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The Federal Government of Nigeria has released a report as part of its efforts to identify the specific support needs of the federation’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to combat climate change.

Titled “Mapping Climate Change Impact, Policy, and Action in Nigeria’s 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” the report is aimed at how to effectively domesticate policies concerning climate change to attract funds and investments to increase action at the subnational level and ease climate-related transitions for sustainable development.

Nigeria has a tropical climate, with heavy precipitation in the southwest and southeast and low precipitation in the north. According to Dr. Ishaq Salako, state minister of environment, this type of weather pattern can induce erosion and flooding in the south and aridity, drought, and desertification in the north.

The minister, who made the comment on Friday, November 17, 2023, in Abuja, during the official launch of the report, went on to clarify that these differences in weather conditions expose northern states to greater climatic vulnerability than those in the country’s southern region. Additionally, the prevalence of climate-sensitive agricultural practices also aligns with this pattern of vulnerability to climate change.

Thus, he explained, this study would help in assessing the awareness of climate change in every state in the nation, including the Federal Capital Territory, and explore the willingness of states to participate and improve their understanding and response to prevent climate catastrophe. It would also help the government develop particular policies and action plans to protect each state based on its climate risk.

“With this, funding support and resources can be effectively allocated and directed to areas that are most vulnerable and require urgent action,” Dr. Salako said.

Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, the convener and President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), described climate change as one of the most significant development concerns confronting Nigeria today.

According to him, climatic impacts, such as flooding, desertification, drought, erosion, and sea level rise, are destroying ecosystems and livelihoods, thereby pushing many into poverty.

The Nigerian government signed the National Climate Change Law, which creates the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), and pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2060. In addition, to address the effects of climate change, it has a National Climate Change Policy, a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and a few flagship projects like the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), and the Great Green Wall (GGW).

Prof. Okereke did, however, point out that the majority of federal climate change activities and actions have paid little to no attention to state-level climate change policies, action plans, and investment. This, he says, is a considerable imbalance, given that the states that host the local populations face the majority of the burden of climate change impacts.

“Therefore, the implementation of policies and actions at the subnational level is crucial to addressing climate change and meeting Nigeria’s net-zero target and other national climate commitments,” he said.

The present circumstances, the convener argued, necessitate a better understanding of the subnational climate change governance environment, including the degree of climate change awareness, the scope and diversity of policies, and their degree of implementation.

In a similar spirit, Sam Onuigbo, Member of the Governing Board and Chairman of the North-East Development Commission’s (NEDC) Committee on Security, Climate Change, and Special Interventions, decried the nation’s vulnerability to the disastrous impacts of climate change.

As a result, he advised governors and local council chairmen to make adequate climate change budget provisions based on the new assessment.

“With the responsibilities assigned to the representatives of the subnational, governors, and local government chairmen by the Act, they should begin to make adequate budgetary provisions for improved climate change action and resilience,” he stated.

This is the first and most comprehensive mapping of Nigeria’s subnational climate action. It will increase public awareness of climate action, provide information on the state of climate change policies, draw attention to the shortcomings and efforts in subnational programmes and actions related to climate change, and promote better action from the public sector, private industry, civil society, or foreign donor organisations.

Download Report here>>

By Nsikak Emmanuel Ekere, Abuja

First published in environsnewsnigeria.com

Launching! Launching!! Launching!!!

The Society for Planet and Prosperity in Collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja and the Nigeria Governor’s Forum hereby invite the public to the launch of the FIRST EVER REPORT on the Mapping of Climate Impact, Policy and Action at the Sub-national Level in Nigeria..

This shall be an opportunity for the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT to understand the exact level they are on Climate Action

Date: Friday, 17th November, 2023
Venue: Sandralia Hotel, 1 Solomon Lar Road, Jabi, Abuja.
Time: 9am

For more information, kindly visit our websites or check the nearest media outlets

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is organizing a high-level meeting to launch and discuss the results and findings of a survey on climate change impact, policy, and actions in the thirty-six States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The meeting will converge key stakeholders and selected survey participants to discuss the recommendations that will support subnational climate action and facilitate climate-related transitions for sustainable development.

The objective of the report Entitled “Mapping Climate Change Impact, Policy and Action in Nigeria’s 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) “ is to map the impact of climate change in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT, analyze the existing climate policies and actions in the States, conduct an assessment of online visibilities and identify the specific support needs of each of these States to effectively domesticate climate change policies to attract climate funds and investments.

The project was conceived as a first step to galvanize awareness for climate action at sub-national levels in Nigeria, showcase the status of Climate Change policies, highlight the efforts and gaps in climate action and programmes at sub-national levels, and ensure improved climate change action and resilience among the state actors.

Speaking on the upcoming event, the lead convener, who is also the President of SPP, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, noted that:

Climate Change is one of the biggest development challenges facing Nigeria today. Its impacts such as flooding, desertification, drought, erosion, and sea level rise are destroying ecosystems and livelihoods thereby pushing many into poverty. The Nigerian Government has committed to achieving Net Zero by 2060 and has also signed a National Climate Change Law which establishes a National Council on Climate Change (NCCC). The Federal Government has a National Climate Change Policy, a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and some flagship projects such as the Great Green Wall, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), and Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) to address the impacts of climate change. However, most climate change actions and initiatives have focused at the federal level, with little or no attention to subnational climate change policies, action plans, and investment at the state level. This is a big gap given that the impacts of climate change are mostly borne by States that house the local communities. Therefore, the implementation of policies and actions at the subnational level is crucial to addressing climate change and meeting Nigeria’s net-zero target and other national climate commitments. This current situation calls for an improved understanding of the climate change governance landscape at the subnational including the level of awareness of climate change, available policies and the extent and range of policies and the degree of implementation.

During the scheduled high-level event, experts and facilitators will discuss the findings of the report and opportunities to promote climate policy, action, and investment at the state level. It is expected that the event will help to facilitate coordination, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and learning among various stakeholders at the subnational level, with an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to develop new partnerships to address the gaps for a renewed frontier for climate action in the 36 States of Nigeria and FCT.

The report, which explored the extent of climate change awareness and action, the nature of climate change policies in place, the level of integration of climate change in project and economic planning, the perception of climate risks and vulnerability, and online visibility in the Thirty-Six (36) States and FCT through administration of questionnaire to participants and extensive literature review, including published materials, reports, newspapers, and websites.

This is the first ever and most comprehensive mapping of climate action at the subnational level in Nigeria, this is also timely because it helps Nigeria understand the peculiar needs of the different subnational units of the country in other to encourage improved action either by government, civil society, the private sector, or international donor agencies

The report launch is scheduled to be held in Abuja on Friday, 17th November 2023. The event format is hybrid, hence participants and interested audiences are encouraged to join virtually by registering at https://bit.ly/SubnationalClimateMapping

By Timothy Ogenyi, Senior Policy Analyst (Climate Change), SPP

Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke has been elected Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (UNESCO-TWAS) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to science and its promotion in the developing world.

The Nigeria born Okereke is a Professor in Global Governance and Public Policy in the School for Policy Studies, Bristol University, UK, and Director for the Centre for Climate Change and Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria.

He is a globally recognised leading scholar on global climate governance and international development with specialism on the justice dimensions of the international climate regime and just societal transitions to the green economy.

Okereke has a strong track record of cutting-edge and high-impact research focused on understanding and addressing systemic barriers to economic and social inclusion in the context of climate policy and green economy transitions,

He has made significant contributions to scholarship on several areas such as: (i) understanding how different conceptions of justice influence global climate governance and the implications for climate-resilient sustainable development in developing countries; (ii) advancing the theory of theory of climate governance through his various works that focus on the activities of non-nation state actors in climate governance; and (iii) advancing knowledge and practice of climate governance and green growth transitions in Africa where his work has had a far-reaching impact on public policy and practice across the continent.

He also worked with a diverse array of stakeholders to mobilise research to shape climate governance in Africa including drafting a climate change law in Nigeria, modelling Nigeria’s long-term low-carbon development strategy, designing African Unions’ Adaptation Initiative, and drafting the first ever national green growth plan in Africa, for the Government of Rwanda.

Professor Okereke’s academic merit and international research leadership status is affirmed through his leadership roles in multiple high-profile global Scientist Assessment Projects and networks including as Coordinating Lead Author, of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III Sixth Assessment Report.

He is a visiting professor at London School of Economics and Senior Academic Visitor at the University of Oxford.

He is also a leading member of the Global Earth Commission’s Safe and Just Transformation Working Group and Coordinator of African Forum Climate Change, Energy and Development (AFCEED) the leading African Network of scholars, policy makers and practitioners working on climate change and sustainability transitions in Africa.

Commenting on the award, Okereke said: “I am delighted to have been elected Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of science in developing countries (UNESCO-TWAS).

“It means a lot to me because I have always been driven by a desire to highlight the challenges faced by developing countries in addressing climate change while also pursuing economic growth as well as the opportunities to leverage climate action to build resilience and achieve economic growth.

“Developing countries face multiple challenges related to colonial legacy and unjust international economic order which work to the advantage of advanced countries. I believe that approaching climate governance from the framework of justice enables us to tackle, not just the issue of climate pollution, but also the more fundamental question of global equity and fairness needed to ensure that everyone can lead a decent life regardless of where they are born.

“I grew up in a very rural village in Old Eastern Nigeria. I played naked under the rain, swam and drank water from the brownish local river, went to school for the most time barefooted, studied under the big akparata tree in the local school, hunted rats and rabbits with my age-mates and sang with other children under the moonlight.

“I experienced the joy of growing up in the natural environment and am passionate to see that economic development for all the good things it brings does not impose existential risk on our environment and the lives of people on the planet.

“This recognition encourages me to continue to work as there is still quite a long way to go to achieve climate justice for the vulnerable countries of the world.”

Okereke is among 47 Fellows elected by the Academy.