Climate Watch: US senate passes bill to reduce emissions by 40%

Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihood, 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:

• Amid high hopes for the implementation of the climate change act, Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of environment, said the act will be amended before implementation. He said this is to address “humongous bureaucracy”. He added that some fundamental issues about transitional provisions and the place of commissioners and directorates in the council need to be addressed. Read more here. 

• Severe flooding in Jigawa last week led to the death of several persons, while many residents were displaced. The downpour affected many LGAs, with the worst-hit areas being Dutse, Hadejia, Gwaram, Kafin Hausa Kirikasamma, Guri, Auyo and Jahun. Five of the victims were reported to have lost their lives in Kirikasamma LGA and two in Bulangu town of Kafin Hausa LGA. Find out more here. 

• As COP27 approaches, civil society organisations (CSOs) from Africa have kicked against plans by African leaders to project the idea of using gas as a transition fuel for the continent at the conference. The CSOs warned that Africa risks locking the continent into fossil fuels for decades if it prioritises fossil gas and nuclear energy over cleaner renewables. They added that the move will distract from the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and also shift dangerous and unwanted nuclear technologies from Europe to Africa. Read here. 

• The United Nations(UN) has advised developing countries to formulate policies that accelerate renewable energy transition and sustainability. They warned that these countries risk a high-emission and expensive energy future with short-term energy policies. The organisation maintained that developing countries must make plans to safeguard their commitments to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 

• The United States has passed the inflation reduction bill that would reduce the country’s emissions by 40 percent and fight climate change. The $430bn bill passed by the senate on Sunday intends to also lower drug prices and raise some corporate taxes in the US. With fists pumping in the air and widespread jubilation for the bill’s success, Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate majority leader  said the bill “is going to change America for decades.” The bill which would invest up to $375bn in fighting climate change, including increasing investments in renewable energy, will offer tax breaks to consumers as incentives to go green.