Following the successful release of the second subnational climate ranking, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, has taken another noteable step to strengthen subnational climate governance in Nigeria.
As part of its COP30 climate activities, SPP convened a strategic meeting between the Under2 Coalition Secretariat and senior state-level climate officials from across the country to discuss how to amplify the voice of Nigerian subnational actors at the global space as well as how to enable states to attract more finance to fund ambitious climate action.
The roundtable brought together Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director and Ms. Dolapo John of the DCC; Champa Patel and Toby Walker of the Climate Group, Under2 Secretariat; as well as representatives from Nigeria subnational: Engr Galadima, Director General, Green Initiative Project, Niger State; Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Musa, Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Environment; Mr Olamide Lawal, SA, Climate Change, Ogun State; Dr Dahir Hashim, Commissioner, Min of Environment and Climate Change, Kano; Professor Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, DG and Special Envoy, Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Osun State; and the facilitator, Gboyega Olorunfemi, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP).
With over 270 members, the Under2 Coalition largest global network of states and regions committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 – at the latest.
The Under2 Secretariat’s delegation made clear that Nigeria’s states represent major frontiers for climate action, both because of their large populations and because they shoulder the frontline impacts of extreme weather, deforestation, and energy transition challenges.
Champa Patel recalled the impact that some states such as Taraba and Cross River have had in previous international climate events including the June climate meetings in Bonn and the Africa Climate Week in Addis Ababa and stressed that the coalition is keen to work with SPP and the DCC to ensure that state governments have the visibility, coordination, and access they need to enter the “right rooms” at international summits.
Patel underscored that Under2 is increasingly shifting its focus toward technical assistance and financing support that will enable states to undertake feasibility studies, prepare bankable proposals, and access blended finance through international finance institutions.
She said that there will be series of investment dialogues planned through 2026, culminating in the launch of Global State and Regional Finance Accelerator to be showcased at COP31. This accelerator aims to match state-level climate projects with private and institutional capital that will provide a significant opportunity for Nigerian states seeking to scale renewable energy infrastructure, early-warning systems, adaptation solutions, and emissions-reduction pathways.
“We are excited about what is happening in Nigeria,” Patel said, “but we simply do not hear enough about it.”
Abiola-Awe echoed this sentiment, noting her Nigerian states are championing several innovations in climate governance (as shown through the recent ranking results) which other countries could copy. She also highlighted recent efforts to coordinate subnational climate governance in Nigeria including the inauguration of a Community of Practice (CoP) for all Commissioners of Environment supported by PACE, UK FCDO, during the launch of the 2nd edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states and a nationwide capacity-building programme for directors, and climate change desk officers on GHG emissions reporting, Monitoring and evaluation and climate finance facilitated by SPP.
Dr. Abiola-Awe pointed out that these platforms are not only ready for expansion across the rest of Africa and Global South but also can serve as entry points for deeper collaboration with the Under2 Coalition, especially for Special Advisers, Directors-General, and state envoys working on climate change and sustainable development.
With global financing frameworks increasingly recognising the role of subnational governments, Nigeria’s states stand on the edge of new opportunities. The strengthened relationship between the DCC, SPP, and the Under2 Secretariat offer great potential to unlock the visibility, coordination, and financing needed by the Nigerian subnational while ensuring that Nigeria’s climate leadership is felt not only nationally, but across global climate platforms in the years ahead.
In his closing remarks, Gboyega Olorunfemi, Project Lead, SPP, who facilitated the meeting, thanked all participants for attending the meeting at short notice. He emphasised that Nigeria’s climate ambition, particularly at the state level, will advance more rapidly when global coalitions like Under2 have clear, direct, and institutionalised channels to work with local actors.
By Gboyega Olorunfemi, Project Lead / Senior Policy Analyst, SPP, and Dolapo John, Subnational Desk, DCC, Belem, Brazil