Abstract
The impacts of climate change on the planet are increasingly felt with projections suggesting even greater impacts in the immediate term and, as such, the need for concerted efforts directed at curbing them. Although Nigeria battles with huge development needs, and its economy is confronted with a rapidly deteriorating fiscal space and rising levels of debt, the country has shown commitment to achieving the United Nations 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. This situation creates a gap between the SDG agenda and the workability of the goal. This paper appraises efforts made by Nigeria’s Federal Government to achieve the Climate Action Goal by 2030. The country’s level of implementation of the set SDG 13 was, first, evaluated using the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Subsequently, the role of the Anthony Nyong Climate Centre of Excellence (ANCCE) towards achieving the SDG 13 was explored. Results from the 2018 EPI scorecard ranks Nigeria 100th (54.76%) out of 180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. Similarly, results from SDG index and dashboard, places Nigeria at 42nd (47.07%) out of 56 African countries. Even though these results show that ‘challenges remain’ in achieving climate action, Nigeria is on track toward achieving the SDG agreement. Furthermore, the establishment of ANCCE has so far achieved building of partnerships with organizations and other universities locally and internationally, capacity building among academics and the establishment of a waste management project in a tertiary institution in the country. A bottom-up approach aimed at achieving Climate action through activities of similar centers that can provide insight into a country’s best practices and contribute in many ways to achieving the SDG 13 in Nigeria are suggested.
Highlights
Negative impacts of climate change on national economies, human lives, rates of migration and frequencies of extreme weather events are on the increase, globally (IPCC, 2001; Leary et al, 2008; IPCC, 2014)
Another policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria, contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) National Review document (FGN & UNICEF, 2017) that would greatly impact the SDG 13 goals is the policy on environmental sustainability which has been articulated in section 5.6 of the (Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP, date) with five stated objectives
In order to have a broader view of the causes, impacts and vulnerabilities of climate change and to align sectors to build resilience against adverse climate change, specific measures are adopted by the Anthony Nyong Climate Centre of Excellence (ANCCE)
Summary
Negative impacts of climate change on national economies, human lives, rates of migration and frequencies of extreme weather events are on the increase, globally (IPCC, 2001; Leary et al, 2008; IPCC, 2014). A major effort in this regard is the announcement by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), ordering about 9,000 filling stations across the country, to install facilities for gas products as an alternative fuel for Nigerians (Olisah, 2020) Another policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria, contained in the SDG National Review document (FGN & UNICEF, 2017) that would greatly impact the SDG 13 goals is the policy on environmental sustainability which has been articulated in section 5.6 of the (Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP, date) with five stated objectives. By virtue of its multiplier effects on other SDGs should be given prominence and placed at the top of the priorities of all SDG implementation agencies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
