Nigeria is ranked among the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts according to multiple reports and indices. With an estimated population of 230 million people inhabiting 923,769 square kilometres, it is impossible to address Nigeria’s climate change challenges from a single central government. This presents an opportunity for multilevel approaches whilst aggregated subnational climate change action becomes imperative.
Indeed, the visible gaps between federal-level climate action and subnational climate action hugely impacts on Nigeria’s efforts at addressing climate change. While there are several policies at the federal level, the impacts of these policies are not been felt across the country due to the disconnect between the national actions and the subnational. This failure at holistic action is a nagging problem which underscores the importance of subnational action in complementing the national actions.
As a federating State, Nigeria’s governance system is structured such that efforts from the subnational must combine and feed into federal efforts, for a holistic goal towards achieving national targets. It follows then that with climate change being mostly felt at the subnational, genuine efforts at addressing climate impacts must include strategic and well-intentioned subnational actions to effectively achieve national and international goals.
By leveraging on State-level polices and action plans, Nigeria’s subnational can effectively address climate change from the community-level up, and this cannot be overemphasized. As it stands, none of Nigeria’s national climate change goals can be attained without corresponding efforts and actions by the States and Local Governments.
It is therefore imperative that urgent attention must be shifted to subnational climate change governance especially the important roles of climate change policies and action plans at the subnational levels towards the attainment of the short- and long-term climate change goals and sustainable development aspirations of the country at large. Therefore, these visible gaps created by lack of effective climate action is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.
In essence, with differing impacts of climate change in the constituent 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) which make up Nigeria’s subnational; States and LGAs are better positioned to identify necessary actions, which they must undertake to address climate change within their respective geographical locations. These actions which should be adaptive in nature can then be complemented by mitigation actions which will further feed into national greenhouse gases emissions reduction plans in order to forestall future climate change impacts. One effective way of achieving this is through the development and implementation of climate change policies and action plans.
In a bold move to galvanise climate awareness and encourage greater climate action at the subnational, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, undertook the first-ever rating and ranking of the climate governance performance of the 36 States of Nigeria. The ranking of climate governance performance of Nigerian states was based on five themes: i) Climate change institutional arrangements and administrative structure, ii) Climate policy and action plan, iii) Climate budget and finance, iv) Climate change project Implementation and monitoring and v) Online visibility with reference to climate action.
The report identifies key climate change governance criteria, reveals a gap in subnational climate change policies and action plans amongst Nigeria States, and ultimately provides key elements for an effective climate change governance system for Nigeria’s subnational. This effort is critical to boosting climate action in the country, meeting the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, address salient developmental issues, and ultimately drive towards Nigeria’s 2060 net zero ambitions which is hinged on green growth.
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, key stakeholders on climate change in Nigeria, ranging from State Governors, Ministers, Heads of Climate Change Councils and Departments, Environment and Climate Change Commissioners, members of the academia, civil society, community and youth groups, women and persons living with disabilities, the media, will converge on the Abuja Continental Hotel to share ideas, recognise top performers review and evaluate, for the first time, the nature of climate change governance in Nigeria’s subnational during the High-Level event. This event, once launched, becomes an annual evaluation metrics aimed at bolstering subnational actions for the good of the country.
By Nnaemeka Oruh, Senior Policy Analyst, Society for Planet and Prosperity, @_Oruhnc
The Enugu State Government and the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) held an inception meeting and stakeholder engagement for the proposed Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan on Thursday, July 18, 2024 in Enugu, the state capital.
Supported by the African Climate Foundation, the inception meeting, which had a broad representative from top government functionaries, civil servants, businesses, civil society organisations, youth-based groups, women groups and those living with a disability, was aimed at aligning the climate strategies of Nigeria’s states at the national level with that of the state level.
In his welcome speech, the Commissioner for Environment, Prof. S. C. Ugwu, traced the effects of climate change on the state and communities to rainfalls, dry seasons, increased frequency, intense flooding in homes, as well as deep gully erosions that split roads and endanger lives and property.
He listed the role of the intervention which includes the development of a science-based climate policy through comprehensive data and scientific analysis which will form the bedrock to develop a strategic climate action plan, engage stakeholders and develop a climate finance strategy.
The governor, Dr Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary of the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, delivered a keynote at the event entitled “The Vision of the Climate Resilience and Green Economy”. He noted that the state has built a solid team to help actualise a green economy and build the resilience of the state to climate change.
Apart from setting up the necessary structure that will drive climate action, policy, climate change resilience and green economy, he shared objectives based on local content and local structure. He also stated that it is based on the three-key pitch of sustainability, inclusivity and innovation.
Mbah added that substantiality is at the heart of climate policy in rural economy, clean energy, sustainable agriculture and circular economy, He informed the gathering that the 250 model schools being constructed by the government will be powered through the renewable energy source.
The state is equally working hard to capitalise on the Circular Economy, Climate resilient infrastructure plan and provide a sustainable economy, he added, underlining the need to balance projects that are green and sustainable in the long run. It was also revealed that the Enugu State Government is also working towards changing Enugu State from a coal city to a green city.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, who also serves as the Special adviser to the government on climate change and sustainable development, Prof Chukwumerjie Okereke, stated the importance and relevance of the state being the first in Nigeria to have a scientific-based climate policy and action plan that will help the state in transforming towards a green economy.
He underscored the importance of the policy as a major driver of climate change globally. He also stressed that women, children and people with disability are disproportionally affected by the action of climate change and stressed the need to tackle climate change through mitigation and adaptation measures. He highlighted the importance of just transition in the whole climate change process.
In his goodwill message, the Commission of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu, stated that the youths are also affected by climate change and stated the importance of climate change in the lives of youths and those living with disability. He stressed the role of a green economy in creating jobs for the youth and having an environment that is sustainable and beneficial to the youth whose future needs are affected by climate change.
The meeting ended with a technical session where all the major issues relating to climate change in Enugu State were comprehensively discussed.
The Senior Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, has announced the launch of an essay competition on climate change in the state.
The competition is part of the Mbah-Climate Education, Innovation and Training Initiative (MBAH-CEITI) aimed at raising climate awareness in the state. The initiative is said to align with the governor’s vision to enhance climate education in Enugu State.
Governor Peter Mbah’s administration is currently in talks with two international donors to secure funding for various climate awareness projects, including the development of a climate policy and action plan for the state. The MBAH-CEITI campaign is one of the several initiatives led by the Senior Adviser’s Office on Climate Change in collaboration with the state government.
The essay competition, titled “What measures can Enugu State take to address climate change while also promoting economic growth, and what role can the youth play in this process?”, commenced on Monday, July 1, 2024, and will end on July 31, 2024.
Speaking on the upcoming essay competition which is open to young adults from Enugu State and those living in the state between the ages of 18 and 35 years, the SA to the Governor on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke, said that the competition aims to increase public awareness of, and engagement with climate change in Enugu State and Nigeria more broadly. He stated that the essay competition is one of the campaigns in place by his office for the youths in Enugu State.
Prof. Okereke emphasised that his office has plans to implement additional projects in the state to enhance public awareness of climate change in Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole.
“My office is currently developing more public awareness campaigns, which will encompass the Enugu State climate policy and action plan, the Enugu State tree planting and urban greening campaign, the Enugu clean cooking initiative, and the Enugu youth technical empowerment programme.”
He asserted that these campaigns would not only educate the youth of the state about climate change but also provide them with training opportunities to enhance their capacity for self-sustainability.
“The competition will present a valuable opportunity for young individuals to take the lead and drive climate action in the state by proposing measures that can combat climate change while fostering economic growth. I am confident that we will receive high-quality submissions from the young people of Enugu State.”
Prof Okereke also emphasised the ongoing threat of climate change to human existence and highlighted the crucial role that young people must play in taking climate actions and participating in decision-making processes to safeguard our environment.
He also stated that his office would continue to develop engaging activities and competitions to enhance public awareness and understanding of climate change in Enugu State and Nigeria.
“My office is planning to organise more captivating competitions to raise public awareness and foster engagement with climate change in Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole.”
This first edition of the essay competition will see the winner getting a cash reward of N100,000, the second position N75,000, and the third position will get N50,000.
Youths from Enugu State and those living in Enugu are encouraged to submit their essay by visiting the website at www.enugustatesaclimate.com, and for further details call 07037631055.
The top three essays will be announced during a hybrid event scheduled for August 30, 2024.
By Anieze Elochukwu, PA to the Senior adviser on Climate Change and Sustainable Development
An environment enthusiast and climate change mitigation advocate, Chukwumerije Okereke, has explained why climate governance is important at state level.
Okereke, a professor, is the President and Chairman, Board of Trustee, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) Nigeria.
He notesd that climate change impacts are primarily felt at the subnational level in Nigeria. Therefore, effective climate action must be localized.
According to him, though there are comprehensive federal policies, such as the Climate Change Act and the Energy Transition Plan, similar frameworks are lacking at the subnational level. He reasons that, for Nigeria to meet its climate and sustainable development goals, state-level action is crucial.
Climate change, he notes further, has created significant environmental problems in Nigeria, affecting all regions and socio-economic classes. He recalled that the 2024 heat-waves were a stark reminder of its impact which caused considerable stress on commercial farmers and threatened food security.
“The Niger Delta faces persistent oil spills, leading to severe soil and water pollution, while the northern regions struggle with drought and desertification,” he said.
He disclosed that it was in recognition of this that SPP, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the Department of Climate Change (DCC), conducted a survey on subnational climate impacts, actions, and policies.
The survey engaged diverse stakeholders, including state climate change desk officers, academics, youths, and climate experts. The resulting report, ‘Climate Impacts, Policies, and Actions at the Subnational Level in Nigeria,’ was launched in Abuja on November 17, 2023.
The report found that eight states, including Nasarawa, Plateau, Yobe, Jigawa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Ondo, and Ogun, allocated budgets for climate projects in 2023.
Additionally, 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have developed climate action plans. Lagos, Enugu, and Rivers State have even established dedicated climate change offices, with Rivers State being the only state to pass a Climate Change Bill into law.
“While these developments are promising, it is essential to monitor and evaluate state-level efforts to ensure they achieve their goals,” Okereke said.
“SPP, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department for Climate Change have worked closely to initiate an annual ranking of climate change governance at the subnational level,” he added.
He hopes that this ranking will assess administrative structures, budget allocations, policies, action plans, and other metrics.
The inaugural ranking will be released on July 25, 2024, in Abuja, recognizing the hard work on the three top states and highlighting areas needing improvement and encouraging better climate action across states.
The Professor observed that for Nigeria to effectively combat climate change and advance sustainable development, state-level initiatives must complement federal policies.
“The upcoming ranking and continued scrutiny of state efforts will drive accountability and enhance climate action, ensuring Nigeria meets its climate goals,” he assured.