By Faridat Salifu
As Nigeria pushes forward with its commitment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS), environmental experts are calling on the media and civil society organizations (CSOs) to strengthen public awareness on sustainable, energy-efficient cooling.
This call was made during a national webinar held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, with the theme “The Role of the Media in Advancing Nigeria’s Transition from ODS to Climate-Friendly Refrigerants and Cooling Technologies.” The event was co-hosted by Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) and EnviroNews Nigeria.
Delivering opening remarks, Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria, emphasized that while Nigeria has made notable progress in phasing out harmful refrigerants in line with the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, awareness and behavior change remain low among the general public. He welcomed journalists and CSOs to the engagement, stressing that media framing and community storytelling are critical to building a climate-literate society.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr. Jeremiah Ato, Technical and Policy Manager at SRADeV Nigeria, assisted by Miss Hanatu.
Mr. Ato unpacked the scientific, policy, and environmental foundations of the Montreal Protocol, Nigeria’s HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP), and emerging climate-friendly alternatives in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector.
He explained that while CFCs and HCFCs have been phased down, newer substances such as HFCs though ozone-safe are potent greenhouse gases. “The Kigali Amendment requires Nigeria to significantly reduce HFC use, which contributes to climate change,” Ato said. He added that alternatives like R-600a, R-290, CO₂ (R-744), and ammonia (R-717) are now available and offer low global warming potential and high energy efficiency.
According to him, Nigeria has already achieved a 67.5% reduction in HCFCs as of 2025 and is working toward a full phase-out by 2030.
Under the country’s National Cooling Plan and HPMP Stage III, thousands of technicians have been trained on safe refrigerant handling, while a regulatory framework is being strengthened to monitor refrigerant imports, illegal dumping, and lifecycle emissions.
During the webinar, Michael Simire, Editor-in-Chief of EnviroNews Nigeria, delivered a media-focused training session on how to report ozone and cooling issues accurately.
He highlighted the frequent misconceptions journalists face, including the confusion between ozone depletion and climate change, and the belief that the ozone layer has fully recovered. Simire also offered strategies for simplifying scientific content, humanizing data through storytelling, and influencing public behavior and policy outcomes.
“Accurate framing, relatable language, and compelling visuals can help translate technical issues into citizen action,” Simire said.
During the Q&A session, a correspondent with NatureNews Africa, asked the panel about public misconceptions and how journalists could track Nigeria’s compliance with Kigali obligations and HPMP implementation.
In response, Mr. Ato clarified that many Nigerians still conflate Montreal Protocol work with climate change alone, without recognizing the distinct goals. He stressed that the transition to refrigerants like R-290 brings not only environmental benefits but also up to 30% energy efficiency savings.
The event concluded with a call to action for the media and CSOs to support enforcement efforts, spotlight local innovation, and educate citizens on selecting legal, efficient, and climate-smart cooling appliances.
The webinar was organized with support from the National Ozone Office, Federal Ministry of Environment, and international partners working to strengthen Nigeria’s compliance under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.