeria.
The project commenced full operation in 2013
with seven pilot states namely; Abia, Anambra,
Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu and Imo State
which suffered threats by gully erosion to
infrastructure and livelihood.
In 2015, the project scaled to meet the
environmental needs of twelve more States
naTmely; Delta, Oyo, Sokoto, Gombe, Plateau,
Kogi, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Nasarrawa,
Katsina and Niger states.
CLIMATE PROJECT 2: NEWMAP
13.
14. CLIMATE IMPACT
The facility will produce 5,457 GWh of renewable energy per year, helping Nigeria meet its target
for 90% electricity access rate and 30% renewable energy use by 2030, and will replace a mix of grid,
diesel and petrol generators with 3,170m t CO2e avoided (using Avoided Emissions Calculator of
IRENA)
Hydroelectric facility being developed on the Dongo River in
Nigeria with capacity of 3GW. The project is being undertaken
by the Federal Ministry of Power and will be Nigeria’s biggest
power plant, with energy produced also to be exported to other
ECOWAS countries
15. CLIMATE IMPACT
The expected production of renewable energy is 498 GWh per year, which will help to
decrease the power supply deficit in the region and increase the component of renewable
energy in the regional energy mix with 24 t CO2e avoided (using Avoided Emissions
Calculator of IRENA)
The West African Power Pool (WAPP) aims to create a
unified ECOWAS power market and exchange among
members. To this effect, it is developing a solar PV
power plant with storage facility in Mali with a
capacity of 150 MW which will help Mali and other
ECOWAS countries increase their supply and use of
renewable energy
150MW regional solar power park in Mali
16. CLIMATE IMPACT
Replacement of Egypt’s inefficient thermal power with renewables will lead to GHG
reduction of 7.7mn t CO2e/yr, helping the nation to meet its 2030 emissions reduction
targets
7.7mn t CO2e/yr GHG reduction
Egypt will decommission 17 inefficient thermal power
plants with combined capacity of 7.5 GW, closing the
power gap with 5.1 GW of wind power and 6.2 GW of
solar PV, to be delivered mainly by the private sector
Replacement of thermal power with renewables in Egypt
17. CLIMATE IMPACT
The program will directly support an estimated 9m people with more productive and reliable
farming practices that are more resilient to climate change. It will also sequester an estimated
63.5m tonnes CO2e during the next 30 years, across around 1.9m ha of degraded land,
representing about 5% of the cumulative AFR100 targets of participating countries
63.5 m t CO2e sequestration
The Restore Africa program aims to work with local
communities and governments to improve the livelihoods,
food security and adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers
in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia;
with the initial goal of restoring more than 1.9m ha and
empowering more than 1.5m households.
Editor's Notes
Climate projects can take various forms and may be implemented by governments, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, businesses, and community groups.
Climate Change Mitigation:
Definition: Mitigation refers to the actions and strategies taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, or to remove them from the atmosphere. This is done to limit or slow down the extent of global warming and climate change.
Objective: The primary goal of mitigation is to limit the extent of global temperature rise and its associated impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and human societies. It seeks to stabilize or decrease the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Actions:
Transition to Renewable Energy: Shifting from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
Energy Efficiency: Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industries to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees and restoring forests to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants and storing it underground.
Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use: Adopting practices that reduce emissions from agriculture and land use changes.
Examples: The adoption of electric vehicles, the construction of energy-efficient buildings, the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms, and the development of policies promoting clean energy.
Benefits: Successful mitigation efforts can lead to reduced global warming, improved air quality, enhanced energy security, and the creation of green jobs. It helps to safeguard ecosystems and human health.
Climate Change Adaptation:
Definition: Adaptation involves making adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate change. It aims to minimize harm and take advantage of beneficial opportunities arising from climate change impacts.
Objective: The goal of adaptation is to reduce vulnerability and enhance the resilience of communities, ecosystems, and economies to the impacts of climate change.
Actions:
Building Resilient Infrastructure: Designing and constructing infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events (e.g., flood-resistant buildings, sea walls).
Water Resource Management: Developing strategies to cope with changing precipitation patterns and ensure water availability.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Implementing practices that make agriculture more resilient to changing climate conditions.
Early Warning Systems: Establishing systems to provide timely information about impending climate-related hazards (e.g., hurricanes, floods).
Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas: Preserving natural habitats to maintain biodiversity and provide ecosystem services that can help communities adapt.
Examples: Elevating homes in flood-prone areas, implementing drought-tolerant farming practices, establishing coastal protection measures, and developing climate-resilient urban planning.
Benefits: Adaptation measures help protect lives, property, and livelihoods from the impacts of climate change. They enhance the ability of communities and ecosystems to withstand and recover from extreme events.
Both mitigation and adaptation are critical components of a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change. While mitigation aims to reduce the drivers of climate change, adaptation focuses on managing the impacts that are already occurring or anticipated in the future. A balanced and integrated approach that combines both strategies is essential for effectively addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
In a green economy, growth in incomes and employment result from public and private investments that reduce carbon and other GHG emissions and pollution, enhance the efficient use of energy and other resources, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. The green economy is a vehicle for achieving sustainable and low-carbon development.
However, a stronger greenhouse effect could become catastrophic if it destabilizes the balance on the planet and gives rise to a phenomenon known as ‘global warming’ – an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988, in its latest report notes that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years, has most likely originated from the increase in the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere.