Climate Experts Applaud Nigeria’s NDCs 3.0

By Edu Abade

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Climate crusaders and environmental activists have passed a vote of confidence on Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0, describing it as a step in the right direction.

They stated this at the National Stakeholders’ NDC 3.0 Validation Workshop organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in Abuja to present an update of Nigeria’s NDCs in preparation for the National Executive’s approval and eventual submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on August 27, 2025, with stakeholders from across multiple sectors as a hybrid engagement.
Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, Mrs. Varsha Redkar-Palepu, who was at the event, described the NDC 3.0 as sharper in emission reduction target and deeper in integration of critical segments of the society including the youth, women and sub-national voices.

Redkar-Palepu explained that Nigeria’s journey through NDC 1.0 and 2.0 has laid a strong foundation for its realization, pointing out that the validation of Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 is a pivotal moment and a milestone that reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to climate action and its leadership in shaping a sustainable future for Africa and the world.

She maintained that although Africa contributes the least to global emissions, the continent remains disproportionately vulnerable to climate shocks, adding that it is also a continent of immense potential with rich natural resources, youthful energy and innovative spirit. Even with this, she stressed that Nigeria, as the largest economy and most populous nation in Africa, carries a unique responsibility and opportunity to lead by example.

Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, Ibrahim Abdullahi Shelleng, said the third version of the NDC is designed to respond to the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, builds on lessons learned, identifies where there is need to do more and sets a clear pathway for stronger mitigation and adaptation action across Nigeria’s economy.

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He maintained that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria remains committed to inclusive growth, economic transformation and social development-objectives that align seamlessly with our environmental and climate goals.

“As we unveil and deliberate on Nigeria’s NDC 3.0, it is important to underscore that this document is not just a climate commitment-it is a developmental blueprint. It reflects our national priorities in energy transition, agriculture, waste management, and resilient infrastructure, all of which are central pillars of the Tinubu administration’s policy direction,” Shelleng stated.

In his opening remarks, Director-General of NCCC, Barrister Teni Majekodunmi, urged global partners, particularly developed countries to honour their commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, particularly in the areas of technology transfer and support for innovation in developing countries.

Majekodunmi stressed the importance of localizing innovation by building the capacity of Nigerian entrepreneurs, researchers, and start-ups to develop technologies suitable to the nation’s climate realities.

Also speaking at the event, a conservation expert, Yakubu Kolo, who said that the states hold a crucial role in both design and implementation, called for access to climate finance for all states of Nigeria.

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Kolo, who is Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change in Niger State, acknowledged that the process of developing NDC 3.0 has shown committed efforts to course-correct and be inclusive, participatory, and people-centered.

He noted that Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 must set clear ambition that reflects leadership, embed stronger adaptation strategies and ensure financing is both practical and accessible to states.

He affirmed that the NDC must be ambitious, inclusive, and credible, and must reflect the important contributions of the subnational as the burden bearer of climate change vulnerabilities.

Those who attended the workshop included representatives from UNDP, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Youth Constituency, German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), United Nation Women, Global Disability Green Initiatives (GDGI), International Labour Organization (ILO), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).