PEER-LEARNING TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVE CLIMATE POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

PEER-LEARNING TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVE CLIMATE POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA 3

Climate change presents significant challenges globally, with its impacts increasingly evident in Nigeria, particularly in vulnerable regions in South-eastern part of the country. To address this pressing issue, Spaces for Change |S4C and South-Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), with support from Institute Development Studies (IDS) and Ford Foundation, organized the Peer-Learning Workshop on Inclusive Climate Policy Development. Held on the 13th of December 2024 in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria, the workshop participants consisted of leaders and members of Imo & Enugu States’ Technical Committees on Climate Change. Together, they shared lessons and experiences regarding the inclusive processes, stakeholder engagements and policy design protocols adopted by the two states in developing climate governance frameworks consistent with the country’s national and global commitments to net-zero emissions. 

While some states in Nigeria have made notable strides in climate adaptation and resilience, many states in the South-East region are still in the early stages of developing climate governance frameworks. As Enugu and Imo recently commenced efforts toward developing climate policies, this workshop provided a platform for exchanging experiences, lessons, and strategies to strengthen climate policy design efforts at the subnational level. Two main observations stood out from the deliberations. First, the climate policy design processes in the two states placed emphasis on inclusive stakeholder engagement. Engaging diverse voices, including community leaders, ward representatives and environmental experts have enabled both states to prioritize the needs of local people, especially the historically-excluded and marginalized groups such as border communities, coastal areas, restive or conflict-prone zones, persons with disabilities, women, children, geographically-disadvantaged populations, and communities heavily reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods. These groups often face significant barriers to engagement, including language barriers, limited awareness and education about climate change, inadequate funding for mobilization and logistics, insecurity and economic hardships that necessitate incentives like transportation stipends or meals to encourage participation.

Secondly, the two states are committed to aligning subnational climate policy with national climate priorities and targets while also tailoring them to address their specific needs and vulnerabilities. While Imo is still at the drafting stage, Enugu State is quite ahead, having already scheduled to publicly unveil the state’s climate policy in the first quarter of 2025. Stakeholders commended the similarities in the policy design processes adopted by the two states even though they were undertaken in different states, at various times, and by different actors and governments, but yet reaching near-similar outcomes.  Discussions that followed the lead presentations by the two states focused on the importance of collaboration in climate governance. Partnerships between government agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities can lead to effective and sustainable policy outcomes. Other states were encouraged to adopt similar collaborative approaches to ensure that no stakeholder is left behind in the fight against climate change.

An independent expert shared perspectives and strategies for integrating public health considerations into climate policy development. The presentation explored the critical link between climate change and public health, focusing on how rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation exacerbate vulnerabilities in already fragile health systems. Participants also learned about strategies for building community resilience such as improving early warning systems and increasing access to climate-adaptive healthcare services.

The workshop wrapped up with breakout group discussions that looked at incorporating inclusive stakeholder engagement models, aligning local needs with national climate goals, and designing actionable and sustainable climate policies. The session provided an opportunity for participants to share personal insights, brainstorm innovative ideas, and develop strategies for advancing climate governance in the South-East region in general. One lesson that clearly emerged from the workshop is that inclusive stakeholder engagement is essential for the success of climate policy development, particularly in ensuring the participation of marginalized and vulnerable communities.

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