NCCCS: Nigeria Needs Guideline to Shape Climate Action, Economic Transformation, Social Equity

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria needs a Just Transition Guideline that will serve as a model for inclusive climate action, economic transformation, and social equity in the country, the Director General, National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, NCCCS, and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe has said.

The DG, who made the declaration in Abuja at a workshop on developing a Just Transition Roadmap for Nigeria organised in collaboration with international Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), asked stakeholders in the environmental sector to work together to develop this.

Maduekwe who was represented by the Director of the Council Secretariat, Mrs Halima Bawa-Bwari, explained that the workshop marks a significant step in shaping a comprehensive Just Transition Guideline that reflects Nigeria’s realities and aspirations.

She said: “We recognize that a Just Transition is not solely an environmental or economic issue it is a social imperative, It requires the active collaboration of government, private sector stakeholders, civil society, and development partners to design policies that mitigate potential disruptions while maximizing new opportunities.”

“The Just Transition Guideline we are developing will be instrumental in achieving these targets through socially responsible and economically viable strategies.”

She noted that Climate related policy framework like the Nigeria’s National Development Plan, Energy Transition Plan, National Bioeconomy Strategic Framework and the Climate Change Act, will provides a blueprint for inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.

Maduekwe said: “A Just Transition framework will ensure that the shift to renewable energy and a low-carbon future aligns with this vision by integrating policies that safeguard workers and communities, particularly those dependent on fossil fuel-based industries, anchored on sustainability, economic inclusion and resilience.”

She stated that “the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to sustainable development is clearly reflected in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic prosperity, job creation, and social inclusion.”

She said: “As we implement our climate policies and transition to a green economy, it is imperative that we do so in a way that secures livelihoods, supports vulnerable communities, and fosters shared economic growth—leaving no one behind.”

In a joint address, the ILO, UNDP and UNIDO, said the development of a Just Transition Action Plan or a Roadmap as a National guideline for all sectors is crucial to addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Delivering the speech for the three UN agencies, Mr Stephen Agugua, said Nigeria is committed to its international obligations including the Paris Agreement and the sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, as it aims to address climate change and promote sustainable development in the country.

Agugua noted that the Just Transition Roadmap will build upon and align with the existing policy frameworks, providing a coherent and strategic approach to the transition of Nigeria to a low-carbon economy.

He said: “The Nigerian government has already taken significant steps towards sustainable development and climate action. Such as the ongoing revision of the National Determined Contributions NDCs, National Development Plan, NDP, and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change NCCC, demonstrate the commitment to climate change and promote sustainable economic growth.”

He noted that the alignment of the Just Transition Roadmap with the strategic objectives of the United Nations values emphasized the strategic partnership between the government of Nigeria and the UN system, with the goal to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development to sustain the country drive to low-carbon economy.

He said the International labour Organisation, ILO, advocates for a just transition, fostering environmentally sustainable economies inclusively with a commitment to creating decent work and reducing poverty.

He said the guidelines from the ILO provide an internationally established policy framework that defines the concept of a Just Transition, stressing that: “Under the Climate Promise Initiative UNDP is now supporting 34 countries and territories around the world to strengthen Just Transition principles and processes, since 2010 UNIDO has supported the creation of regional sustainable energy centres across the Global South to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.”

He added that the overall aim of developing a Just Transition Action Plan as a National Guideline is to provide a clear framework and actionable strategies to guide all sectors in the country towards a sustainable and equitable future that emphasizes “Leave no one behind .“

NCCCS: Nigeria Needs Guideline to Shape Climate Action, Economic Transformation, Social Equity