A CALL TO CLIMATE ACTION AND A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

Pa. Lewis, an elder, in one of his stories by moonlight, spoke of how the water was filled with healthy fishes, how the air was filled with life, no industries, no pollution, just pure air from plants and trees. He spoke of how the rainforests were treasured and how there were trees here and there. Beautiful creatures and a lovely green environment. He said we couldn’t really resonate with all he said. He said “Kids, you missed earth at its purest form. The world is heating up and we’re paying for the changes we didn’t make”. He told us the seasons are now difficult to identify and predict. Where did it all go wrong? And what can we do to sustain our environment? Present-day climate change includes both global warming, the ongoing increase in global average temperature and its wider effects on Earth’s climate system. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “Climate change” means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Climate Change is the defining issue of our time. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today and legal backings , adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly. 

The World Meteorological Organisation reports record-breaking temperature in 2024 as there was dangerous heat added to the globe, with a significant increase in days of extreme heat affecting human health and ecosystems. Increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, including floods and wildfires, are already impacting every region on Earth.  

As at 24 September 2025, Floods in South Asia, wildfires across North America, and record-breaking heat in Europe have underscored what scientists have warned for years: climate change is escalating faster than the political response. Against this backdrop, the UN Secretary-General is holding a climate summit during the high-level week of the General Assembly, pressing nations to raise their climate pledges ahead of November’s UN climate conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.

WMO on 18 September 2025 reported that the world’s water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies involving the life-giving resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods. 

A call for climate action and a more sustainable environment is an important issue. This is a reason for which it is part of the Sustainable Development Goals as SDG 13. The United Nations Global Goal to limit and adapt to climate change. It is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The official mission statement of this goal is to “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” 

SDG 13 has five targets which are to be achieved by 2030. They cover a wide range of issues surrounding climate action. The first three targets are outcome targets. The first target is to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity towards climate change-related disasters. The second target is to integrate climate change measures into policies and planning. The third target is to build knowledge and capacity. The remaining two targets are means of implementation targets. 

As a result of climate change and environmental degradation, different policies and laws have been put in place to ensure a sustainable environment for all.The 2020 UN World Water Development Report focuses on the challenges that can be addressed through improving water management. Combining climate change adaptation and mitigation, through water, is a win-win proposal, improving the provision of water supply and sanitation services and combating both the causes and impacts of climate change, including disaster risk reduction. 

According to the book The 2035 Report: Plummeting Solar, Wind, and Battery Costs Can Accelerate Our Clean Electricity Future, by Sonia Aggarwal and Mike O’Boyle, Most studies aim for deep decarbonization of electric power systems by 2050, but this report shows, with the latest renewable energy and battery cost data, that we can get there in half that time. The U.S. can achieve 90% clean, carbon-free electricity nationwide by 2035, dependably, at no extra cost to consumers, and without new fossil fuel plants. On the path to 90% over the next 15 years, we can inject $1.7 trillion into the economy, support a net increase of more than 500K energy sector jobs each year, and reduce economy-wide emissions by 27%. This future also retires all existing coal plants by 2035, reduces natural gas generation by 70%, and prevents up to 85,000 premature deaths by 2050. But without robust policy reforms, this future will be lost.

On the 20th of September 2025, A landmark UN treaty to safeguard marine biodiversity on the high seas has now met the required 60 ratifications for entry into force, clearing the way for it to take effect in January 2026. 

New national climate plans unveiled at high-level summit on the 24th of September ahead of COP30 conference. From accelerating the move to clean energy to planting acres of trees, leaders from nearly 100 countries announced or reiterated new national climate action plans during a meeting on Wednesday as part of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly. The International Union of Conservation of Nature in an article released 28 March 2022 says that Nigeria’s 2021 climate change Act provides for an ambitious framework for mainstream climate actions in line with national development priorities. 

Environmental law development in Nigeria has been evident in Strengthening Environmental Regulations for the Oil and Gas Industry. In line with the constitutional powers of the National Assembly to make laws for the good governance of the Nigerian state, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was enacted in 2021 to regulate the oil and gas industry activities and ensure environmental protection 

Also, promoting renewable energy and clean technology in Nigeria is crucial for addressing the country’s energy needs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable development. Nigeria has abundant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, which, if harnessed effectively, can contribute significantly to its energy mix. National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP): provides a framework for the promotion and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nigeria. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Regulations and Guidelines is the regulatory body for the electricity sector in Nigeria and has issued various regulations and guidelines related to renewable energy. The Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) is a bilateral partnership between the Nigerian and German governments that supports the implementation of the Nigerian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy. The Renewable Electricity Action Program (REAP) is an initiative aimed at promoting renewable electricity generation in Nigeria. The National Policy on Climate Change outlines Nigeria’s approach to addressing climate change issues, including promoting clean and renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act is responsible for enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and standards in Nigeria. It plays a significant role in waste management and environmental protection. The National Policy on Solid Waste Management provides a framework for the effective management of solid waste in Nigeria, including waste collection, disposal, and recycling initiatives. This policy specifically encourages the circular economy. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Framework holds producers responsible for the end-of-life disposal of their products. It aims to promote recycling and reduce waste. The Plastic Waste Management Policy was made to manage plastic waste effectively, with a focus on reducing plastic pollution and promoting recycling. The National Strategy for the Implementation of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Nigeria has established a legal framework encompassing laws and regulations that promote conservation and protect its valuable biodiversity. NESREA was established to enforce compliance with environmental laws, regulations, and standards in Nigeria. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that activities impacting biodiversity comply with relevant environmental regulations. Laws like the National Parks Service Act and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act provide a legal framework for the conservation and protection of wildlife in Nigeria. 

Although these legal policies, acts, laws and agencies have been put in place there are still some challenges faced. These challenges are in various forms. For instance, it is difficult to directly link a specific defendant’s actions to climate change harms, and establishing legal standing (the right to sue) can be challenging. Courts often view climate change as a political issue reserved for the legislative or executive branches, limiting judicial intervention and creating barriers to litigation, particularly in the U.S. 

Laws may be missing, outdated, or inadequately enforced, especially in certain regions and even with clear laws, effective implementation is hindered by poor coordination among government agencies, lack of resources, and weak monitoring mechanisms. Also, gaps in knowledge and information can lead to delayed projects and a failure to integrate sustainability principles.Climate change policies often fail to identify or secure funding sources necessary for their implementation, making it difficult to achieve goals.

All these laws may also be put in place but the implementation becomes a problem. Weak public involvement in policy formulation and implementation hinders the overall success of climate change responses 

What then is the way forward? 

Transition to Renewable Energy: A rapid shift from fossil fuels to sources like solar and wind power is crucial for cutting emissions from the power sector. 

Energy Efficiency: Policies should promote and incentivize greater energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and appliances to reduce overall energy consumption. Sustainable Transportation: Encouraging green transportation options, such as electric vehicles and improved public transport, can significantly lower emissions from the transport sector.

Sustainable Land Use: Policies that support sustainable agriculture, prevent deforestation, and restore forests and other ecosystems help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Waste Management and Circular Economy: Improving waste management systems and promoting circular economy principles (reduce, reuse, repair, recycle) can decrease emissions from waste and the overproduction of goods. 

Green Technologies and Innovation: Investing in and deploying new green technologies across various industries can drive down emissions and contribute to long-term climate goals. Policy Integration: Climate policies need to be integrated into broader national and local planning, including considerations for adapting to climate change and financing these adjustments. 

In conclusion, climate change is a large issue that affects the earth at the moment. Environmental laws are put in place to ensure that the earth in its beauty is conserved. If these policies are judiciously followed. The earth will become a safer space. When we move from carbon emitting machines to a safer option. The environment is cleaner, safer and green. It’s become good for both humans and animals and less polluted.

REFERENCE(S)/ CITATIONS. 

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Article 1. Definitions. Climate change and United Nation- UN research guide. 

World Meteorological Organisation: Climate change impact grips globe in 2024- 30, Dec. 2024 The Climate condition: Michael Svoboda August 19, 2020 

Climate and Environment: United Nations News- United Nations. September 2025. IEA, IRENA, UNSD, WB, WHO (2019), Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2019, Washington DC (on Tracking SDG 7 website) 

United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Bartram, Jamie; Brocklehurst, Clarissa; Bradley, David; Muller, Mike; Evans, Barbara (December 2018) 

The 2035 Report: Plummeting Solar, Wind, and Battery Costs Can Accelerate Our Clean Electricity Future, by Sonia Aggarwal and Mike O’Boyle (Goldman School of Public Policy 2020, 37 pages 

Comparative analysis of Climate Change law in Nigeria- SCIRP Open Access. Role and Challenges of Environmental and Resource Protection Law in Addressing Climate Change- ResearchGate 9, April 2025 

What are in solutions to Climate change?- NRDC- 13 Dec 2022 

Credible Pathway to catch up with Climate Goal in Nigeria – MDPI 

UNDP Climate Promise: What is climate change mitigation and why is it urgent?- February 29, 2024