Stakeholders seek inclusive climate action

Stakeholders under the umbrella of the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA) have called for the establishment of an inclusive and people-centred climate justice system in Nigeria, as part of efforts to address the worsening impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. The call was made during the Alliance’s Strategic Action Plan Review and Coordination Workshop […]

Stakeholders under the umbrella of the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA) have called for the establishment of an inclusive and people-centred climate justice system in Nigeria, as part of efforts to address the worsening impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.

The call was made during the Alliance’s Strategic Action Plan Review and Coordination Workshop held in Abuja, where members drawn from civil society organisations, community groups, youth movements, researchers and media practitioners reviewed their 2026–2030 strategic framework.

Participants observed that climate change continues to intensify social and economic inequalities across Nigeria, disproportionately affecting frontline communities with the lowest resilience capacity.

They noted that rural populations, women, youth and persons with disabilities often face the harshest consequences of flooding, desertification, food insecurity and displacement.

According to stakeholders in the communique issued at the end of the workshop, economic hardship frequently forces vulnerable communities into livelihood practices such as deforestation and unsustainable resource extraction, which further aggravate environmental degradation and trap them in a cycle of vulnerability.

They stressed that without deliberate interventions rooted in justice and equity, climate action risks sidelining the very communities it seeks to protect.

Stakeholders advocated for a transition toward community-led, justice-based climate solutions that address the structural causes of inequality. They emphasized that climate governance must move beyond policy rhetoric to practical frameworks that centre local voices in planning, implementation and monitoring processes.

Participants also highlighted the need to integrate gender inclusivity and disability considerations into climate programming to ensure no group is left behind.

“True climate justice must prioritize those most affected and empower them to shape the solutions,” participants noted during the deliberations.

The workshop further identified weak coordination among civil society actors as a major barrier to effective climate advocacy. Stakeholders agreed that improved collaboration is essential to strengthen collective influence on climate policy and enhance equitable access to climate finance.

To address these gaps, participants resolved to reinforce governance and accountability structures within the Alliance and establish functional committees focused on advocacy, resource mobilisation, knowledge sharing and coordination.

They also committed to developing a joint action roadmap with clear timelines and responsibilities to guide implementation.

The stakeholders urged government institutions, development partners, the private sector and the media to support inclusive, transparent and community-driven climate action in Nigeria.

They maintained that building an inclusive climate justice system is not only an environmental imperative but also a socio-economic necessity for achieving sustainable development and protecting the rights and livelihoods of Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.