Norway urges Nigerian businesses to swap diesel generators for solar power

Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria Svein Baera. Photo Credit: X

The Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, has called for increased investment in solar energy and stronger international cooperation to tackle climate change, pollution and environmental degradation, urging businesses and governments to move away from fossil fuel-powered generators. Speaking on Friday in Abuja at a World Environment Day event themed, “Because There’s No Planet B,” held in partnership with renowned Nigerian artist, Nike Davies-Okundaye, popularly known as Mama Nike, Baera said environmental challenges such as ocean pollution and greenhouse gas emissions require collective action from governments, businesses and citizens worldwide. He stressed that pollution and climate change remain major threats to the planet and require urgent global action. The envoy said, “It’s World Environment Day today, and it’s important that we then use all kinds of ways to communicate the message that the world’s environment is not as it should be. “There is a lot of plastic in the ocean. There are a lot of emissions causing climate change. So all good forces in all countries must work together to find better solutions of reducing pollution and reducing emissions to save the climate and the environment.” Baera highlighted solar power as a practical alternative to fossil fuel-based energy sources, particularly diesel generators widely used across Nigeria. “For instance, to go from a diesel generator and try to invest in solar energy, that is clean energy,” he said. He added that political leaders have a crucial role to play in advancing environmental protection through policy coordination and international collaboration. “And politicians in all countries also need to work together. So we need more international cooperation to save our oceans, to save our climate, to have less pollution and a better world, a greener world for all of us,” Baera said. The ambassador disclosed that Norwegian companies are already supporting Nigeria’s clean energy transition by supplying solar technology to businesses. “For instance, Norwegian companies are providing solar energy and solar technology to businesses in Nigeria, so that they can throw out the diesel generators and to have clean energy from the sun, which is plentiful in Nigeria,” he said. Baera also highlighted Norway’s Energy for Development programme, which is helping Nigeria build capacity to reduce emissions, including within the oil and gas sector. “We also have a programme called Energy for Development, where we are transferring competence from N