Amidst the growing global momentum for climate action, countries around the world have increasingly adopted climate change laws, driven by the evolving landscape of international treaties and an understanding of the role national policies play in addressing environmental issues. As a signatory to major climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement, Nigeria has been an active participant in shaping global climate policies. Notably, at the more recent COP 26 conference in Scotland, Nigeria submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), pledging ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and committing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. 

In response to these international commitments, Nigeria enacted the Climate Change Act in 2021, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at tackling the nation’s climate challenges. In this article, Samuel Iwuchukwu evaluates the Nigerian Climate Change Act (CCA) 2021, assessing its key provisions, and exploring the compliance obligations it places on the different sectors of the economy and how they impact oil and gas operations in the Country. By examining the implementation of the Act, the article further provides a detailed look into the evolving legal landscape shaping Nigeria’s energy and environmental sustainability future.