Climate Watch: Methane emissions from cooking gas contributing to global temperature rise 

Despite directly impacting communities, health and livelihoods, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories: 

• In one of its research publications released last week, the Environmental Science & Technology journal, said stoves which use cooking gas contribute more to global warming than previously thought. The journal said this is happening because of constant tiny methane leaks while the gas stoves are not in use. According to the research, which was conducted in the US, even when they are not running, US gas stoves put 2.6 million tons (2.4 million metric tons) of methane — in carbon dioxide equivalent units — into the air each year. This, it said, is equivalent to the annual amount of greenhouse gases from 500,000 cars. Read more here. 

• Similarly, research also found that climate change may affect the production of certain crops if suitable planting regions are not discovered soon. Plos One, a scientific journal, in its recent publication, stated that parts of the world suitable for growing coffee, cashews and avocados will change as global temperatures continue to rise. According to the study, key coffee regions in Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Colombia will “drastically decrease” by around 50 percent by 2050, while rising temperatures will impact the three crops over the next 30 years. Find out more here.

• Sharon Ikeazor, minister of state for environment, said the federal government will partner youths to  effect climate actions in Nigeria. She said the integration of collective, practical and innovative green strategies will help to solve climate change challenges. Speaking on behalf of the minister at an event, Iniobong Abiola-Awe, director, department of climate change in the ministry, said Nigeria is living under the threat of intensifying temperatures, rising sea levels, drought, heatwaves, and warming oceans and so, there is a need to seek ways to address it.  

• Meanwhile, last week, Alok Sharma, COP26 president, sounded a warning about taking seriously the agreements reached at COP26 held in Glasgow, in November, 2021. He said the agreements had been a “fragile win” for the world and unless the commitments are turned into action this year, the chances of keeping global temperatures in check will be lost. Sharma, who warned that progress made during the summit is at risk of “withering on the vine”, said it was no time to “sit tight and assess”.

• In a bid to improve the effectiveness of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the senate passed a bill that would empower the agency to regulate meteorological activities in the country.  The bill, which will give NiMet clearer regulatory powers, will also enable it to effectively regulate climate information generation and dissemination; charge and collect revenue; as well as effectively manage utilisation of climate and weather information. Find out more here.