The Enugu State Government has launched its pioneering Climate Change Policy, Climate Action Plan and a Climate Manual for Schools at an event held in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, on Monday, March 17, 2025.
The event marked a crescendo in events leading to the official approval of the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), which was endorsed in January 2025 by the Government of Enugu State, led by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to serve as a template which will drive strategic momentum for climate action, and sustainable investment and development in Enugu State.
Delivering his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Enugu State, Professor Sam Ugwu, highlighted the effects of climate change on the environment, emphasising that Enugu State is at the forefront of combating climate change through the introduction of the Climate Policy and Action Plan, as well as the Climate Education Manual for schools.
“The climate policy and action plan will promote green investments and generate green jobs, while the climate manual will prepare future leaders to advocate for climate action,” he stated.
Professor Ugwu concluded by urging all participants to contribute to creating an environmentally sustainable Enugu State.
In his presentation, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, the Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, Project Lead and Coordinator for the Climate Policy and Action Plan, provided an overview of the methodologies employed in developing the policy document.
He noted that the analysis utilised historical data on climate change impacts from 1985 to date, incorporating energy modeling, economic modeling, and micro-counting techniques. Professor Okereke warned that if proactive measures are not taken, the agricultural sector will face the most severe consequences of climate change in the future as highlighted in the document.
In her remarks, the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, represented by Barrister Chidi Egeonu, emphasised that climate change is both a social and economic challenge that necessitates a collective response, urging that everyone must contribute to the effective execution of the policy and action plan.
In his goodwill message, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, represented by Pius Ezeugwu, referenced the 2015 Paris Agreement and the commitments of its signatories. He praised Enugu State for being at the forefront of subnational climate action, leading the way with the unveiling of three significant documents on the same day. He assured that the State House of Assembly would support the swift approval of legislation aimed at addressing climate change in Enugu State.
“We will ensure prompt approval of budget allocations that facilitate the fight against climate change,” he assured.
The event was also attended by several key stakeholders who praised the Climate Change Policy and Action Plan as a resourceful and timely document which will help to streamline Enugu State’s climate action and drive its sustainable economic growth.
The Director General of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, represented by Mr. Ayodeji Falemu, expressed the NCCCS’s openness to collaborate with the people of Enugu State on projects that promote climate activism. Dr. Maduekwe stated that the introduction of both the policy and action plan signifies Enugu State’s commitment for climate action and readiness to commence immediate implementation.
The Nigerian representative of the African Climate Foundation, Zira Quaghe, conveyed in his goodwill message that Enugu State is setting an example for other states to follow, and encouraged the full implementation of the policies and action plan.
In her goodwill message, the UNICEF Chief of field office Enugu State, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, noted that the policy document, along with the accompanying manual, are timely resources that will provide students with essential information regarding climate change.
Also adding her voice, Mrs. Joy Egolum, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Nigeria Breweries (East), highlighted that NBL is collaborating closely with the Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Environment to promote sustainable practices. She noted that the brewery sources 20% of its energy from solar power and currently generating 4 megawatts of electricity through solar energy, and that efforts are underway to promote good agricultural practices.
“We are enhancing an agricultural programme aimed at cultivating our raw materials within Nigeria, alongside initiatives to raise awareness about energy conservation,” she said.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, expressed gratitude to the project funders, the African Climate Foundation and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, for their support in financing the Climate Policy and Action Plan, and the Climate Manual for Schools respectively.
He emphasised that the climate policy and action plan would be incorporated into the state’s economic agenda, while the climate manual will be implemented in secondary schools throughout the state. He assured that the advancements in Enugu State under the current administration would prioritise environmental sustainability.
The Governor also urged development partners and researchers to explore the stranded assets in Enugu State, highlighting the region’s significant coal reserves and the necessity to identify alternative uses for coal that are environmentally friendly. He encouraged the people of Enugu to engage in tree planting.
“We must initiate efforts to restore Enugu’s greenery. For every tree cut down in Enugu State, we should plant 20,” he added.
In his closing remark, the secretary to the state government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stated that the Enugu State Government had already inaugurated an implementation team for the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), which will become visible in a matter of time.
The launch was attended by diverse stakeholders, including state and local government officials, academics, civil servants, private sector representatives, business owners, community leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners.
By Elochukwu Anieze, Senior Policy Analyst, SPP and Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Communication Specialist, SPP