Agora Policy, in collaboration with the World Bank, the MacArthur Foundation, and various stakeholders, has issued a collective plea to federal and state governments, urging them to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address the escalating challenges posed by climate change. This call to action, part of the preparations for COP28, aims to elevate the status and depth of climate change discussions and actions in Nigeria.
Highlighting the urgency of collective efforts, the consortium emphasized the imperative for strategic policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Nigeria. Recommendations were articulated during a high-profile session where representatives from Agora Policy and the World Bank, alongside other influential entities, underscored the importance of a unified front in addressing the environmental threats facing the nation.
During a policy conversation on “Nigeria, Climate Change, and the Green Economy,” Mr. Waziri Adio, the founder of Agora Policy, stressed the immediate impacts of shifts in climatic conditions, stating that the burdens are already evident and cannot be wished away. He urged a proactive response to the challenges posed by climate change, emphasizing that it is a present and urgent matter.
Nigeria is grappling with a surge in temperature, irregular rain patterns, frequent flooding, threats of desertification and gully erosion, negative impacts on various sectors such as food production, security, and inflation, as well as challenges in water resources, health, productivity, energy, infrastructure, and conflicts related to vanishing natural resources.
Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank country director for Nigeria, emphasized the need to reduce emissions and focus on promoting development through enhanced electricity access and energy. He called for coordinated actions, expressing that the time for more policy documents and plans has passed.
Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, the managing director of Sterling Bank, highlighted the necessity for the government to incentivize climate change financing to attract private sector funding into green energy. He emphasized creating a system that makes green energy a competitive and viable option through policies, taxation tariffs, and incentives.
Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, a panelist at the event, emphasized the need for well-designed policy interventions to effectively respond to the pressures and impacts of climate change. He urged authorities to leverage the nation’s oil and energy resources for economic growth without jeopardizing development.
A report presented by Agora Policy on climate change and socio-economic development in Nigeria recommended aligning climate policies with national needs, focusing on both macro and micro-level mitigation and adaptation efforts. The report called for a robust governance structure, an expanding energy mix, institutional capacity building for climate action, adequate climate funding, a just energy transition, increased public awareness, and a collaborative approach to a low-carbon development future.