Cross River Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has unveiled plans to attract green investments and unlock climate financing through the development of the state's first Climate Transition Plan, designed to promote sustainable economic growth and protect vulnerable communities from climate change.
Otu, who chairs the State Council on Climate Change, announced the initiative on Tuesday in Calabar during a two day inception workshop on the development of the plan.
Represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, the governor described climate change as “an urgent economic reality” that demands strategic action and investment rather than being treated merely as an environmental threat.
He said Cross River, which hosts a significant proportion of Nigeria's remaining tropical rainforests, could leverage its rich natural resources to attract climate financing, create jobs, improve livelihoods and stimulate sustainable development in line with his People First agenda.
“Our natural resources must become a source of sustainable prosperity for our people,” Otu said, emphasising the need to balance environmental conservation with economic advancement.
The governor explained that the plan would begin with four baseline assessments across the state's 18 local government areas to establish the data needed to identify investment opportunities, assess climate risks and guide interventions.
The assessments comprise a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, Climate Finance Landscape Assessment and Mitigation Strategy Assessment.
According to Otu, the findings would provide reliable evidence to guide climate policies, determine priority areas and position the state to attract private sector investments and funding for climate related projects.
He stressed that evidence based planning was crucial to developing practical solutions that would address the state's environmental challenges while delivering measurable economic and social benefits.
In his keynote address, the State Special Envoy on Climate Missions, Oden Ewa, said the plan must translate existing climate legislation and institutions into tangible economic opportunities and environmental benefits.
“The task before us is to move beyond policies and institutions to measurable results that improve lives, strengthen our economy and protect our environment,” Ewa said.
He urged ministries, departments and agencies, as well as local government councils, to integrate climate priorities into their budgets and development programmes to ensure effective implementation.
Ewa also called on private investors, financial institutions, civil society organisations and communities to support the initiative, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and waste management.
Citing ecological disasters experienced across the state, he said Cross River could no longer afford to delay practical interventions to address the effects of climate change.
“We can no longer afford to treat climate change as a subject for discussion alone. The time has come for coordinated action and practical interventions,” he said.
Ewa commended Otu for his proactive approach and expressed optimism that partnerships with Future Funds, the Under2 Coalition and the Climate Group would help advance the initiative.
The Cross River Central APC senatorial candidate also acknowledged the contributions of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Development Programme to climate action efforts.
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