Reducing Supply Will Not Solve Climate Change – ExxonMobil  

Oil major ExxonMobil Corp has warned that attempting to limit the supply of fossil fuels will impede progress toward achieving net zero emissions as well as potentially perpetuating poverty for millions in the developing world. Speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in San Francisco, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods, insisted that the solution to climate change has been too focused on reducing supply, noting that it’s “a recipe for human hardship and a poorer world.” Woods said that attacking oil and gas companies for their role in climate change will only serve to keep net zero as an “aspiration” rather than a reality Woods called for governments to “harness the industry’s capabilities for change” by providing taxpayer support for emissions-reducing technologies like carbon capture before market forces can take over. Exxon has ramped up its energy transition efforts over the past two years after losing a bruising proxy battle with activist investor Engine No. 1 at the height of the ESG movement. It plans to spend $17 billion over six years on low-carbon initiatives, and it recently acquired Denbury Inc., the largest carbon dioxide pipeline operator in the US, for about $5 billion.  But Exxon is also spending big on oil and gas. It agreed to buy US shale driller Pioneer Natural Resources Co. last month in a deal valued at about $62 billion. Woods is adamant that Exxon won’t reduce oil and gas production or invest heavily in renewable energy as his European peers have done. Instead, the Texas oil giant will invest in low-carbon technologies that complement fossil fuels such as carbon capture and hydrogen.  “Oil and gas companies reliably provide affordable products essential to modern life,” he said. “Making them into villains is easy. But it does nothing – absolutely nothing – to accomplish the goal of reducing emissions.” In unusually personal remarks, Woods talked about his commitment to the environment.  “I’m a father and grandfather – who cares about his family, their quality of life, and their futures. Which means I care very much about our environment and the health of our planet,” he said. He also attempted to draw a line under the multiple climate lawsuits that have dogged Exxon for much of the last decade.  “I’m fully aware that there are many who question ExxonMobil’s commitment because of what was said over 30 years ago – or what they think Exxon knew back then,” he said.  “Frankly, I’m more interested in what ExxonMobil knows today. Climate change is real. Human activity plays a major role,” he added.

Plastic Wastes In Drainages, Waterways Cause Of Flooding In Benin –ERA/FoEN

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the Edo State government to compel Coca Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and other producers of plastics to engage in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by taking responsibility for the plastic waste they produce. According to ERA/FoEN, the flooding experienced in Benin City and its environs is fueled by plastic waste materials that have found their way into the drainage systems and waterways. A statement by ERA/FoEN’s Communications Officer, Elvira Jordan, at the weekend, noted that the statement was the highpoint of a Return-To-Sender Action protests by ERA/FoEN and other groups in Benin City. The exercise was in collaboration with Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZEWA), Edo Civil Society Organization (EdoCSO) and Students Environmental Assembly of Nigeria (SEAN), University of Benin Chapter. The statement states that the exercise was targeted at determining the highest polluting brands. Coca Cola and Seven Up came up as the highest polluters, with a frequency rate of 33% and 23% respectively. Speaking during the action, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams, represented by Babawale Obayanju said the flooding in Benin City and its environs is aggravated by the plastic waste materials that have found their way to drainage systems and waterways. He added that statistics clearly show that the identified companies are making lots of money and are equally contributing heavily to the plastic waste menace in Benin, without any waste management systems in place.  “We brought their plastic waste back to them as it is polluting our environment and based on our findings during the brand audit, The Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and others primarily use plastics for their packaging, including PET bottles with plastic caps. “It is very crucial for these companies to design and develop a take-back or withdrawal scheme for their products as there are no active withdrawal schemes currently in place. Implementing the take-back/withdrawal schemes and exploring circular economy models can enhance recycling rates and reduce plastic pollution.” “We also request that The Coca-Cola Company and the other brands should have a squint at further research and development into eco-friendly packaging materials, collaborate with recycling partners, and engage with consumers to achieve its plastic reduction targets and contribute to a cleaner environment”, he stated. He called on Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up, CWAY Group and others to transition to sustainable packaging alternatives such as biodegradable materials, reusable containers, or reduced plastic packaging Also speaking, Project Officer, Waste Management of ERA/FoEN Melody Enyinnaya said the plastic pollution experienced in Benin City was appalling as manufacturers continue to produce without retrieving their waste. “This situation has thrown our environment into a dumping ground for plastics, especially our drainage systems and our rivers,” she said. Eyinnaya demanded that coca cola, seven up and all other manufacturers withdraw their plastics waste from the environment “as we need fishes in our rivers not their plastics.”

Allow us fix moribund refineries, female engineers beg Tinubu

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), at the weekend appealed to President Bola Tinubu to give female engineers an opportunity to fix the nation’s moribund refineries. Newly-elected APWEN Lagos Chapter Chairman, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, made the call during the association’s public lecture and Annual General Meeting in Ikeja. Owolabi assured that female engineers spread across the various arms of the profession could fix the refineries within a year. “All women engineers are ready to come together and see how we can proffer solutions, making sure that we revamp these refineries. “So, we call on our president to challenge female engineers to revamp and rehabilitate these refineries, and I want to assure you that, within a year, just challenge us, we will make sure that the refineries would be put to operation by the grace of God,” she said. She said any nation aspiring for development must empower its indigenous engineers and manpower. “It is imperative that our homegrown engineers are empowered and granted the right opportunity to showcase our competence,” she said. She said women had inbuilt natural qualities of being good managers and being excellent, adding that their talents should also be explored in building roads and other critical infrastructure. Owolabi said Nigeria should reduce reliance on foreign experts and give opportunity to local engineers who are equally or more competent than their imported counterparts. “I want to also implore our leaders, especially our president and governors, to empower indigenous engineers because we are very good. “A country without engineers cannot develop,” she said. Owolabi, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, promised that her administration would focus on mentorship and skill development for young engineers. She also pledged collaboration with other NGOs while reeling out planned development programmes for three Lagos communities. “Together, we shall shatter barriers and triumph over challenges in reaffirmation of the fact that gender should never constrain one’s potential in any domain,” she said. The guest speaker, Mrs Olayinka Abdul, speaking on the theme, “The Role of Female Engineers in Building Sustainable Infrastructure”, said rising fuel prices required urgent measures for green alternatives. Abdul, a former APWEN President, said green buildings reduce wastes, conserve energy and ensure huge energy savings and enormous long-term benefits. She said Lagos was investing heavily in renewable energy while listing completed and ongoing interventions in various sectors, including health, education, housing and transportation. Abdul said the various options available were wasting because some Nigerians have a class mentality not allowing them embrace local researches. She cited examples of viable technologies, developed by “our forefathers”, being ignored because people want to move with trending foreign technologies. Abdul advised APWEN to adopt communities and train them on how to generate power from their wastes. She also enumerated measures female engineers could adopt against work place discrimination and how to receive mentorship from male counterparts without bruising their ego. Panelists at the event proffered solutions to the multifaceted problem of inadequate water supply in Lagos State. They enumerated ways mentorship and advocacy could grow capacity of female engineers.