Sahara Group pushes sustainable environment, seeks protection of Africa’s natural carbon sinks

Onome Amuge

Sahara Group, an international conglomerate with significant investments in energy and infrastructure, has issued a call for the urgent protection and rehabilitation of Africa’s natural carbon sinks, which include forests, oceans, coastal mangroves, wetlands, and grasslands, In response to mounting concerns over the impact of climate change on the African continent.

Ejiro Gray, director of governance and sustainability at Sahara Group, made the call during a presentation at the inaugural Asharami Square event held recently in Lagos, underscoring the pressing need to preserve and rehabilitate Africa’s natural carbon sinks.

The event, tagged “Carbon Footprint and the African Narrative”, was initiated by Sahara Group with the aim of advancing sustainability through media advocacy.

In addition to advocating for the preservation of Africa’s natural ecosystems, Gray underscored the need for investment in other key areas to support the continent’s journey toward sustainability.

Gray identified the critical role of natural gas development and commercialisation, expanded use of renewable energy sources, and investment in low-cost, low-emission clean energy solutions. She also highlighted the importance of carbon capture storage/carbon capture and reutilisation technologies in reducing carbon emissions.

Having a clear understanding of the value of Africa’s natural carbon sinks, the governance and sustainability expert suggested that policymakers and investors adopt a deliberate and strategic approach to protecting these vital ecosystems.

She also  argued that implementing policies and investing in the conservation of the continent’s natural carbon sinks, would not only boost carbon sequestration but also help reduce the continent’s overall net emissions.

Building upon her earlier assertions, Gray expanded upon the environmental benefits provided by Africa’s natural landscapes, pointing out their significant role as carbon reservoirs, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Gray further highlighted the critical importance of developing reforestation and afforestation programmes, implementing rigorous conservation policies, and incentivizing conservation efforts through financial support, She contended that the adoption of these measures will enable Africa to effectively combat the threat of climate change, while simultaneously preserving and enhancing the health of the continent’s ecosystems.

Gray stated further, “Natural gas presents a viable opportunity to serve as a transition fuel as Africa continues to gradually invest in renewable energy. It is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel, producing fewer CO₂ emissions compared to coal or petroleum.

In 2021, Africa’s natural gas reserves totalled over 620 trillion cubic feet. By developing and monetising these reserves through processing and eventual usage of CNG, LNG, LPG and other gas products, Africa can leverage its natural gas resources to support sustainable energy development.”

Also speaking, Bethel Obioma, head of corporate communications at Sahara Group, In his presentation at the Asharami Square event, underscored the urgency of developing and championing a sustainability narrative for Africa.

Obioma pointed out the need for a narrative that encompasses all aspects of sustainability, including climate change, energy access, and energy transition, and ensures that no African citizen is left behind in these critical discussions.

According to the head of corporate communications, Sahara Group envisions Asharami Square as a leading force in the movement toward environmental sustainability, bringing together media professionals and stakeholders across various sectors to drive positive change.

By fostering advocacy and collaboration, Obioma expressed optimism that the platform would empower media professionals and organisations to enhance their capacity for accurate and impactful storytelling, thereby enabling them to set the agenda for the formulation of policies that prioritise environmental sustainability and inspire collective action.

Expanding on the potential of Asharami Square, disclosed that the platform would encompass a variety of initiatives and programmes designed to support media practitioners in their coverage of sustainability issues.

Among these initiatives, Obioma outlined mentoring and training programmes, exchange programmes, and facility tours, providing media professionals with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues. He noted further that the platform seeks to recognise and celebrate media professionals who cover exceptional sustainability stories.

ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Ford Foundation’s regional director for West Africa, in a keynote address at the event, highlighted the pivotal role Africa could play in the global climate debate due to its unique demographic and natural resource advantages.

According to Aniagolu-Okoye, Africa is home to the youngest and fastest-growing population on the planet, as well as possessing an abundance of untapped mineral and renewable resources.

Aniagolu-Okoye underscored the reality that despite contributing very little to climate change,Africa, just like other parts of the world, is experiencing the devastating consequences of climate change, with failing crops, altered weather patterns, and drying water sources causing widespread disruption and hardship across the continent.Aniagolu-Okoye therefore called for a transformation of the narratives surrounding climate change in Africa, urging for a focus on issues of justice, equality, and empowerment.

The Ford Foundation regional director for West Africa urged that the narratives must be crafted in a way that amplifies the voices and visibility of those most affected by climate change, highlights their collective experiences, and promotes collective action to address the challenges facing the continent.

“Our communication must raise public awareness about both the challenges and opportunities including indigenous knowledge that climate change offers. Our writings must demand and promote policies and rights of communities most affected, especially women and youth,” she said.

Recognising the potential of Africa’s youth, ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye also called for tapping into their spirit of innovation and volunteerism, in order to foster a cooperative alliance between the informal sector and the continent’s youth in driving forward climate action solutions.

“We must seek collaborative partnerships, no one individual, organisation or donor can address the range of actions required to address climate change, therefore partnership across different stakeholders, government, private sector, communities, CSOs and media is important.

“Getting our political, traditional and faith-based leaders at all levels- local, state and national levels to be committed to climate change initiatives and policies is also critical,” she advised.

In her concluding remarks, ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye emphasised the need for Africa’s narrative on climate change to be reframed from a position of victimhood to one of solutions-driven leadership.

To achieve this, Aniagolu-Okoye urged African countries to implement climate action commitments in a manner that not only addresses the leading socioeconomic challenges facing the continent but also delivers tangible benefits to local communities, including increased food security, income and enterprise opportunities for youth, economic growth, and learning from the experiences of fossil fuel communities to ensure that mining communities are protected from exploitation and devastation.