300+ stakeholders—comprising an array of state ministries, departments and agencies, local governments, communities, traditional institutions, academia, religious, media, persons with disabilities, security agencies, students, women, youth and the informal sectors—attended the public presentation of the draft Imo State Climate Change Policy 2025 at a multistakeholder townhall organized by Spaces for Change | S4C and the Imo State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation on June 10, 2025, in Owerri, Imo State. S4C and the state’s Environment Ministry convened the townhall to present the state’s climate change policy drafted by the Imo State Technical Committee on Climate and also provide a no-holds-barred platform for Imo people to reflect, critique, and make inputs into the draft policy, allowing citizens to shape what is about to become one of Nigeria’s most participatory subnational climate governance frameworks.
This town hall was more than a public consultation. It marked a significant milestone in the journey toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future for Imo State. At the national level, Nigeria has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), placing climate resilience at the center of its development agenda. Key federal milestones such as the Climate Change Act 2021, the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change and the unveiling of the National Energy Transition Plan committing to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, signal a clear message that subnational governments must align with the national targets or risk being left behind. For Imo State, which is particularly vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and environmental degradation, and home to vast reserves of natural gas, the stakes are especially high. Responding to these global trends, Imo State is partnering with Spaces for Change to develop a strategic policy direction that will guide mitigation, investment, and climate governance. Imo’s proposed policy aims to provide the legal scaffolding needed to support a just green transition, build local adaptive capacity, and unlock international funding streams for climate mitigation and adaptation.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Barr. Major Emenike, Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, underscored the urgency of climate action, citing the rising climate vulnerabilities facing Imo state, ranging from erratic rainfall to increasing temperatures, flooding, erosion etc. That is why the draft policy is anchored on sustainability, equity, and social inclusion, towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting forests and water bodies, promoting renewable energy, and advancing climate-smart agriculture. Hon. Emenike commended S4C (and partners, Institute for Development Studies and the Ford Foundation) for ensuring that the draft reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of Imo people while pulling the state in the direction of a low-carbon future. S4C’s Executive Director S4C, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, emphasized the locally-rooted making of the draft policy. “The draft policy document benefitted from a multistakeholder Technical Committee, intensive community and civil society consultations, interstate peer learning, technical and independent reviews from federal agencies and international organizations, all of which enriched the policy development process. It is now imperative for all stakeholders to review this draft together, and contribute meaningfully to the policy’s finalization,” she said.
S4C presented the 38-section draft policy to stakeholders, unveiling its key provisions, scope, intent, and structure. Key highlights of the draft policy include the establishment of the state’s subnational climate change governance architecture, the state’s emission reduction strategies ranging from forest and biodiversity protection, renewable energy promotion, climate-smart agriculture, climate adaptation plans, emergency response frameworks, and public accountability provisions. The policy also aligns Imo with global climate mechanisms, signaling readiness to access funds from bodies like the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and Loss and Damage mechanisms. With the right legislative and institutional structures in place, Imo stands poised to attract climate finance and other international green investments.
The plenary session at the townhall was very interactive, with numerous stakeholders sharing their testimonies, lived experiences, suggestions, critiques, and policy recommendations. Traditional leaders called for stronger enforcement, including mandatory tree replanting, green building codes, and regulation of emissions from outdated vehicles. Academics urged the Technical Committee to leverage homegrown research and the resources available within educational institutions in Imo State in the development and implementation phases of all climate-focused initiatives. Community representatives from the extractive zones demanded environmental accountability for decades of environmental damage and pollution caused by extractive activities, especially crude oil exploration and gas flaring. “We live in the shadow of oil wealth, yet we suffer the worst impacts,” one community member lamented, referring to the oil pollution, low farm produce and displacement in Ohaji-Egbeme communities in Imo State.
Youth participants pushed for climate education, green job creation, and policies that offer them a stake in a sustainable future. Women’s groups highlighted the social and economic burdens of climate change, especially on agriculture and youth livelihoods and advocated for food security, reforestation, legislative action on illegal bunkering, and climate literacy. Persons with disability called for inclusive planning frameworks that guarantee accessibility, human rights protection and access to adaptive tools and services. Civil society organizations and professionals stressed the need for decentralized awareness campaigns and strong enforcement institutions.
The Imo State Climate Change Policy 2025 now enters its final stage of incorporating all the feedback received from stakeholders before handover to the state government. Once adopted, it will mark the beginning of a new era of climate accountability and community empowerment in Imo State. As the Chairman of the Imo Technical Committee, Prof. Maurice Obasi, noted, “a climate-resilient Imo is not just desirable, it is imperative… This policy is our first bold step toward achieving that future.”
