Climate Change Act 2021 (CCA 2021)

An Act establishes legally binding obligations for climate action across Nigeria's national governance systems. It mandates all tiers of government and high-emission sectors to integrate climate considerations into planning and budgeting. This framework guides the country toward achieving long-term net-zero emissions goals.

What Is This Policy?

The Climate Change Act 2021 is Nigeria's landmark legislation that mainstreams climate change response into the country's national governance and planning systems — establishing legally binding obligations on all tiers of government to integrate climate action into budgeting, planning, and policy-making, with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

Who Does It Target?

All Federal, State, and Local Government authorities — with mandatory climate integration obligations The private sector — particularly high-emission industries in energy, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing Climate-vulnerable communities in coastal zones, the North-East, and Niger Delta Development partners, multilateral institutions, and international climate finance bodies

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Achieve low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development in line with Nigeria's NDCs Pursue net-zero emissions by 2060 — in line with the Paris Agreement's long-term temperature goal Mainstream climate change considerations into Nigeria's annual budget cycle, all MDAs' activities, and all three tiers of government Facilitate access to international climate finance (Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, global carbon markets)

Key Features

Presidential Council on Climate Change: Highest-level inter-ministerial body chaired by the President; sets national climate priorities and coordinates cross-government action Climate Change Action Plans: Mandatory 5-year national climate plans aligned with NDCs; all MDAs required to produce sectoral climate action plans National Carbon Budget: Establishes a national carbon budget — a cap on GHG emissions — reviewed every five years to drive progressive emission reductions Climate Fund: Nigeria Climate Change Fund established to receive and deploy domestic and international climate finance Mandatory Reporting: All ministries and companies above a specified size must report climate-related risks and emission data annually Local Government Inclusion: First Nigerian law to place climate action obligations on LGAs — recognising sub-national importance in adaptation and mitigation

Current Status

In force. The Climate Change Act 2021 was signed into law on 18 November 2021 and the National Council on Climate Change and the Climate Change Fund are being operationalised.

Legal Framework

Paris Agreement 2015; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 2021; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999