Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has inaugurated a 29-member committee to implement the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), marking another major stride in his administration’s climate leadership agenda.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Friday at the Government House, Governor Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the initiative underscores his administration’s unwavering commitment to addressing the global climate crisis through local solutions and sustainable development strategies.
He explained that the ESCPAP, launched on March 17, 2025, provides a comprehensive framework to promote low-carbon economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience against climate impacts.
“This plan positions Enugu as a leading subnational player in climate governance and sustainability across Africa,” Mbah said.
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According to the governor, the newly inaugurated committee will provide strategic oversight, coordination, and technical guidance for the effective implementation of the state’s climate policy.
“The committee will ensure the successful delivery of climate mitigation, adaptation, finance mobilisation, and monitoring in line with state, national, and global climate commitments,” he stated.
Outlining its core responsibilities, Mbah said the team would drive sectoral coordination across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs); strengthen climate governance; mobilise climate finance through green bonds, carbon markets, and development partnerships; and monitor progress through a results-based framework.
Under the mitigation component, the committee will promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon transport systems such as electric and CNG vehicles, sustainable waste management, afforestation, and climate-smart agriculture.
For adaptation and resilience, it will conduct vulnerability assessments, develop local adaptation plans, and implement nature-based solutions for erosion and flood control. The committee will also promote clean cooking technologies, climate-smart infrastructure, and resilient livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
On governance and inclusion, Mbah said the committee would mainstream climate actions across all state policies while integrating gender, youth, and disability considerations. It will also intensify climate education, capacity building, and public awareness programmes.
The governor further directed the committee to develop a comprehensive Climate Finance Plan, attract domestic and international funding, and publish annual progress reports to ensure transparency and accountability.
He noted that the committee would brief the State Executive Council quarterly and submit an annual report to his office, urging members to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and inclusivity.
“This committee is a key mechanism for translating Enugu’s climate vision into tangible action,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the committee, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that the team would work diligently to deliver measurable outcomes for the state.
The 29-member committee is chaired by the SSG, Prof. Onyia, with Prof. Ugwu and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Nathaniel Urama, serving as first and second vice chairmen. The Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, serves as secretary.
Other members include representatives of key MDAs—such as Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Transport, Finance, and Health—alongside academics, civil society groups, youth and women representatives, traditional leaders, and climate finance experts.