Nearly 90 per cent of Nigerian adults help measures to scale back methane emissions, one of probably the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to international warming, a brand new survey has discovered.
The determine represents a 17-percentage-point enhance from the 72 per cent recorded in 2024. The survey additionally discovered that greater than half (53 per cent) of Nigerian adults are very involved about local weather change.
The Global Methane Hub (GMH) commissioned the survey in collaboration with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC), and it was revealed on 29 October.
Conducted throughout Nigeria and 17 different international locations, the worldwide survey sought to measure public consciousness of local weather change and methane emissions, and to look at attitudes in the direction of options for decreasing methane air pollution.
The findings present that concern is even better concerning speedy environmental threats. About 67 per cent of Nigerian respondents mentioned they have been very involved about poor water high quality, whereas 60 per cent expressed related considerations about flooding and entry to ingesting water. Another 55 per cent have been very involved about poor air high quality.
Researchers mentioned the findings replicate the rising results of local weather change in Nigeria, the place more and more intense rainfall and flooding are placing communities, infrastructure and water techniques in danger.
The findings additionally reinforce considerations PREMIUM TIMES has repeatedly highlighted about methane emissions throughout Nigeria’s oil and fuel sector and their penalties for the lives and livelihoods of communities in oil-producing areas.
Nigeria faces vital methane emission challenges, largely pushed by oil and fuel manufacturing, routine fuel flaring, venting and ageing infrastructure. Concerns have additionally continued over the enforcement of rules governing fuel flaring and methane emissions.
Methane leaks and routine fuel flaring within the Niger Delta have been linked to environmental air pollution, contamination of native water sources, injury to farmlands and respiratory well being dangers.
In Bille, Rivers State, as an illustration, extreme methane effervescent and contamination of water wells have reportedly created acute well being and security considerations for residents.
The continued burning and venting of related fuel additionally represents a major financial loss, as billions of cubic ft of fuel that would in any other case be captured and commercialised are wasted yearly.
Growing environmental considerations
In July, heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding throughout elements of Nigeria, together with Lagos, as saturated soils elevated the danger of flash floods. Authorities additionally warned that 27 states may very well be affected.
As the wet season intensified, authorities subsequently positioned 14 states on flood alert, highlighting the rising dangers going through communities already scuffling with flooding, deteriorating water high quality and restricted entry to secure ingesting water.
Methane is a short-lived local weather pollutant and one of the best targets for slowing international warming within the close to time period. It is greater than 80 instances as potent as carbon dioxide over 20 years.
Reducing methane emissions may ship vital public well being and financial advantages, together with improved air high quality and decreased air pollution publicity.
“As flooding and water challenges put greater pressure on communities across Nigeria, the case for tackling methane is becoming increasingly clear,” mentioned Marcelo Mena, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Methane Hub.
“This survey exhibits robust and rising help for methane motion, with practically 9 in ten Nigerians now supporting efforts to scale back emissions. In the oil and fuel sector, for instance, slicing methane leaks, venting and flaring reduces air pollution and security dangers for close by communities whereas serving to sluggish warming.
“It also makes Nigerian oil and gas more competitive, as buyers in markets like Europe increasingly demand lower-methane supply.”
Tengi George-Ikoli, Nigeria Country Manager on the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), mentioned Nigerians had authentic causes to be involved about methane emissions and their results on well being, the atmosphere and livelihoods.
“Nigerians are right to be concerned about methane emissions and the harm they cause to health, environments and livelihoods,” she mentioned.
“In elements of the Niger Delta, these prices are already being felt, so communities are justified in calling for stronger enforcement of environmental rules and for clear mechanisms to stop, mitigate and reply to methane-related hurt.
“As Nigeria expands its use of gas, reducing methane emissions must remain a priority to support liveable communities, protect vulnerable populations and help the country meet its climate commitments.”
Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, mentioned understanding public consciousness and perceptions was important to efficient communication and policymaking.
“Understanding what people know and think is essential to effective public communication and policymaking,” he mentioned.
“Methane discount is one of the quickest methods to restrict international warming, making it essential that the general public understands each the problem and the options.
“This research helps provide the data needed to identify public knowledge gaps, strengthen communication campaigns, and help informed citizens participate in these climate change solutions.”
Key findings of the survey
The survey discovered that 69 per cent of Nigerian respondents imagine local weather change is brought on by human actions, whereas 89 per cent help measures to scale back methane emissions.
It additionally discovered that almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of respondents have been conversant in methane.
Oil and fuel corporations have been recognized as each vital contributors to local weather change and essential actors succesful of addressing it.
About 57 per cent of respondents ranked oil and fuel corporations among the many three entities most accountable for local weather change, whereas 78 per cent thought of them very succesful of making significant modifications.
Nigerians need industries to handle local weather change
The findings present broad help for decreasing methane emissions throughout the three main sectors accountable for most human-caused methane air pollution: agriculture, waste and power.
In agriculture, 84 per cent of respondents supported efforts to minimise methane emissions, whereas 88 per cent backed measures to scale back emissions from waste disposal.
Similarly, 88 per cent supported decreasing methane emissions from power manufacturing.
Overall, the 89 per cent help for methane discount matched the proportion of respondents who backed broader local weather motion.
The report mentioned the findings show widespread public help for industry-led interventions and stronger environmental protections.
It additionally famous that Nigerians see corruption as a serious impediment to imposing environmental rules successfully.
With robust majorities supporting methane discount throughout all three sectors, the report mentioned policymakers and industries have a possibility to advance options that scale back air pollution whereas strengthening environmental accountability.
Global help for methane discount stays robust
The worldwide survey lined 18 international locations throughout 4 continents: Brazil, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.
The on-line survey gathered responses from 12,189 adults, together with at the very least 700 respondents in Nigeria.
Participants have been requested questions on their perceptions of local weather change, environmental considerations, consciousness of methane emissions and help for particular insurance policies to scale back methane air pollution.
Across the international locations surveyed, 85 per cent of respondents supported motion to scale back methane emissions, indicating widespread worldwide backing for efforts to sort out the pollutant.
Support was notably robust in Asia, Africa and Latin America, reaching 94 per cent in South Korea, 91 per cent in Malaysia, 90 per cent in China and Brazil, and 89 per cent in Nigeria and South Africa.
The findings additionally confirmed that respondents who reported experiencing better local weather change impacts have been extra prone to help measures to scale back methane emissions.
Across areas, respondents expressed concern in regards to the tangible results of local weather change of their communities, together with excessive warmth, wildfires, drought, flooding and deteriorating water high quality.
Waste emerged as a very distinguished space for methane discount in a number of international locations, alongside robust help for interventions within the power and agriculture sectors.
The report additional highlighted public expectations for governments and industries to take better duty for decreasing methane emissions.
Why decreasing methane is essential to tackling local weather change
The report described methane discount as one of the quickest methods to sluggish international warming within the close to time period.
Methane accounts for about 30 per cent of the warming skilled since pre-industrial instances and is greater than 80 instances as highly effective as carbon dioxide over 20 years.
Unlike carbon dioxide, which may stay within the environment for hundreds of years, most methane breaks down inside roughly a decade.
According to the report, slicing human-caused methane emissions by 45 per cent this decade might forestall practically 0.3 levels Celsius of warming by 2045, serving to to maintain worldwide local weather commitments inside attain.
Reducing methane emissions would additionally enhance air high quality, defend agricultural manufacturing, create jobs, strengthen meals techniques, scale back well being dangers, and enhance neighborhood resilience.
The report pressured that as a result of methane air pollution crosses nationwide borders, coordinated motion amongst governments, companies, researchers and communities is important to reaching vital reductions.
Melissa Bell, Senior Vice President of Research at Global Strategy Group, GMH’s analysis accomplice, mentioned the constant findings throughout international locations demonstrated sustained public help for methane discount.
“The consistency of these findings sends a clear signal: support for reducing methane emissions is strong and sustained,” she mentioned.
“People are concerned about the impacts of climate change, they support action across the major sources of methane emissions, and they expect those with the greatest ability to make a difference to take responsibility.”
Survey methodology
Global Strategy Group performed the 10-minute on-line survey between 3 and 25 August 2026. The questionnaire was translated into 13 languages and administered throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Asia.
READ ALSO: Nigeria renews 2030 gas flaring pledge despite enforcement, methane monitoring gaps
Responses have been collected from adults aged 18 and above who presently reside within the taking part international locations and have web entry.
The researchers utilized weights for age, gender, geographical location, and training to make sure the samples represented adults with web entry in every nation.
At least 700 responses have been collected in 15 international locations, together with Nigeria, South Africa, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Morocco, Brazil, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
The margin of error was ±3.7 per cent in these international locations, besides Morocco and Brazil, the place it was ±3.6 per cent.
In Ethiopia, Paraguay and Uruguay, at the very least 400 responses have been collected, with margins of error of ±4.9 per cent, ±4.5 per cent and ±3.9 per cent, respectively.
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