The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, plans to showcase climate governance performance across 36 states of the federation this month.

The project would provide a single rating and ranking report of the states’ performance, undertaken through climate change desk officers.

SPP President, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, said the project builds on the mapping of the climate change impact, policy, and action of the states, which was executed by the team last year in collaboration with the DCC and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Okereke said the rating and ranking were based on five governance criteria, namely, climate change governance administrative structure, presence or absence of climate policy and action plan, extent of climate change project implementation; extent of incorporation of climate finance in state budgets; and online visibility of state’ climate activities.

He said that climate change has created significant environmental problems in Nigeria, affecting all regions and socio-economic classes. The 2024 heat waves are a stark reminder of their impact, causing considerable stress on commercial farmers and threatening 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. Climate change impacts are primarily felt at the subnational level in the country.

“Therefore, effective climate action must be localised. Despite the presence of comprehensive federal policies, such as the Climate Change Act and the Energy Transition Plan, there is a glaring absence of similar frameworks at the subnational level. For Nigeria to meet its climate and sustainable development goals, state-level action is crucial,” Okereke said.

He said the survey by SPP, NGF and DCC engaged diverse stakeholders, including state climate change desk officers, academics, youths, and climate experts on subnational climate impacts, actions, and policies. 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. “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 said.

Also, at the inaugural coordination meeting of states climate change desk officers convened by the DCC, Okereke was confident that the rating and ranking exercise would raise awareness of climate change in the states and create an atmosphere of positive competition, as well as race to the top among the states.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari, in a keynote address, stated that climate change is a major emergency and one of the most pressing issues of the time.

He underlined the fact that the purpose of the coordination conference was to strengthen the synergy between national and subnational actors to achieve better climate governance.

Kambari described subnational climate change officers as key personnel in the fight against climate change, given their role in translating global climate goals into concrete actions and policies that resonate at the local level.

DCC Director, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, highlighted the key objectives of the meeting to include improving collaboration and knowledge sharing among Subnational Climate Change Desk Officers, promoting effective climate change action at the subnational level, and targeted training and capacity building of the desk officers.

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