Nigeria’s efforts to address climate change are gaining traction at the subnational level, as a climate governance ranking initiative continues to drive competition, collaboration and measurable reforms across the country’s 36 states.
The initiative, led by the Society for Planet and Prosperity in partnership with the Department of Climate Change under the Federal Ministry of Environment, is shifting attention from federal climate pledges to state-level implementation, where the impacts of climate change are most directly experienced.
Now in its second year, the Subnational Climate Governance Ranking evaluates how states design, implement and institutionalise climate action policies and programmes.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at a Peer Learning Workshop for Commissioners of Environment on Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking, President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, said the ranking is designed to promote transparency, peer learning and accelerated climate action rather than to stigmatise underperforming states.
He noted that states remain on the frontline of climate vulnerability, citing floods, desertification, erosion and heatwaves as growing threats. According to him, without robust state-level action, national climate resilience targets would remain unattainable.
Okereke recalled that when the first edition of the ranking was introduced two years ago, it was met with scepticism, with some stakeholders expressing concerns about possible political tensions and unfair comparisons. However, he stressed that the assessment process is evidence-based and participatory, allowing states to submit verifiable documentation of their climate initiatives.
He said the results of the second edition showed notable progress, with nearly all states recording measurable improvements. These include the development of climate policies and action plans, the establishment of dedicated climate change institutions, and the execution of implementation projects.
The framework assesses states across key indicators, including the existence of climate policies and action plans; institutional arrangements such as designated commissioners or agencies; implementation of projects such as flood control systems, reforestation programmes and renewable energy deployment; transparency and online accessibility of climate information; and the ability to attract and manage climate finance.
Okereke emphasised that the focus on climate finance reflects the reality that policy ambition must be matched by sustainable funding to achieve long-term results.
Despite progress, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including limited financial resources, inadequate technical expertise and weak institutional capacity in some states. To address these gaps, organisers are expanding the initiative beyond rankings to structured peer-learning networks and tailored capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening implementation.
He added that state commissioners recently reviewed the ranking methodology to enhance fairness and collective ownership, describing the framework as a co-created process open to refinement through stakeholder input.
Also speaking, Jigawa State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Nura Ibrahim, said the peer-learning engagement is expected to produce targeted training programmes, stronger inter-state collaboration and broader adoption of climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
Ibrahim, who chairs the Commissioners’ Forum on Environment in Nigeria, said earlier concerns regarding the clarity of the ranking criteria had largely been resolved through sustained dialogue and transparency.
The initiative has attracted support from development partners, including the African Climate Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom. Their backing has supported the development of the ranking framework, technical assessments and stakeholder consultations.
Observers note that such partnerships will be crucial as Nigeria seeks to strengthen accountability mechanisms and unlock greater access to climate finance at all tiers of government.
