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ABSTRACT
Climate change refers to the alteration of the environment resulting from the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. This phenomenon has caused significant environmental damage not only in Nigeria but also in other parts of the world. In response to this global challenge, the Nigerian government enacted the Climate Change Act in 2021, to establish a legal framework for coordinating and streamlining efforts to mitigate climate change. The Act aims to reduce Nigeria's greenhouse gas emissions and sets a target of net-zero emissions by 2050-2070. The Act introduces a new administrative framework to oversee climate change initiatives in the country, establishes a fund to finance these initiatives, implements a carbon budgetary process, and sets mandatory GHG reduction targets to help Nigeria achieve its net zero goal. This essay adopts a doctrinal legal approach to explore the key statutory features of the Act and examines the potential impact of the Act on various sectors in Nigeria. This essay sheds light on the Act as a regulatory framework that is poised to bring about significant institutional transformations in the country.
The essay findings highlight that previous mitigation efforts in Nigeria have been largely ineffective, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive climate framework legislation like the Act. However, this research finds that even though the Act draws inspiration from the United Kingdom Climate Change Act, focusing on achieving a net-zero target and establishing an independent institution for climate-related matters, it falls short of the comprehensive nature of its UK counterpart.
This essay will contribute to knowledge by comparing the Act to similar climate framework legislation in advanced jurisdictions, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in amending the Act or developing future climate change laws.
