Nigeria on Saturday pledged to cut its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below BAU levels, but said the target could be upped to 45% if the country receives international support.

The West African nation, whose annual GHG emissions surpassed 300 million tonnes of CO2e in 2012, was one of the last big emitters to submit its climate plan to the UN, just the day before the UN talks in Paris began.

Nigeria’s plan estimated its emissions would grow to around 900 million tonnes of CO2e in 2030 under a BAU scenario – more if the country achieves high economic growth – as a larger share of the populations gets access to electricity and more people are brought out of poverty.

Under the BAU scenario, Nigeria’s per capita emissions would grow to around 3.4 tonnes of CO2e, while the carbon intensity of Nigeria’s economy would almost be cut in half.

But Nigeria will keep 2030 emissions 20% below that level, or 45% with international funding and technology transfer, it said.

New policies will include “improving energy efficiency by 20 percent, 13 GW of renewable electricity provided to rural communities currently off-grid, and ending gas flaring”, it said.

The plan also outlines opportunities to reduce emissions from agriculture, land use, transport and manufacturing.

“This will include possible use of funding through carbon market mechanisms subject to the detailed provisions of the Paris agreement,” the plan said.

By Stian Reklev – stian@carbon-pulse.com

Not yet signed up to CP Daily? Subscribe to our free newsletter here