INCORPORATING LAND-USE PLANNING INTO NIGERIA'S ENERGY TRANSITION: A SPATIAL-ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT SITING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REFORM
Keywords:
Land Use Planning, Energy Transition, Spatial-Economic Framework, Climate Resilience, Environmental Impact AssessmentAbstract
The process of energy transition in Nigeria cannot be thought of without a land use dynamic, resource regulation and socio-ecological resilience. The geographical positioning of energy infrastructure has not seen too much progress, despite the policy discussions pertaining to the technology and funding related to it. This paper shows that there are regulatory measures that can support the not-for-profit organisations for development. It argues that there is a need for considering the regulatory measure to help improve not-for-profit organisations. The analysis establishes SEETF that integrates GIS, EIA and nature-based solutions (NbS) in order to lessen spatial-economic institutional fragmentation, the ecological vulnerability and community engagement. Drawing on peer reviewed literature, government reports and interviews with key informants, the research seeks to find the existing gaps in multi-level governance, spatial information sharing, and participatory planning that already act as barriers to equitable energy transitions. Due to lack of spatial coordination it has been found that renewable energy projects are generally located in ecologically sensitive or important areas that leads to land use conflict and biodiversity loss. In its latest report, the SEETF suggested transforming the current zoning system into one that combines renewable energy sources with ecological risks maps. Integrated EIA restructuring processes, participative forums with the local stakeholders and NbS harmonization of the siting decision-making process are requested. A resilient framework which would make Nigeria’s climate resilient enabling distributive justice of energy access to assure Nigerian’s net zero goal. Essentially, it offers the policy pathway model of sub-Saharan Africa into which sustainable energy planning land management can be integrated to ensure that decarbonization does not come at the expense of livelihoods, equity and ecosystem integrity.
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