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The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) and the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment have trained climate change Desk Officers from the 36 states of the federation on Greenhouse Gas Inventory Compilation and Emission Reporting. The training followed the release of the 2025 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking and is designed to strengthen technical capacity, improve data quality and reporting standards, and deepen federal–state collaboration on emissions accounting and reporting.

In her opening remarks, the Director of DCC, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, reminded the Desk Officers of the importance of prioritizing the fight against climate change at the subnational level and maintaining accurate data collection methods.

Dr. Abiola-Awe emphasized the need to foster inter-agency collaboration and align budgets with national and state priorities. She encouraged participants to collaborate, share experiences, and commit to practical actions to strengthen national climate capabilities and contribute to regional and international commitments.

“As you embark on this journey of capacity building, I encourage the spirit of collaboration and openness, share experiences respectfully, and commit to practical and result-oriented action,” she said.

The training, which was facilitated by SPP’s Executive Director, Mr. Edwin Oghenemere Orugbo, covered the IPCC framework, emission accounting principles, and the process of data collection and estimation.

Participants were encouraged to engage in practical sessions and interactive discussions to gain more in-depth knowledge of the topic.

In his presentation, Mr Orugbo emphasized the importance of climate action and the basics for attracting climate finance. He also discussed the gases of concern, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, and the need to consider all greenhouse gases when compiling inventories at the state level.

According to Mr Orugbo, the IPCC greenhouse gas inventory framework and emission accounting principles consider four main source categories: energy, industrial processes, agriculture/forestry, and waste, along with the core principles of transparency, accuracy, consistency, and comparability. He detailed the process of data collection and emission factor calculations, including a basic calculation formula for determining greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Orugbo stressed the need to capture metadata for each dataset and use reliable sources for emission factors, such as the UNFCCC and IPCC websites. The discussion highlighted the role of subnational inventories in enabling data-driven climate policies and the importance of collaboration for sustainability and transparency.

The participants shared their opinions on the necessary institutional arrangements, including legal frameworks, data sharing protocols, and partnerships between state MDAs. They outlined technical requirements, including data management systems, estimation tools, and field monitoring equipment, as well as the need for a dedicated Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification coordinator and sector-specific data officers. They also highlighted the importance of proper quality assurance/quality control procedures and metadata management, while addressing capacity building needs for training on IPCC methodologies and data collection procedures as some of their immediate needs to ensure that they can develop and manage GHG emission inventory at the subnational level.

Responding to their queries on behalf of DCC, Dolapo John, Principal Scientific Officer at DCC, promised the department’s readiness in supporting the states with the capacity needs, using the IPCC software.

The greenhouse gas inventory compilation and emission reporting session is one of a series of capacity-building trainings organized by the Society for Planet and Prosperity to equip subnational Desk Officers with the right knowledge to ensure climate resilience is sustained at the subnational level. This session was moderated by Mr Timothy Ogenyi, Senior Policy Analyst (Climate Change), SPP.

Next in the series of SPP’s intervention on capacity building for the subnational are trainings on “Designing Effective Monitoring & Evaluation Systems for State Climate Action” and “Climate Finance.” SPP is committed to this laudable initiative with support from the European Climate Foundation (ECF).

 

– Ugochukwu Uzuegbu

Communication officer, SPP

– Elochukwu Anieze

Senior Policy Analyst, SPP

Katsina State has been ranked second in the 2025 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking — an independent, research-based assessment developed by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke and the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP). This marks one of the most significant recognitions of subnational climate leadership in Nigeria. Katsina’s leap of 23 places from the previous year demonstrates tangible improvements in governance capacity and policy innovation directly informed by this evidence-based evaluation framework.

The rating, launched in Abuja on October 14, 2025, by the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with SPP, the UK FCDO’s Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), the African Climate Foundation, and others, assesses all 36 states across five governance pillars: institutional structures, policy frameworks, budgeting, implementation and monitoring, and public engagement.

Professor Mohammed Al-Amin, Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change, noted:

““This recognition heartens us. Coming in second among all Nigerian states is a clear signal that Katsina’s Green Growth Agenda is yielding results. Our administration is deeply committed to climate governance, not only in policy formulation, but also in practical implementation and transparency. We want climate action to translate into real, visible improvements in the lives of our people.”

Contuining, he says:

The recognition validates our reforms and the technical guidance we’ve drawn from the Climate Governance Performance framework. It shows that evidence-based research can translate directly into institutional and policy change at state level.”

Professor Al-Amin highlighted the key areas of progress that contributed to the state’s strong performance and how these actions were premised on the rating and ranking methodology published by SPP in collaboration with the Federal government earlier in 2024:

Key Research-Informed Impacts

• Institutional Strengthening: Guided by the performance indicators developed through the national Climate Governance Ranking research, Katsina established climate governance desks across ministries and created formal coordination mechanisms with local governments.
• Policy Uptake: The 2024 Katsina State Climate Resilience and Green Economy Policy was designed to align with performance benchmarks highlighted in the Rating methodology, showing direct research-to-policy translation. One of the landmark policy innovations inspired by the ranking was the passage and implementation of the Katsina State Climate Resilience and Green Economy Policy (2024).
• Budgetary Reform: Noting the high marks allocated to climate finance, we pushed very hard to drive climate-related funding which subsequently rose by 30% in 2025 — a measurable outcome linked to the project’s budgeting criteria and follow-up capacity-building workshops led by the research team.
• Implementation and Public Accountability: The launch of Katsina Climate Watch, a digital transparency platform, mirrors the project’s call for improved visibility and citizen engagement in climate projects.

 

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda praised the result describing it as:

“A testament to our administration’s proactive approach to governance, innovation, and environmental responsibility.”

He said this was a perfect example of “how collaborative research and data-driven policy can drive real transformation in governance and public service delivery.”

The Federal Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas, commended the top-performing states, urging others to adopt the Ranking framework as a “map for reform and learning.”

Katsina’s achievement demonstrates how rigorous academic research can have direct and verifiable impacts on public policy, institutional design, and environmental outcomes. The state’s adoption of evidence-based recommendations from the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking illustrates a model of research-informed decision-making now influencing both federal-state collaboration and peer learning among subnational governments.

For the second year in a row, Lagos State has topped the table in the annual Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking exercise. This was announced on Tuesday 14 October, 2025, during the launch of the second edition of the report, in Abuja.

Speaking during the unveiling of the top performing States, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal said Lagos polled a total of 315 points to come first. Katsina, with 310 points, and Kaduna, with 305 points came second and third respectively.

An initiative of the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), the Subnational Climate Governance Rating and Ranking project seeks to motivate subnational climate action by measuring the extent of State’s actions using five thematic areas viz: States’ Climate Institutional Arrangements; Status of Climate Policies, Action Plans, and legal frameworks at the State Level; Budgetary Allocation to Climate Change Projects; Climate Project Implementation and Monitoring; and Online Visibility and Publicity on Climate Change Issues at the State-level.

Explaining the rationale behind this, the President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke stated that the five thematic areas represent critical pillars of climate action. Therefore, an interrogation of States’ efforts along those lines will spur action and provide guidance on the path States must toe.

In her speech, the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, Barrister Tenioye Majekodunmi described the ranking as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a robust grassroot driven climate action.

“This second ranking stands as a testament to the growing political will and commitment demonstrated by our state governments. The National Council on Climate Change as the apex regulatory body, is committed to translating the highest national ambition into local realities, and your performance is central to that mission,” she said.

This was further echoed by the First Secretary for Climate Diplomacy, UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Samantha Harrison during her goodwill message.

“We know that subnational actors are the heartbeat of climate action. Without them, our policies remain spreadsheets on paper. Effective climate governance at the subnational level is not just beneficial, it is essential,” she said.

This year’s edition saw Kano and Enugu States breaking into the top five by making tremendous improvements from their outing last year.

Initiated in 2024, the rating and ranking project has helped create healthy competition and collaborative actions amongst States in Nigeria. Reflections from States and other stakeholders reveal that the initiative has been very impactful. Accordingly, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Kano State affirms that: “Kano welcomes this platform as an opportunity to showcase progress, foster collaboration, and inspire greater ambition. The Ranking strengthens healthy competition, promotes knowledge exchange, and reinforces the urgency of addressing the climate crisis at the subnational level, where the impacts are most immediate and the solutions most impactful.”

Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State is of the opinion that: “For Lagos, the ranking boosts our commitment to building resilience, driving green growth, and embedding climate action into every part of our economy. We value this initiative not only for the healthy competition it encourages among states but also for the opportunities it creates for collaboration and shared progress. Lagos State remains determined to lead by example, making sure that our climate actions deliver sustainable development and a better quality of life for our people.”

Donor agencies have also seen the initiative as an important measuring board which helps provide guidance on what form of intervention States need to boost climate action. Professor Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank sees the exercise as an “innovative approach to strengthening subnational climate  governance in Nigeria, fostering accountability, and catalysing green growth and climate- resilient development across the continent. It provides a valuable model for evidence-based policymaking  and investment alignment to accelerate Africa’s just climate transition.”

Nigeria’s subnational remain the frontliners in the country’s efforts at addressing climate change. They are therefore critical for any meaningful impact to be made. The rating and ranking project seeks to inspire greater action.

Targets low-carbon growth, green energy, and climate resilience by 2060

 

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has inaugurated a 29-member committee to implement the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), marking another decisive step in the state’s climate leadership journey.

Inaugurating the committee on Friday at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah said that the initiative was in demonstration of the administration’s unwavering commitment to tackling the global climate crisis through local solutions and sustainable development strategies.

According to the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, the ESCPAP, which was launched on March 17, 2025, provides a comprehensive framework to promote low-carbon economic growth, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience against climate impacts.

“This plan positions Enugu as a leading subnational player in climate governance and sustainability across Africa,” he said.

The governor explained that the newly inaugurated committee would provide strategic oversight, coordination, and technical guidance for the effective implementation of the policy, adding that “The committee will ensure the successful delivery of climate mitigation, adaptation, finance mobilisation, and monitoring in line with state, national, and global climate commitments.”

Outlining its major responsibilities, Mbah said the committee would drive sectoral coordination across all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs); strengthen climate governance; mobilise climate finance through green bonds, carbon markets, and development partnerships; and monitor progress through an established results-based framework.

“Under mitigation, the committee will promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon transport systems such as electric and CNG vehicles, sustainable waste management, afforestation, and climate-smart agriculture.

“For adaptation and resilience, the committee will undertake vulnerability assessments, develop local adaptation plans, and implement nature-based solutions for erosion and flood control. It will also promote climate-smart infrastructure, clean cooking technologies, and resilient livelihoods in communities.

“On governance and inclusion, the committee will mainstream climate actions across state policies, ensuring the integration of gender, youth, and disability considerations. It will also intensify climate education, capacity building, and public awareness programmes,” he further stressed.

Governor Mbah maintained that that the committee had been mandated to develop a comprehensive Climate Finance Plan, attract domestic and international funding, and publish its annual progress reports for transparency, accountability and evaluation.

While stating that the committee would brief the State Executive Council quarterly and submit an annual progress report to his office, he urged members to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, transparency, and inclusivity, describing the committee as “a key mechanism for translating Enugu’s climate vision into tangible action.”

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu thanked the governor for the trust reposed in them and pledged that the team would work diligently to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for the state.

The 29-member team is chaired by the SSG, with the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, serving as first and second vice chairmen, while the Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, serves as secretary.

Other members include representatives of key MDAs—such as Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Transport, Finance, and Health—alongside academics, civil society groups, youth and women representatives, traditional leaders, and climate finance experts.