Why Nigeria’s climate future may depend on lawyers

“The quality of [climate] governance will determine whether we succeed or fail in tackling the climate emergency. But the judicial system may become our weak link. We do not have strong lawyers representing Nigeria [in climate negotiations].” – Ewah Eleri, ICEED. There was a time when climate change was considered the business of scientists, environmentalists and weather forecasters. Lawyers rarely featured in the conversation. But in today’s world, where climate commitments are written into laws, budgets, contracts, regulations and international agreements, the lawyer has become as important as the scientist. And, specifically in Nigeria, after Nigeria’s Climate Change Act was signed into law in November 2021, the climate action dynamics have changed. Indeed, climate change is now a legal emergency. A fortnight ago, in Abuja, an unusual gathering took place. For five days, Nigerian lawyers sat together to deepen their understanding of the Climate Change Act and the intricate processes of international climate negotiations. The pre-UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies workshop was organized by the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development in partnership with the African Climate Foundation and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, bringing together lawyers, legal academics, climate policy experts, negotiators, government representatives, and development partners to strengthen legal expertise in climate governance and enhance Nigeria’s effectiveness in international climate negotiations. It is the gradual emergence of a legal army that could determine whether Nigeria’s climate ambitions remain mere aspirations or become reality. With Nigeria’s growing regional climate leadership, engagement in global climate governance and the implementation of the Climate Change Act, 2021; we need a highly skilled legal community capable of supporting climate policy implementation, climate litigation, regulatory development, carbon market governance, and international climate negotiations. Nigeria made history in 2021 when it enacted the Climate Change Act. It was a bold move, one that placed the country among the few African nations with a comprehensive legal framework for climate governance. The law established the National Council on Climate Change, set pathways for emissions reduction, and created obligations for public institutions to mainstream climate action into governance. However, as every Nigerian knows, passing a law is often the easiest part. Implementation is where the real battle begins. The Climate Change Act is now approaching its fifth