By Abbas Nazil
The Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet) has called for stronger community participation in the implementation of Nigeria’s climate commitments, stressing the need to translate grassroots climate action into national policies and programmes.
The call was made during a High-Level Dialogue on Community Climate Action and the Implementation of the Paris Agreement held on September 16, 2026, in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The dialogue, organised as part of the side event of the Enjema Land Restoration Project, brought together state stakeholders, civil society organisations and other actors to strengthen collaboration on climate action and promote greater integration of community-led solutions into climate policies.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to examine how local knowledge, experiences and community-based solutions could contribute to Nigeria’s climate commitments, particularly as preparations continue towards COP31 in Türkiye.
In his welcome remarks, Steve Abuh, National Network Coordinator of CSDevNet, stressed the need for greater urgency in incorporating community-level climate action into Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0.
Abuh said experiences and solutions emerging from communities should be documented and used to inform national climate implementation, particularly because communities often experience the impacts of climate change directly.
The Director-General of the Kogi State Climate Change Agency, Michael Onimisi Ajibade, also called for a shift from climate change awareness towards practical action.
Ajibade highlighted the progress being made by the Kogi State Government in developing its Climate Change Action Plan and Policy, describing the process as an important milestone in the state’s efforts to respond to climate change.
“I am so excited to be here.
The fact that we are moving from awareness to action is encouraging,” Ajibade said.
He urged stronger partnerships between government and civil society organisations, noting that collaboration would be important for advancing climate action and improving access to climate finance.
Ajibade also described climate change as a multisectoral challenge affecting areas including healthcare and water resources, stressing the need for coordination among stakeholders to achieve meaningful results.
A technical session facilitated by Paul Joseph, Programme Officer at CSDevNet, examined the relationship between community climate action, Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans.
The session, titled “Community Climate Action, NDCs & NAPs: From Local Action to National Climate Implementation,” emphasised the role of farmers, women, young people, traditional institutions and grassroots organisations in translating national climate priorities into practical interventions.
Participants identified climate-smart agriculture, land restoration, water management, renewable energy, livelihood diversification and community governance as key areas where local action could contribute to addressing climate risks.
The Enjema experience was also presented as an example of how community-led interventions can support wider climate adaptation and sustainable development objectives.
The discussions further examined gaps between climate policy, planning, financing, implementation, evidence and accountability.
Participants stressed the importance of ensuring that community priorities are reflected in state and national climate plans while documenting local experiences and results that could help shape future policies and programmes.
They also called for improved coordination among government institutions, civil society organisations, communities, technical experts and development partners, alongside better access to climate finance for locally identified adaptation needs.
The dialogue featured a panel discussion titled “Localising the Paris Agreement: From Community Evidence to Policy,” which focused on practical ways of strengthening the connection between grassroots climate action and government policy.
Participants examined how community knowledge and evidence could be captured and incorporated into climate policies that reflect local realities.
The discussion also considered barriers affecting the participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples and grassroots organisations in climate decision-making.
Stakeholders further explored ways government, civil society and other actors could strengthen the relationship between community-level interventions and Nigeria’s climate commitments.
The engagement reinforced the need to move beyond climate change awareness towards coordinated, evidence-based and community-driven action.
As Nigeria and other stakeholders prepare for COP31, participants stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between communities, government and civil society to ensure that local experiences and solutions contribute to the implementation of Nigeria’s climate commitments and the Paris Agreement.
