Nigeria (Najeriya)

1. Introduction

Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, cutting across issues of agriculture and food security, water supply and variability, education, and violent conflicts.

In the words of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres: “The global threat of climate change and environmental degradation is poised to exacerbate the already increasing number of complex emergencies, which disproportionately affect women and girls. There is, therefore, an urgent need for better analysis and concrete, immediate actions to address the linkages between climate change and conflict from a gender perspective.” 1

Objective: The goal of this review is to determine the extent of women’s inclusion in the development and implementation of Nigeria’s NDC. 

2. Nigeria’s NDC: The feminist perspective

From water scarcity and school attendance to sanitation, air pollution, and vulnerability to extreme weather events, females suffer more from the effects of climate change because they are largely responsible for domestic chores. Prior to the Paris Agreement, Nigeria developed the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action for Climate Change Nigeria (NASPA-CCN) in 2011 and the Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy in 2012.

The INDC and updated interim NDC are reviewed under six major headings described below:

2.1 Emission Reduction

• Nigeria contributed less than 1% to global carbon emissions as of 2010, the INDC base year. Aside from the nation’s pledge of a non-conditional contribution of 20% reduction to emissions, the country also committed to conditional emission reductions to 45% of current levels by 2030 with international support majorly through increased level of energy efficiency and a significant reduction in the use of generators. 

• The INDC also had key targets of working towards ending gas flaring by 2030 with six major targets and it incorporates an improved electricity grid with climate-smart agriculture and reforestation.

• While Nigeria has an estimated emission per capita of around 2 tonnes CO2e, the INDC estimated that by 2030, the figure would have increased to around 3.4 tonnes CO2e in Business As Usual conditions. However, with conditional international support, the emissions may be reduced to around 2 tons CO2e, about the same value as the 2015 emissions. 

• Meanwhile, the interim updated NDC has 2018 as the new baseline year from 2010. Subsequently, the baselines have been modified from about 250 million tons CO2e (2010) to 350 million tons CO2e (2018). Similarly, the projected emission value for 2030 has been updated from the initial 900 million tons CO2e projected in the INDC to 453 million tons CO2e.

This reflects an ambitious move by the Nigerian government to further accelerate the reductions of emissions in Nigeria.

• The interim updated NDC also improved in the number of gases included in the report from the three most common gases: CO2, NH4, and NO2 to cover eleven pollutants which cover short-lived climate pollutants, greenhouse gases, and air pollutants.

2.2 Gender

• Nigeria’s INDC describes our adaptation priorities, reducing the vulnerability and enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of all economic sectors and of all people – particularly women, children, and resource-poor men – to the adverse impacts of climate change, while also capturing the opportunities that arise as a result of climate change.

• While none of the high-emitting sectors specifically mentioned women and girls, or females in their strategies, other policy documents formulated to support the implementation of the INDC such as the National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF 2014) which supports climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Nigeria’s agricultural sector identified as part of its strategic objectives “Reinforcing existing social safety nets through support systems that reduce vulnerability and improve living conditions for the vulnerable, especially women and children.” 2

• The measures included in Nigeria’s INDC are expected to deliver significant development benefits. The mitigation actions that bring the largest development benefit are reducing air pollution, indoors and outdoors, with enormous immediate health and social benefits. These actions affect more females than males as females are more involved in domestic chores and informal labour. 

• Considering the major sectors where emission reductions take place in the conditional contribution, the INDC identified that lack of energy to poor communities especially cost “poor Nigerians to pay a significant “poverty penalty” in order to meet their energy needs. They pay proportionately more for energy, spend more time acquiring fuels, and suffer the health impacts from poor fuel quality. This puts a significant brake on development and the empowerment of women in particular” as a tool for human capital development.3 

• Females were also considered in reducing the emission of short-lived pollutants and improving air quality as “those who rely on fuel wood and charcoal for cooking and heating, primarily women, are exposed to serious indoor air pollution.”4

• Section 4.2.8 of the INDC focuses on  access and inclusion where it identified that the “Gender impacts and Social inclusion of the women and youth, but also remote communities, still have less economic, political and legal clout than, for example, men and the urban middle class.” The section further acknowledged that “women benefit most from clean efficient cook stoves, gaining in health and in productive time where these are introduced. They however, have difficulty accessing financial institutions. Similarly, agricultural extension services have proven to reach more men than women.” 

• Across the thirteen sectoral strategies for the implementation of the INDC through the NASPA-CCN, no specific mention of women, girls, or females was made. 

• The INDC draws a connecting line between women, environmental justice, and social inclusion. However, there is no sufficient integration of gender and especially women’s concerns with a clear implementation strategy in the places women were referred to in the INDC. 

• The interim updated NDC brings a ray of hope as one of the aims of the update is to mainstream gender across all sectors based on the approved 2020 National Action Plan on Gender and Climate and eliminate kerosene lighting by 2030. In addition, in partnership with UNDP and other development partners, the NDC update will include a review of clean cooking solutions in Nigeria which will reduce indoor air pollution which affects mostly females’ health while mitigating climate change.

2.3 Youth

• Owing to the importance of children and young people in economic growth and tackling the climate crisis, the NDC outlined the provision of low-emitting energy sources to young people involved in manufacturing with financial support to offset the initial high capital outlay of undertaking such projects. 

• Noting that “women and youth, but also remote communities, still have less economic, political and legal clout than, for example, men and the urban middle class”, the INDC acknowledged intergenerational inclusion. It highlighted the increased vulnerability of young people to the effects of climate change. On the other hand, it also identifies that mitigation measures can “empower these groups that are socio-economically disadvantaged in a differentiated manner.”

• The interim updated NDC refers to the “assessment of green jobs in Nigeria”, a move that will benefit children and youth as they develop a climate-smart economy.

The INDC refers to the 2011 NASPA-CCN as the document recognizes the vulnerability of children to climate change and has as one of its strategies to “intensify immunization of children and youth to provide protection against diseases that are expected to become more prevalent with climate change”. The NASPA-CCN also provides a link between enhanced nutrition, local food production, children’s education, and reduced emissions. Recognizing education as a key component of adapting to climate change, NASPA-CCN supports a skills-based curriculum that will empower children to better respond to the threats of climate change.

2.4 Civil Society Inclusion 

• The general public and civil society are recognized in the INDC by leveraging on the thirteen sector-specific strategies of the NASPA-CCN. The objectives of these “are to reduce the impacts of climate change through adaptation measures that can be undertaken by the Federal, State and Local Governments, civil society, private sector, communities and individuals”.

Despite the huge contributions of NGOs and youth advocates to climate action in Nigeria, neither the NASPA-CCN nor INDC outlined any processes for involving the general public and civil society in climate change mitigation or advocacy. This has not in any way hampered the activities of environmental and climate activists in engaging in various forms of projects. Acknowledging the efforts of young people in subsequent NDCs would motivate a lot more young people, knowing that their efforts are included in the national climate policy.

2.5 Other climate solution considerations: The INDC and interim updated NDC broadly covers a number of perspectives aside from the gender focus among which are:

Mitigation:

• The INDC accentuated ambitious mitigation action as economically efficient and socially desirable for Nigeria, aside from the climate benefits it brings and pursues mitigation and adaptation potential in identified high-emitting sectors. 

• Also, in its Business as Usual emissions projections, the INDC states that some mitigation actions that bring the largest development benefit are reducing air pollution, indoors and outdoors, with enormous immediate health and social benefits. Secondly, it mentioned that innovation in “clean” technologies brings resource efficiency and produces more knowledge and jobs than those in conventional, fossil-fueled technologies. Thirdly, fiscal reform was declared an efficient mitigation action to fund investments in efficient infrastructure and other fiscal policies, thus creating jobs and fuelling growth. 

• The INDC however noted that the implementation of the full contribution is conditional on the availability of adequate financing for investment in the mitigation actions contained therein.

Adaptation:

• The importance of adaptation measures was stressed in the INDC, stating that Nigeria would incur significant adaptation costs from exacerbated climate change than by not undertaking adaptation measures. However, adaptation strategies were not explicitly stated. Rather, the INDC referred to the National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF 2014)  on implementing climate-smart agriculture, while drawing from the NASPA-CCN to enhance artisanal fisheries and encourage sustainable aquaculture as adaptation options for fishing communities under its freshwater, coastal, and fish resources plan to support biodiversity.

Technology:

• Nigeria’s conditional contribution relies on international support in the form of finance and investment, technology, and capacity building.

• In mitigation, the adoption of green technology in the industry and the use of the best available technology in manufacturing will reduce future fuel demands and emissions. In addition, in most cases, the use of best practice technology will lead to lower lifetime costs for the businesses involved.

Finance: The INDC outlined that the achievement of the NDC will be difficult without finance to:

• Provide access to improved seeds, fertilizer, and appropriate technologies, such as irrigation systems and finance, hampering the nation’s Nigeria’s food security.

• Activate micro-finance options for SME entrepreneurs.

• Expand highways to support climate-smart cities.

It also noted that finance and investment for NDC implementation can come from both public and private sources, including the Green Climate Fund and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, IFC, and AfDB after a review of Nigeria's climate finance readiness and gaps.

2.6 Climate Justice and Equity: 

• The INDC considered vulnerable populations in a number of contexts throughout the policy. Again, the INDC used the NASPA-CCN to bring to the fore the heightened vulnerability of poor people, rural populations, women, and children to the effects of climate change. However, two groups of acutely marginalized people – people with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS and internally displaced people were not explicitly mentioned in the INDC. Internally Displaced People (IDP), especially from the Northeast region of the country represent a critical group of people that should be given utmost priority in climate change programs and the region is the worst hit by the effects of climate change – deforestation, drought and violent conflicts which have ravaged the region, leading to so many deaths.

• While the mention of women and vulnerable populations in the strategies and action points for climate change in the INDC is indeed laudable and shows the move towards a just and equitable nation, more definite, actionable, and realistic goals need to be set for these more vulnerable groups.

• Furthermore, in supporting these groups, the constituents of the sub-groups should be adequately involved in the design, planning, and implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation of the strategies.  

Overall, the INDC relies heavily on other policy documents - NASPA-CCN, NARF, and NCCPRS for implementation strategies. While these documents have satisfied the purpose of their formulation, having a comprehensive NDC that has clear, achievable strategies in the primary document will provide a more robust document.

3. Recommendations

Following the analysis of the INDC and interim updated NDC, there is a need for the relevant stakeholders to:

1. Develop policies to address climate change that recognize gender-sensitive impacts, provide women with access to resources, and give them opportunities to participate in mitigation and adaptation processes.

2. Invest in education, technologies, and initiatives to enhance sustainable and renewable energy sources that reflect women’s knowledge, needs, and roles, while incorporating indigenous expertise and traditional practices.

3. Ensure female involvement, including indigenous women and grassroots groups, in climate change negotiations and resource management.

4. Ensure key decision-makers understand how environmental degradation and climate change affect women differently than men.

5. Include women in the creation of policies and strategies around environmental protection including disaster response; building resilience; securing land and inheritance rights, food, and resources; and ending energy poverty.

6. Ensure investment in and implementation of a gender-transformative approach to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

7. Improve agricultural extension efforts, agricultural inputs, subsidies, incentives, and training for women in climate-smart agriculture. Promote a gender-responsive approach to climate financing.

4. References Cited

1. www.undp.org Gender, Climate and Security, United Nations Development Programme

2. Nigeria’s INDC 2015. Page 14/Appendix 1

3. Nigeria’s INDC 2015. Page 16 INDC/Appendix 1

4. Nigeria’s Updated NDC. 2021

5. https://womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2019-10-D4G_Brief_ClimateChange.pdf – Women Deliver. Policy Brief – Invest in Women and girls to tackle climate change and conserve the environment