ESG is partnering on a project to strengthen the private sector’s capacity to advance inclusive, finance-ready climate and clean air action in Nigeria.

Air pollution and GHG emissions are among Nigeria’s most urgent economic and public health problems. Over 200,000 premature deaths happen each year because of poor air quality. Businesses are both victims of the impacts of these issues as well as contributors, with transport accounting for over a quarter of Nigeria’s GHG emissions.

Nigeria has made strong national climate commitments, and emissions reduction offers businesses large and cost-effective opportunities, yet business engagement remains low. Many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, face technical, financial, and regulatory barriers that hinder effective action on climate change and air pollution.

The UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) project, led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the University of York in partnership with key Nigerian institutions, including ESG, strengthens climate governance in Nigeria’s transport sector. It builds capacity for climate-aligned planning, reduces emissions and air pollution, and promotes sustainable growth. By uniting technical partners and financial institutions, it advances low-carbon transport through institutional strengthening and public–private collaboration.

Objectives
The main goal is to strengthen institutional capacity and collaboration to accelerate climate and clean air action in Nigeria’s transport sector.

Working with a consortium of partners, the project will deliver through the following workstreams:

1. 1. Engaging High-Emission Sectors for Climate and Clean Air Action:

This workstream engages heavy road transport, logistics, and fleet operators, helping them understand their emissions profile and encouraging sector-wide decarbonisation commitments.

2. 2. Enhancing Business Capacity for Climate and Clean Air Action:

Transport businesses, fleet owners, and supply-chain actors will receive technical assistance to build internal systems for emissions tracking, develop climate strategies, and adopt cleaner technologies and practices.

3. 3. Enabling Access to Climate Finance and Carbon Markets:

This component helps private-sector actors and public institutions identify climate-financing pathways, prepare bankable proposals, and explore opportunities within emerging carbon markets.

4. 4. Strengthening Policy and Regulatory Alignment:

The project supports regulators and policymakers to reinforce Nigeria’s policy frameworks, align them with national climate commitments, and integrate clean-air considerations into transport planning.

5. 5. Embedding Inclusion and Advocacy (GEDSI):

Gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion are built into all project activities. This ensures that project benefits reach diverse groups and that solutions address the needs of vulnerable populations affected by pollution and mobility challenges.

About UK PACT Programme in Nigeria
UK PACT is a flagship technical assistance programme funded by the UK Government’s International Climate Finance (ICF). The programme’s mission is to support partner countries with high emissions-reduction potential in accelerating their climate change mitigation efforts. UK PACT achieves this by enhancing the capacity and capability of key public, private, and civil society institutions to achieve ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition to low-carbon development.

UK PACT partners with Nigeria to implement its NDC and promote climate action.
The programme provides technical assistance to enhance capabilities, helping Nigeria accelerate its low-carbon transition and cut emissions.

Project Partners 
The project is delivered by a consortium that brings together expertise in transport, finance, climate policy, and inclusion.

Factsheet
For more information please download this factsheet.

Event | Launch and Engagement Workshop

Transport Climate Action: boosting business leadership for clean air in Nigeria

• Date: 2^nd December, 2025
• Location: Abuja, Nigeria
• Time: 10 am – 5 pm

An exclusive in-person launch of our programme will take place on 2^nd December in Abuja, followed by the initial engagement workshop supporting transport-related businesses in Abuja to accelerate their contribution to climate and clean air actions.

The workshop will convene businesses, policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, and civil society actors to introduce the programme and initiate the first phase of training, engagement, and technical support.

The session will outline key climate and clean-air challenges in the transport sector, open dialogue with Nigerian businesses on their priorities, and build a shared understanding of the issues. It brings companies on board and prepares them for the detailed capacity-building and technical training planned for 2026. The workshop will also help establish connections between Nigerian private sector participants, government agencies, and other partners to support collaboration throughout the project.

Click the button below to download the programme agenda.
DOWNLOAD AGENDA