Kaduna Climate Policy Will Tackle Environmental Challenges, Boost Resilience – FCDO-PACE
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
In a decisive step towards addressing the intensifying climate crisis, Kaduna State has unveiled a comprehensive Climate Change Policy (2024–2028) aimed at fostering a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
The policy was introduced during a two-day technical session on climate governance held in Zaria, jointly organized by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The session was supported through the FCDO-funded Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) programme.
The event brought together Climate Change Desk Officers from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, civil society organizations, and environmental experts and the media.
Participants identified unregulated charcoal production as a growing threat to forest ecosystems and a major contributor to climate vulnerability in rural communities across Kaduna State.
Presenting an overview of the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy, Ashiru Sani, the State Team Lead for FCDO-PACE, underscored the importance of the policy in addressing the multifaceted impacts of climate change.
He noted that the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy marks a transformative shift in the state’s environmental governance and demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainable development.
“Kaduna State is now on the path to becoming a sub-national leader in climate action. This policy will enable the state to build institutional and community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with national and global climate frameworks,” Sani said.
He explained that the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy (2024–2028) envisions “a low-carbon and climate-resilient Kaduna State” and sets out a mission “to ensure sustainable and equitable development in a climate-resilient environment.”
According to him, the policy articulates seven strategic objectives, including promoting low-carbon development, strengthening adaptive capacities, supporting scientific research, integrating climate goals into development planning, and empowering vulnerable groups such as women and youth.
Kaduna State, like many parts of northern Nigeria, is already grappling with the effects of climate change; rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events such as floods and droughts have placed pressure on agriculture, water resources, public health, and rural livelihoods.
The policy outlines key climate challenges, such as Soil erosion and desertification, deforestation and biodiversity loss, water scarcity, health risks, displacement of populations and increased vulnerability of farming communities.
“These challenges, according to the policy, demand a coordinated and inclusive response that goes beyond environmental management to encompass economic planning and social protection,” Ashiru stated.
Sani noted that the policy is structured around three interconnected pillars: Mitigation, Adaptation, and Cross-Cutting Strategies.
Under Mitigation, he said the state plans to scale up renewable energy deployment particularly solar and wind to improve energy efficiency in buildings, expand reforestation efforts, promote sustainable transport, and enhance solid waste management to reduce methane emissions.
“The Adaptation component includes climate vulnerability assessments, integration of adaptation measures into local planning, improved early warning systems, diversification of rural livelihoods, and climate-resilient infrastructure such as dams and rural road networks.
“The Cross-Cutting Strategies emphasize public awareness, climate education, gender-sensitive action, the promotion of traditional ecological knowledge, and the use of data and technology in decision-making,” he said.
The policy places a strong emphasis on robust institutional mechanisms and governance reforms. It seeks to align state actions with the National Climate Change Policy and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Establish multi-stakeholder coordination platforms,
Promote active participation from communities, civil society, and the private sector, enact climate-responsive laws and ensure enforcement and uphold transparency, equity, and accountability.
The policy also revealed the State Government is exploring diverse financing options. These include tapping into domestic budget allocations, securing international climate finance through platforms like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), and leveraging public-private partnerships.
One of the policy’s key innovations is the proposed Kaduna State Climate Fund, designed to serve as a dedicated vehicle for managing and mobilizing financial resources for climate interventions.
The policy incorporates a Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MERL) framework to track implementation progress. This includes the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), regular impact assessments, and the integration of climate indicators into local development planning processes.
Ashiru reiterated the need for all stakeholders to work collectively to achieve the policy’s ambitions.
“Climate change is no longer a future threat, it is a current crisis. Kaduna must act decisively and inclusively to protect its people and its natural heritage. This policy is our roadmap,” he said.
The Kaduna State Climate Change Policy (2024–2028) not only responds to the urgent realities of climate change but also positions the state as a proactive leader in climate governance within Nigeria.
With its emphasis on innovation, equity, and sustainability, the policy sets a new benchmark for how states can engage with the global climate agenda while safeguarding local livelihoods and ecosystems.
