ID: 2256
Presenting Author: Dr Abbas Suleiman
Session: 686 - Climate Change Impact Assessment: Countering Misinformation with Science
Status: pending
Misconceptions and misinformation and lack of information on climate change impact assessment in EIA practice in Nigeria
This paper examines the evolving integration of climate science into Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practice in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among practitioners, regulators, and researchers in advancing climate-inclusive assessment frameworks. While Nigeria’s EIA system has made significant progress in institutionalizing environmental safeguards, the incorporation of climate risk analysis, greenhouse gas (GHG) estimation, and adaptation planning remains inconsistent and often reactive. Drawing on experiences from large-scale infrastructure and coastal development projects, the study investigates how climate change considerations are addressed—or neglected—across project design, approval, and monitoring phases.
The paper identifies persistent challenges such as inadequate baseline climate data, fragmented institutional mandates, limited technical capacity, and the spread of misinformation that weakens public understanding of climate impacts. It also highlights emerging innovations, including the application of vulnerability mapping, scenario modeling, and low-carbon design strategies in recent EIA submissions. By exploring these developments, the paper contributes to ongoing dialogues on strengthening Nigeria’s environmental governance and aligning national EIA procedures with international best practices.
Ultimately, it argues that embedding credible climate science into Nigeria’s EIA and SEIA processes enhances the predictive value of assessments, supports informed decision-making, and ensures that mitigation and adaptation measu
Dr. Abbas Suleiman, PhD, FNES, mNMGS, is a distinguished environmental scientist, policy strategist, and National President of AEIAN. Formerly Director at the Federal Ministry of Environment and now C
Coauthor 1: Adeleke Asoro