Nigerian government and other stakeholders have been tasked to pay serious attention to the threats posed by climate change in the country.
This was contained in a new report released today by Agora Policy, an Abuja-based think tank, and produced with the support of the MacArthur Foundation. .
The 84-page report, titled “Climate Change and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria”, says “it is evident that climate change is not a marginal or peripheral issue that the government and the people of Nigeria can take lightly”.
According to Waziri Adio, founder of Agora Policy, the report was put together by a team of four renowned experts: Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, director of the Centre for Climate and Development at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State; Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, a leading specialist on sustainable development, environment and climate change; Ms. Ifeoma Malo, co-founder of Clean Technology Hub and a development and governance expert; and Dr. Fola Aina, a development, peace and security expert.
Produced with the support of the MacArthur Foundation, the report is the fifth policy paper commissioned by Agora Policy to contribute to national debate before, during and after the landmark 2023 elections in Nigeria.
The other four reports focused on the state of the economy, security, gender and social inclusion, and transparency and accountability.
Adio disclosed that the release of the report will be followed by a policy conversation in Abuja on 22 November, 2023, on the theme: “Nigeria, Climate Change and the Green Economy.”
The report, which details a plethora of climate-related initiatives, policies, programmes and projects undertaken by successive Nigerian governments, the potentials of these interventions are undercut by the absence of commensurate action, lack of synergy and inadequate funding.
It says unless urgent and bold actions are taken, Nigeria, despite her relatively low emission profile, risks becoming one of the worst-affected countries by climate change, with grave implications for the country’s currently fragile economic, social and human development indicators.
“Climate change is compounding poverty challenges in Nigeria and impeding the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals,” adds the report.
Related Posts
It says further that “Climate change is already increasing hunger, poverty, disease-burden, migration, conflict and insecurity in Nigeria. It is damaging infrastructure, changing Nigeria’s coastlines, fuelling desertification, producing water scarcity, facilitating erosion and resulting in the loss of revenue for states and the national government.”
The report states that as at 2020 Nigeria losses at least $100 billion annually to the effects of climate change and the country may lose trillions of dollars in manufacturing, construction and oil and gas assets likely to become stranded as the world gravitates to a green economy.”
The report highlighted the potential climate challenges to include: projected 2.9- and 5.7-degree Celsius rise in temperature across different ecological zones in the country; increased occurrence of floods, droughts, erosion and rising sea levels; the likelihood that 75% of the delta could be lost; and further adverse effects on agricultural yields, food security, health burdens, water and energy sufficiency, peace and security, and adequacy and longevity of critical infrastructure.
However, the report noted that “Climate change offers opportunities for economic competitiveness, energy security, and sustainable development,” states the report. “There are many climate-led opportunities that Nigeria can explore to enable rapid economic growth, create jobs for a rapidly growing youthful and urbanising population, and address high levels of abject poverty and inequality through a just transition.”
Urging Nigeria to consciously pursue a climate-compatible development agenda, the report recommended the following strategies to the country: investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, promoting climate-smart agriculture, embracing green manufacturing, harnessing natural resources for adaptation, and enhancing disaster risk reduction systems.
“Leveraging climate action to pursue economic development in Nigeria is not only a viable but an essential strategy,” says the report, adding that “to transform climate change from a significant threat into an opportunity requires deliberate planning supported by immediate, bold and courageous action.”
Other prescriptions made by the report for Nigeria include: strengthening national climate change framework; mainstreaming climate change into the country’s development process; building a climate-resilient and competitive economy; boosting adaptive capacities of communities in different ecological zones in the country; incentivising investment in low-carbon industries; increasing public awareness about climate change; advocating for a fair and just energy transition; and pursuing a collaborative approach to low-carbon development.
“It is our hope that this report will further raise the policy profile of climate change issues in Nigeria and trigger the necessary actions on what is clearly an existential issue for our country,” says Waziri Adio.
He noted that “Climate change did not feature as a major issue in the 2023 general election, despite the significant challenges and opportunities it presents to the country. It has also not featured as a major priority of the new administration.
He said the event will be organised with partners as part of the buildup to COP28 starting in UAE later this month.
