Impact of briquette intervention policy on household energy consumption on carbon dioxide sequestration in Nigeria forests

Abstract

The accounting for forests capacity to absorb and store carbon is among the most debated options. This study examined what impact agglomerated biomass (briquette) policy intervention would have on reducing emission from household energy consumption, the absorbed and stored carbon as well as its impact on reducing annual forest depletion rate in Nigeria. The methodology leaned on the human mental databases using system dynamics principles to design the structure and policies for household energy utilisation and forest management (the system) to better serve the people and its environment. Data used for the analysis were mostly those from human mental databases, complemented with secondary sources, to explain important inter-connections affecting household energy utilisation and forest management. The resulting simulation reveals behavioural implications of the system represented by the model. The study concluded that deliberate intervention policy would be needed to achieve a reduction in household carbon emissions as well increased forest stocks for achieving carbon sequestration and storage. It is recommended that further studies to ascertain reduction that could be achieved on the health-damaging indoor air pollution exposures of briquettes in comparison to open fires or traditional stoves be done amongst other strategies to make briquette usage attractive.