Nigeria is one of the countries expected to be most affected by the impacts of climate change. through sea level rise along our 800 km long coast line, intensified desertification , erosion and flooding disasters and general land degradation. One prediction is that 'Nigeria will lose close to $9 billion as a result of the catastrophe while, at least, 80 per cent of the inhabitants of the Niger Delta will be displaced due to the low level of the oil-rich region. ..' (Guardian, Monday September 17,2001, p.80).
As Nigeria's economy improves, its per capita greenhouse gas emissions may approach those of the developed nations of the world today. This, combined with continued gas flaring and a large population, will further worsen Nigeria' s standing as a key emitter of greenhouse gases globally.
The Project
The Canada-Nigeria Climate Change Capacity Development Project is an initiative of Global Change Strategies International Inc. (GCSI) of Canada and the Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST). It is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with the goal of contributing to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria to respond to climate change and participate in global efforts to combat the problem.
The project focused on capacity building initiatives that assess the risks evolving from climate change, determine options for managing the risks and strengthen institutional capacities to ensure implementation of recommended measures.
To achieve these objectives, strong public and political support is required. This support was built through targeted public information and consultation efforts, at a level not yet undertaken by any agency in Nigeria.
Hence, the project focused activity in four areas:
- Strengthening Capacities of Federal Institutions
- Targeted Public Awareness Raising: Building Support for Climate Change Action
- Inventory and Mitigation Activities -with a focus on pilot projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
- Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment.
Strategy
The project which was coordinated in Nigeria by NEST, with technical assistance from GCSI. For 24 months, a range of activities were undertaken, building on previous success and experience, and integrating with complementary activities under way in Nigeria. As well, the project conducted workshops with targeted groups to cover the ecological zones, national policy makers, state governments, environmental non- governmental organizations (ENGOs), and donor agencies in the country. The educational activities were designed to develop a broad base of interest and build support for a national climate change action plan.
To sustain the initiatives the Project work through three collaborating focal points:
- Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD) at the Obafemi Awolowo University, lie Ife.
- National Climate Change Centre, Federal University of Technology, Minna;
- Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
Also, significant effort were made to use the resources of the project to plan for and propose activities that can be funded by other agencies beyond the life of the project.
Outputs
The Project supported delivery of the following:
- A draft of Nigeria' s First National Communications to the UNFCCC, including a National Plan of Action, with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
- A draft climate change policy, integrating domestic and international perspectives and issues, with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
- Communications tools (websites, networks) on climate change for use in Nigeria.
- A federal Ministry of Environment Climate Change Business Plan
- Estimates on annual GHG emissions for the period 1994 to 1998
- Improved estimates of earlier reported inventories and better archival and retrieval systems for inventory data.
- Mitigation options for CO2, C~ and N2O in major sectors and sub-sectors.
- Learning opportunities for a new generation of Nigerians on inventory and mitigation assessment.
- Proposals for GHG emissions reductions, including CDM in several sectors and pilot CDM projects to demonstrate the workability of the CDM mechanism in Nigeria.
- A domestic CDM implementation strategy for Nigeria; better baseline data and benchmarks for CDM projects; an internet website devoted to CDM and other mitigation and adaptation projects in Nigeria; and a mechanism to link investors to project opportunities.
- Documentation of Nigeria's climate change vulnerabilities by sectors and sub-sectors; and priorities for adaptation plan, with project portfolios in several sectors for increased adaptation to climate change.
Expected Impact
The project developed an improved understanding of climate change science, the UNFCCC and Nigeria's obligations on behalf of the nation, the states and local governments. This was to identify and remove the barriers to effective implementation of climate change policies and programmes.
