Since September 2024, SPACES FOR CHANGE has been collaborating with Imo State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation to draft Imo State Climate Change Policy. As part of the drafting process, Imo State Technical Committee on Climate Change constituted in October 2024 has been engaging a broad spectrum of ministries, departments, agencies, interest groups, traditional institutions, civil society and other stakeholders across the state to create awareness, build concrete evidence of climate change impacts and also explore nature- & people-oriented adaptation and mitigation measures. The evidence generated so far was documented in the Knowledge Paper ~ “Advancing Inclusive Climate Governance in Imo State, Nigeria: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.”
At the unveiling ceremony of the new publication, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Barrister Ejikeme Major Emenike, described the document as the outcome of the strategic partnership between Imo State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation and Space for Change with support from Ford Foundation and the Institute of Development Studies. Commissioner Emenike’s opening remarks reflected on the urgency of action and the value of inclusion. “This knowledge paper resonates deeply with the aspirations of Imo State. It is a call to action. A call to lead the path for climate justice. We must ensure that the voices of vulnerable communities are heard and protected in global climate discourse,” he said. He spoke further on the wider impacts of climate change in Imo State, noting that “climate change is a reality in Imo. From flooding to gully erosion and food insecurity, our people are suffering. But these challenges demand leadership that is bold, inclusive, and visionary.”
The Executive Director of Space for Change. Ms. Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, elucidated that the knowledge paper was developed through a participatory and stakeholder-wide consultative process to identify the existence, evidence and impacts of climate change across sectors and communities in Imo State. “What we are presenting today is not just a paper. It is part of the climate policy development process. We have looked at the testimonies, problems and evidence presented by various groups in different parts of the state. We engaged communities, civil society, traditional institutions and other state actors. What we found shows that climate change is real in Imo State, ” she stated. She also walked the audience through the different sections of the knowledge paper, beginning with the historical background of climate trends in the state and their consequences, such as intense rainfall, rising temperatures, deforestation, gully erosion, flooding, poor agricultural yields, and so forth. These have resulted in health crises, displacement, and environmental degradation. To address these impacts, Imo must begin to integrate renewable energy, climate-smart agricultural practices and nature-based solutions into the state’s development agenda.
Speaking on behalf of Hon. Chike Olemgbe,m the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie, who is also the Chairman of the Imo State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, emphasized the need for stronger grassroots engagement. He said, “It is good that we are here talking, but let me tell you: the climate crisis is already affecting the people in the villages. That is where you see the erosion eating up people’s homes. That is where the rainfall is washing away the crops. The local communities are where this discussion is most needed. We need to take this awareness down to the people.”
Throughout the event, it was widely agreed that Imo State’s environmental future depends on the state’s ability to act decisively and inclusively. The policy brief is expected to guide future legislative and administrative decisions aimed at building a sustainable, climate-resilient Imo State. The event marks another crucial step in the state’s climate policy roadmap, reinforcing the importance of stakeholder participation, strategic partnerships, and local ownership of climate solutions. As Nigeria, and indeed the world, continues to face intensifying climate challenges, stakeholders hope that Imo’s approach can serve as a model for other sub-national entities seeking to localize climate governance.
