Carbon emissions

"Carbon emissions" is the everyday name for greenhouse gases that human activity releases into the air. The main one is carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane and nitrous oxide are also important. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, a bit like a blanket around the planet, so the more we add, the warmer the world gets. Scientists often add the gases together and report them as "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e) so they can be compared.

Where we are globally: the 2025 Global Carbon Budget projected about 38.1 billion tonnes of CO2 from fossil fuels in 2025, a record high. CO2 in the atmosphere was projected to reach about 425.7 parts per million, roughly 52% above pre-industrial levels. The remaining carbon budget for a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C is about 170 billion tonnes of CO2, which is around four years at current emission rates.

• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for electricity, transport, industry, heating and cooking. This is the biggest source worldwide.
• Deforestation and land-use change. Permanent forest loss releases around 4 billion tonnes of CO2 a year globally, and regrowth offsets only about half of that.
• Oil and gas operations. Gas flaring burns off gas that comes up with oil, and leaks release methane directly.
• Waste. Rotting waste in dumpsites and landfills gives off methane, and open burning releases CO2 and other pollutants.
• Agriculture and industry. Livestock and rice produce methane, fertiliser produces nitrous oxide, and cement making releases CO2.

• A warmer planet, with more frequent and intense heat waves.
• Heavier downpours and more flooding in some places, and drought in others.
• Rising seas and coastal erosion.
• Shifting rainy seasons that make farming harder and food less secure.
• Health risks such as heat stress and changes in where diseases spread.
• Carbon dioxide also dissolves in the ocean, making seawater more acidic and harming marine life.

CO2 mixes around the globe, so emissions anywhere affect everyone. Countries that have emitted the least often face the worst impacts.

• Cut generator use. Petrol and diesel generators are a major source of household and business emissions in Nigeria. Where you can afford it, solar with an inverter and battery cuts both fuel costs and emissions. Efficient appliances (LED bulbs, efficient fans and fridges) reduce how much power you need in the first place.
• Cook cleaner. Switching from firewood and charcoal to LPG, electric or improved cookstoves cuts emissions and indoor smoke.
• Move smarter. Share rides, use buses (including BRT in Lagos), walk short trips, and keep your vehicle well maintained.
• Never burn waste. Burning refuse releases CO2 and toxic smoke. Use proper collection instead.
• Waste less food. Food that rots in dumpsites produces methane.
• Protect and plant trees. Look after existing trees and plant species suited to your area. Trees help, but they do not make up for continued fossil fuel use.
• Buy less, repair and reuse. Everything manufactured and shipped has a carbon cost.
• Speak up. Big cuts need policy and infrastructure, so ask local leaders, employers and schools to back clean power and better waste systems.

• Low per person, but not zero. Nigeria's CO2 emissions were about 0.58 tonnes per person in 2024, and the country accounts for roughly 0.25% of all CO2 emitted globally since 1751, according to Our World in Data. Nigeria contributes less than 1% of global emissions overall. Methane is reported to be the largest share of Nigeria's greenhouse gases, at over half. Estimates differ by source, year and which gases are counted.
• Gas flaring. Nigeria is one of nine countries that together accounted for over 80% of global gas flaring in 2025, according to the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Tracker. Globally, flaring rose for the third year in a row to about 167 billion cubic metres in 2025, wasting gas worth roughly $54 billion. In 2024, Nigeria's flaring rose about 12% even though oil output rose only about 3%. The Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, launched in 2020, aims to put flared gas to use.
• Generators. Because of unreliable grid power, Nigerian households and businesses spend close to USD 22 billion a year on fuel for backup generators, about 5% of GDP in 2022, according to Climate Action Tracker citing IMF data. Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan names phasing out diesel and petrol generators as a key step for the power sector.
• National targets. Nigeria's third climate pledge (NDC 3.0, submitted in 2025) commits to cutting emissions by 29% by 2030 and 32% by 2035 compared with a 2018 baseline of 573.5 million tonnes CO2e, and to reaching net zero by 2060. Other commitments include zero routine gas flaring by 2030, a 60% cut in fugitive methane from oil and gas by 2035, a 60% cut in the deforestation rate, 20 million trees planted a year, and a 40% cut in open waste burning. It also targets 100% electricity access and a 50% renewable share of power generation by 2030.
• The gap. Analysts at Climate Action Tracker note that Nigeria's plans depend heavily on international finance and on action after 2030, and that current policies are not on track to meet the earlier 2030 target. Commitments are strong on paper, and delivery is the open question.