Climate change: TotalEnergies calls for commitment to carbon neutrality

TotalEnergies has called for a collective commitment by players in the oil industry towards carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to fight climate change.

Mr Mike Sangster, Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd., made the call at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria (NAICE) 2021 Annual International Conference and Exhibition on Monday in Lagos.

The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the conference theme is “The Future of Energy – A Trilogy of Determinants: Climate Change, Public Health and the Global Oil Market”.

Sangster, represented by Mr Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, Total E&P Nigeria, noted that there is a clear relationship between climate change and public health.

He added that the industry must address concerns about its contribution to climate change.

According to him, the production and use of energy contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

He said: “Therefore, meeting the climate challenge means engaging in the energy transition, that is, transforming the way we produce and use energy.

“TotalEnergies considers that climate change is a reality and requires the collective mobilization of society. The 2015 Paris Agreement generated a wave of awareness of the climate emergency.

“Five years later, the objective recommended by the experts is a carbon-neutral society by 2050. It is a demanding objective to which we must all, collectively, commit ourselves.

Sangster said that since 2015, TotalEnergies has been focusing on new energies, in line with its ambition to provide reliable, affordable and clean energy.

“This means that the future of energy is changing, and if we are to remain relevant in the energy market of the future, we must continue to adapt.

“Together with society, we are adapting to a world-class player in the energy transition with a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” he said. Sangster said the decade 2020-2030 will be a decade of change for TotalEnergies as it becomes a big energy company.

He said the makeup of the company’s production and sales will change dramatically by 2030.

“It will be 50% gas; 35 per cent petroleum and liquid biofuels; 15% electricity, mainly renewable.

“By 2050, the mix would be 40% renewable energy, 40% gas and 20% liquid products.

“The third step in the trilogy is innovation in the global oil market, which I believe will fuel the engine of the energy transition,” he said.

Sangster explained that there is no other industry better positioned than the oil and gas industry to lead the crusade on clean energy and carbon neutrality.

“We have the technology; we have the capacity; we have the people and the track record, ”Sangster said.

He said the industry should strive to achieve market innovation to strike a balance between meeting the energy needs of a growing global population and meeting them in a sustainable and carbon-neutral manner. (NAN)