Lagos, Gombe lead climate governance performance ranking — Report

The 2024 report of the climate governance performance rating and ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states has revealed Lagos, Gombe, and Ebonyi as the top three performing states, with scores of 182, 125, and 123 out of a possible total of 325, respectively.

The report, launched on Thursday in Abuja by the Society for Planet and Prosperity and the Ministry of Environment, also showed that Borno and Ekiti are joint fourth with 115 points each.

The report revealed that Lagos is the only state rated outstanding in performance, while Gombe and Ebonyi are rated as high.

States rated as good performance, which fell within the fourth to 12th positions in the rating, are Borno, Ekiti, Edo, Niger, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, and Yobe.

Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Enugu, Taraba, Kogi, Bauchi, and Ondo, occupying the 15th to 22nd positions, in that order, are rated as average in the ranking performance.
States with low scores are positioned within the 23rd to 36th positions. They are Cross-River, Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Katsina, Benue, Plateau, Rivers, Osun, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Oyo, Kano, and Zamfara, in that order, with Zamfara
having the lowest score at 35 points.

The Director of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, explained that Gombe, Lagos, and Ekiti rank the highest in institutional arrangements and administrative structure for subnational climate leadership.

Okereke noted that Lagos, Borno, and Niger are the top three states in the thematic rating for climate project implementation and monitoring.

“Lagos, Anambra, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Kaduna, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, and Katsina have functional websites or links on the state official websites for the Ministry of Environment/Climate Change with several pages showing dynamic web activities.

“To some degree, all states capture climate and climate-related projects in their budgets. However, only 21 states specifically tagged the allotted projects as climate change projects.

“No state has issued a green bond. Only Gombe indicated the issuance of green bonds in its 2024 budget, but this has not been implemented,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said climate governance at the subnational level is essential for several reasons as it is at this level that the impacts of climate change are acutely felt.

Lawal said, “Lands in coastal communities are devastated by erosion while desertification is rampant in the northern region of the country. The subnational governments are often at the forefront of implementing policies and actions that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of the people at the grassroots level; therefore, their role in driving climate action is indispensable.

“The subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking is more than just a ranking; it is a tool for motivation, collaboration, and accountability. It highlights best practices, identifies areas for improvement, and fosters a spirit of healthy competition among our states and local governments.

“By celebrating the achievements of the top performers and providing support to those lagging, we can collectively elevate our national climate response. The criteria for this ranking are rigorous and comprehensive, reflecting the multifaceted nature of climate governance.

“The process encompasses policy formulation, implementation effectiveness, stakeholders’ engagement, resource allocation, and measurable outcomes. This holistic approach ensures that our assessment is not merely quantitative but also qualitative, capturing the distinction of effective climate governance,” Lawal stated.

On his part, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, noted that the ranking is a milestone in the collective efforts to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

Salako said, “As we gather here, we are reminded of the critical role that effective governance plays in mitigating the impacts of climate change and driving sustainable development.

“Nigeria, like many other nations, is experiencing the far-reaching consequences of climate change. From intensified droughts to severe flooding, the impacts are evident across our states, affecting lives, livelihoods, and our natural ecosystems. It is against this backdrop that we must recognise the pivotal role of our subnational governments in climate action.

“Today’s event is therefore to highlight the commitment of our 36 states and the FCT to climate governance and the strides they have made in implementing policies, strategies, and actions to combat climate change. The subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking serves as a platform to celebrate these successes, identify areas for improvement, and foster healthy competition that drives progress.”

He added that the ranking is a reminder that climate change requires a collaborative and inclusive approach