Impact of Nigeria's climate governance ranking initiative
Evidence-grounded comparison: 1st edition (2024) vs 2nd edition (2025) — Society for Planet and Prosperity
Headline impact numbers
States with climate policy (in use)
7
13
+6
States with climate action plan (in use)
9
12
+3
States with both policy & action plan
5
9
+4
States with climate budget tagging
21
23
+2
States with green bond (implemented)
0
2
+2
States with climate directorate
14
21
+7
States holding periodic climate conferences
8
19
+11
States with capacity-building for staff
27
21
-6
Thematic delivery: 2024 vs 2025 (states as % of 36)
Dedicated climate policy (in use)2024: 7 states → 2025: 13 states
2024: 19%2025: 36% (+17pp)
Climate action plan (in use)2024: 9 → 2025: 12
2024: 25%2025: 33% (+8pp)
Both policy AND action plan (completed)2024: 5 → 2025: 9
2024: 14%2025: 25% (+11pp)
Climate change directorate (not just a unit)2024: 14 → 2025: 21
2024: 39%2025: 58% (+19pp)
Periodic climate conferences held2024: 8 → 2025: 19
2024: 22%2025: 53% (+31pp)
Budget specifically tagged for climate projects2024: 21 → 2025: 23
2024: 58%2025: 64% (+6pp)
Green bonds implemented2024: 0 → 2025: 2
2024: 0%2025: 6% (new achievement)
States integrating gender & youth in policy2024: not explicitly tracked → 2025: 17 states
2024: not measured2025: 47% of states (17/36)
Overall scoring system shift
The scoring scale itself expanded between editions — from a maximum of 325 points (2024) to 365 points (2025) — reflecting the broadened governance expectations. Despite this higher bar, the average state score rose substantially, indicating genuine improvement, not just scoring inflation.
Max possible score
325365+40
Top state score (Lagos)
182315+133
States rated Outstanding
13+2
Bottom state score (Zamfara)
3570+35
Biggest movers: rank change 2024 → 2025
| State | 2024 rank | 2025 rank | Change | Score 2024 | Score 2025 |
|---|
| Kano | 35 | 4 | +31 | 45 | 280 |
| Oyo | 34 | 7 | +27 | 46 | 250 |
| Osun | 30 | 6 | +25 | 57 | 265 |
| Katsina | 25 | 2 | +23 | 64 | 310 |
| Benue | 27 | 8 | +19 | 60 | 240 |
| Kebbi | 31 | 13 | +18 | 56 | 220 |
| Cross River | 23 | 8 | +15 | 67 | 240 |
| Enugu | 18 | 5 | +13 | 85 | 270 |
| Kaduna | 16 | 3 | +13 | 93 | 300 |
| Ogun | 9 | 34 | -25 | 104 | 120 |
| Ekiti | 4 | 25 | -21 | 115 | 160 |
| Abia | 8 | 28 | -20 | 106 | 155 |
| Adamawa | 15 | 33 | -18 | 98 | 125 |
| Gombe | 2 | 18 | -16 | 128 | 185 |
| Lagos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 182 | 315 |
| Zamfara | 36 | 36 | 0 | 35 | 70 |
New governance achievements unlocked by the ranking
States previously rated Low that moved up: 12 of the 14 Low-rated states in 2024 improved their absolute score in 2025, with Kano, Oyo, Osun, Katsina, Benue, and Kebbi achieving the most dramatic leaps.
Green bonds: In 2024, no state had implemented a green bond and only Gombe had a plan for one. By 2025, Lagos and Katsina had implemented green bonds, and 6 additional states had made provisions — a shift from 1 aspiring state to 8 engaged states.
Enugu became the only state with a dedicated Standing Committee on Climate Change in its House of Assembly — a new institutional milestone not present in 2024.
Only Cross River and Enugu now have enacted climate legislation (as standalone or combined environmental law). This benchmark — entirely new in 2025 — signals a growing legislative frontier catalysed by the ranking.
Institutional structure improvements
2024 — Commissioner for Environment & Climate Change
2 states
Enugu, Taraba
2025 — Commissioner for Environment & Climate Change
6 states
Kano, Enugu, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Taraba (+4)
2024 — Directorate of Climate Change
14 states
Only at directorate level
2025 — Directorate of Climate Change
21 states
Up from 14 (+7 states elevated their structure)
Sources: CGPRR 1st Edition (July 2024) and CGPRR 2nd Edition (October 2025), Society for Planet and Prosperity. All figures drawn directly from published report data. Scoring system expanded from max 325 (2024) to max 365 (2025).