From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Kano State has recorded a remarkable turnaround in climate governance, climbing from 35th position in 2024 to third place among Nigeria’s 36 states in the 2026 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking (SCGPR 3.0).
The latest ranking marks a significant improvement for the state, which moved to fourth position in 2025 before advancing another step to third place in the 2026 assessment.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, attributed the progress to deliberate reforms, stronger institutional coordination and sustained commitment to climate action under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Hashim spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the third edition of the ranking, according to a statement he signed and issued in Kano.
He said the state had moved beyond treating the ranking as a performance scorecard to using it as a tool for identifying institutional gaps, strengthening climate policies and ensuring that government commitments produce measurable results.
“Kano’s rise from 35th to fourth position gave us a stronger foundation to build upon. Our task now is to sustain that progress through institutions that function consistently and programmes whose benefits can be demonstrated,” he said.
Among the measures driving the state’s climate agenda, the commissioner identified the Kano State Climate Change Policy and the ongoing advancement of the Kano State Climate Change Bill, which are expected to strengthen institutional responsibilities, accountability and continuity in climate governance.
He also highlighted the state’s ambitious 10 Million Trees Campaign, which builds on the distribution of 5.5 million tree seedlings across the 44 local government areas in 2025.
According to him, the initiative incorporates digital monitoring systems, including GPS-verified planting locations, seedling allocation records and survival reports, to ensure that tree-planting efforts deliver lasting environmental benefits rather than merely impressive figures.
Hashim said the state was also deepening climate coordination across its 44 local government areas to ensure that interventions reflect the different environmental challenges confronting communities.
He explained that integrating water resources, environment and climate change under one ministry had created an opportunity for a more coordinated response to flooding, erosion, land degradation, water insecurity, pollution and changing rainfall patterns.
“Across these priorities, our objective is to make climate resilience a routine consideration in public decisions. It should inform how we plan infrastructure, support agriculture, manage water resources and prepare for disasters,” he said.
### Kano Targets Climate Funding to Sustain Gains
Despite the improved ranking, Hashim said the state was prioritising institutional strengthening, evidence-based monitoring and climate financing to consolidate its gains.
He disclosed that Kano would focus on developing well-prepared projects capable of attracting domestic and international funding, particularly in climate adaptation, water resources, renewable energy and land restoration.
The commissioner also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, universities, civil society organisations, businesses and local communities to expand research, investment, technical capacity and grassroots implementation.
He stressed that Kano’s climate governance performance should ultimately be judged by its impact on residents rather than its position on a ranking table.
“For Kano, the ultimate measure of progress is the difference these decisions make to people’s lives: whether farmland remains productive, communities have dependable access to water, and homes and public assets are better protected from environmental hazards,” he said.
Hashim commended the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), development partners, assessors and technical teams for sustaining the subnational climate governance assessment.
He also acknowledged Governor Yusuf’s support for climate governance reforms, alongside the contributions of civil servants, local government officials, development partners and communities.
The commissioner said the state would study the findings of the 2026 assessment, consolidate areas of progress and address identified weaknesses.
“Kano State will take the findings of this report back home, use them to refine our priorities and continue the work of protecting our people and their livelihoods,” he said.
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