Nigeria has advocated for a regional carbon market for West Africa, as experts from across the region gather in Abuja to validate the framework for establishing a carbon market platform for the region.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day regional workshop to validate the Framework for the establishment of a carbon market platform in West Africa, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, expressed concern that the region remains the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Lawal noted that the shared challenges demand collective solutions.
The minister, represented by Mrs Iniagbon Abiola-Awe, a Director in the Ministry, stressed that the challenge presents opportunities for regional cooperation, innovation, and investment in climate action.
He said, ‘Today’s gathering comes at a defining moment for our region. Climate change continues to pose significant threats to our economies, ecosystems, food security, livelihoods and the well-being of our people. Although West Africa contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, we remain among the regions most vulnerable to climate impacts, including floods, desertification, land degradation, biodiversity loss and displacement of communities.
‘These shared challenges demand collective solutions. They also present opportunities for greater regional cooperation, innovation and investment in climate action. Carbon markets have emerged globally as an important mechanism for mobilising climate finance, incentivising emissions reductions, promoting sustainable development and unlocking new economic opportunities.’
‘The initiative by the ECOWAS Commission to establish a regional carbon market platform is therefore both timely and strategic. It reflects our collective commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement, advancing the ECOWAS Regional Climate Strategy, supporting Vision 2050 and contributing to the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063.’
He said Nigeria strongly believed in regional synergy, stressing that a well-designed regional carbon market can strengthen the capacity of member states to attract climate investment.
He also informed the gathering that Nigeria launched its Carbon Market Framework at COP 30 and that its Registry is under development.
He therefore said a regional Platform will support members in accessing information, encourage peer-to-peer learning and support, and, amongst other things, help visualise the Region’s carbon market potential.
According to him, ‘Nigeria strongly believes that a well-designed regional carbon market can strengthen the capacity of Member States to attract climate investments, support nature-based solutions, enhance private sector participation, and create green jobs while ensuring environmental integrity and equitable benefit-sharing.
‘I understand that member countries have developed their National frameworks or are in the process of developing them. Nigeria launched its Carbon Market Framework at COP 30 and has its Registry under development. So a Regional Platform will support members in accessing information, encourage peer-to-peer learning and support, and help visualise the Region’s carbon market potential.’
He also assured them that Nigeria is committed to working closely with ECOWAS, Member States, and our development partners to ensure the Platform translates into practical action that delivers tangible benefits for our people and our economies.
‘The workshop is expected to validate the work done, incorporate technical and legal recommendations, approve governance arrangements, and adopt a regional roadmap for implementation.
‘Your recommendations will help shape a regional platform that reflects our shared aspirations and responds effectively to the unique circumstances of West Africa,’ the Minister added.
In his welcome remarks, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Kalilou Sylla, noted that climate change is one of the most urgent threats to West Africa.
Sylla, who was represented by the Director for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Christophe Deguenon, quoted World Bank estimates that 32 million people in our region could be displaced due to climate impacts.
To respond, he said ECOWAS member states raised their ambitions through their Nationally Determined Contributions (that is, national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement) to cut gas pollution and adapt to global warming.
‘One clear pathway is Article 6 and carbon markets. West Africa has the assets: over 350 million hectares of agricultural land, vast forests and mangroves, and huge potential to restore degraded landscapes. We can generate high-integrity carbon credits.
‘Yet we remain under-represented in international carbon markets due to gaps in regulation, technical capacity, monitoring, and certification.
‘That is why, since 2024, ECOWAS has launched a regional process, aligned with Vision 2050 and AU Agenda 2063, to build a harmonised framework for a West African carbon market platform. It rests on four principles: transparency, environmental integrity, inclusive governance, and recognition of Member States’ efforts.’
He said the workshop is to review and validate the draft framework with the aim of creating a credible, transparent, and investor-friendly mechanism that supports the sub-region’s climate ambitions and strengthens regional integration.
‘This platform is not an end in itself. It must be a tool for regional cooperation: to share expertise, reduce transaction costs, build capacity, and put West Africa on the global carbon market map,’ he stressed.
While calling on the gathering to put their expertise to work, he was hopeful that the workshop would have a solid framework to open a new chapter in climate finance for West Africa.