National Climate Change Policy
In 2013, Nigerian government (Federal Ministry of Environment) published a national policy on climate change. The policy which was revised in 2021, aims to guide the country’s efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The National Climate Change Policy in Nigeria is a comprehensive and crucial framework that aims to address the challenges posed by climate change and promote sustainable development in the country. The policy document is divided into several sections, each focusing on different aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Background and Rationale
The policy provides a general background on climate change in Nigeria, the rationale for the policy review, the approach adopted, and the link between the Policy and other related national policies, strategies, and plans. It sets the context for the policy and highlights the importance of addressing climate change in Nigeria. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated and strategic approach to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The rationale for the policy review also emphasizes the need to align with international climate policies and conventions.
National Context
The policy provides an overview of Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change and the country’s response to the issue. It puts climate change in the national context with an emphasis on Nigeria’s vulnerability and impact, as well as policy, legal, and institutional responses to the challenge. It mentions emerging issues that need to be addressed and highlights the various sectors that are affected by climate change, such as agriculture, energy, health, and transportation. The policy also highlights the relevance of the Paris Agreement in influencing the national response to climate change.
Policy Direction
The policy outlines its vision, mission, and goal. The vision statement emphasizes the importance of building a climate-resilient economy, while the mission statement focuses on guiding the successful implementation of climate change initiatives. The policy goal is to promote sustainable development while addressing climate change challenges.
Mitigation
The policy document provides specific strategies and measures for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors. These include agriculture, forests and other land use, energy, health, industry, oil and gas, transport, waste, and water. Each sector is addressed individually, highlighting the actions needed to reduce emissions and promote sustainable practices. It focuses on policy statements that accelerate the process and implementation of climate change mitigation initiatives. The policy emphasizes the promotion of low-carbon development and the implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures.
Adaptation
The policy also emphasizes the importance of adaptation to climate change. It elaborates on the key policy directions for adaptation to climate change in the country. It also identifies key sectors that require adaptation measures, such as agriculture, forests, energy, water, transport, industry, and health. The document provides policy directions for each sector, focusing on building resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts. The policy provides strategies and actions to reduce the vulnerability of Nigerians to the impacts of climate change in these sectors. It also emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming gender, children, youth, and other vulnerable groups into all climate change interventions.
Linkages with Other Policies and Strategies
The National Climate Change Policy is closely linked with other national policies, strategies, and action plans in Nigeria. These include the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), the Transformation Agenda, Vision 20:2020, and the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN) 2011. The policy aligns with these plans to ensure the achievement of climate change goals and objectives.
Enabling Conditions
The policy recognizes that certain enabling conditions are necessary for the successful implementation of climate change initiatives and actualizing the vision of ensuring a climate-resilient economy. These conditions include capacity building, technology transfer, financing mechanisms, and institutional strengthening. By addressing these conditions, the policy aims to create an enabling environment for effective climate change action.
Means of Implementation
The policy document outlines the means of implementation to ensure the successful execution of the National Climate Change Policy. It elaborates on the imperative for functional means of implementation that can propel the country in the path of ensuring climate-resilient, compatible, and sustainable development. This includes the establishment of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress, knowledge management systems to enhance information sharing, and stakeholder engagement and collaboration to foster partnerships and collective action.
In summary, the National Climate Change Policy in Nigeria provides a comprehensive framework for addressing climate change challenges and promoting sustainable development. It encompasses mitigation and adaptation strategies, aligns with other national policies and international agreements, and emphasizes the importance of enabling conditions and means of implementation. By implementing this policy, Nigeria aims to build a climate-resilient economy and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.