By
Okpala-Akonobi Blessing
Anadi Ngozi
Abstract
This study critically examines the environmental effects of Nigeria’s climate change regulations, assessing how effectively existing legal and policy frameworks address the complex challenges posed by climate change. Nigeria faces heightened environmental and socio-economic vulnerability due to rapid industrialization, dependence on fossil fuels, and weak infrastructure. The article evaluates Nigeria’s compliance with international climate obligations, particularly under the Paris Agreement, and analyses key national frameworks such as the Climate Change Act and the National Policy on Climate Change. It highlights enforcement challenges, including limited institutional capacity, political resistance, and corruption that hinder effective climate governance. The research assesses how climate regulations affect critical sectors such as agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, examining their influence on land use, industrial processes, biodiversity, water resources, and public health. Socioeconomic dimensions, including implications for poverty reduction, social equity, and economic development, are also explored, noting the opportunities and constraints posed by a transition to a low-carbon economy in a resource-dependent state. A major focus is the judiciary’s evolving role in interpreting and enforcing climate-related environmental laws. By reviewing landmark cases, the study underscores the courts’ capacity to hold both government and private actors accountable for environmental harm. It further considers the contributions of non-state actors, community groups, NGOs, and the private sector in shaping climate policy and advocating stronger environmental protections. The article finds that while Nigeria’s regulatory frameworks offer important pathways for climate governance, significant gaps remain. The article suggests a more integrated, inclusive, and justice-oriented approach to climate policy as a means of balancing environmental sustainability with national development needs.