89% of Nigerians support methane emission cuts — Report

A new international survey has revealed that 89 per cent of Nigerian adults support measures to reduce methane emissions, highlighting growing public demand for urgent action to address climate change and environmental pollution.

The figure represents a 17 percentage-point increase from the 72 per cent recorded in 2024, according to a report commissioned by the Global Methane Hub (GMH) in collaboration with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC).

The survey, which covered 18 countries across four continents, also found that more than half of Nigerian respondents, representing 53 per cent, were very concerned about climate change and its effects.

The findings showed that poor water quality ranked highest among Nigerians’ immediate environmental concerns, with 67 per cent expressing serious concern.

Flooding and access to safe drinking water followed at 60 per cent each, while 55 per cent said they were very concerned about poor air quality.

The report noted that increasingly intense rainfall and flooding had heightened environmental risks, particularly for communities already grappling with poor water quality and inadequate access to safe drinking water.

It further revealed that 69 per cent of Nigerians believed climate change was caused by human activities, while 64 per cent said they were familiar with methane.

Oil and gas companies were identified by 57 per cent of respondents as among the three major contributors to climate change.

However, 78 per cent also considered the oil and gas industry very capable of making meaningful changes to address the problem.

Reacting to the findings, Chief Executive Officer of Global Methane Hub, Marcelo Mena, said the growing public support demonstrated increasing recognition of the need to tackle methane pollution.

He said: “As flooding and water challenges put greater pressure on communities across Nigeria, the case for tackling methane is becoming increasingly clear.

“This survey shows strong and growing support for methane action, with nearly nine in ten Nigerians now supporting efforts to reduce emissions.”

Mena said reducing methane leaks, venting and gas flaring in the oil and gas industry would help reduce pollution and safety risks for host communities while slowing global warming.

He added that cutting methane emissions could improve the competitiveness of Nigerian oil and gas in international markets, particularly as buyers in Europe increasingly demand lower-methane energy supplies.

Similarly, Nigeria Country Manager at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Tengi George-Ikoli, called for stronger enforcement of environmental regulations and accountability for methane-related pollution.

She said communities in parts of the Niger Delta were already bearing the consequences of environmental degradation, stressing that reducing methane emissions must remain a priority as Nigeria expands its gas utilisation.

According to her, effective mechanisms must be established to prevent, mitigate and respond to methane-related environmental damage, particularly in vulnerable communities.

The survey also revealed widespread support for methane reduction across Nigeria’s three major emitting sectors.

While 84 per cent of respondents supported reducing methane emissions from agriculture, 88 per cent backed measures to minimise emissions from waste disposal and energy production, respectively.

The report identified corruption as a major obstacle to effective enforcement of environmental regulations, raising concerns about the implementation of policies aimed at curbing pollution.

Globally, the survey covered 12,189 adults across 18 countries, including at least 700 respondents in Nigeria. It found that 85 per cent of respondents supported action to reduce methane pollution.

Support was highest in South Korea at 94 per cent, followed by Malaysia at 91 per cent, while China and Brazil recorded 90 per cent each. Nigeria and South Africa recorded 89 per cent apiece.

Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Dr Anthony Leiserowitz, said understanding public knowledge and attitudes was essential to developing effective climate policies and communication strategies.

He described methane reduction as one of the fastest ways to limit global warming, noting that public awareness was critical to advancing solutions.

The report explained that methane was responsible for approximately 30 per cent of the warming experienced since pre-industrial times and was more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

It noted that unlike carbon dioxide, which could remain in the atmosphere for centuries, methane broke down within roughly a decade.

According to the report, cutting human-caused methane emissions by 45 per cent this decade could prevent nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2045.

Beyond slowing global warming, the report said methane reduction could improve air quality, protect public health and agricultural productivity, create jobs and strengthen community resilience.