Accelerating Climate Action in Nigeria’s Built Environment

NDC Scorecard for Sustainable Buildings

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global emissions, and Nigeria’s fast-growing cities are on the frontline of climate change impacts.
But buildings can be part of the solution – if we get the policies right.

What is the NDC Scorecard?

The NDC Scorecard is a groundbreaking tool to track and strengthen building policies that support Nigeria’s climate goals. It evaluates how well our building and construction policies align with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and our vision for Net Zero by 2060.

The scorecard is part of a global initiative led by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), with Nigeria as one of 5 pilot countries, alongside Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, and the Philippines.

Why This Matters

Buildings drive emissions – but they can also drive solutions.

According to the IFC, The transition to green construction could help reduce global carbon emissions in construction value chains by about 23 percent by 2035

Nigeria’s climate goals

Reduce emissions by 20% (unconditional) and 47% (conditional) by 2030 under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) → Nigeria’s Updated NDC (UNFCCC)

Reach Net Zero Emissions by 2060 under the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) → Nigeria’s LT-LEDS (UNFCCC)

But... there’s a gap

Our current policies do not fully reflect the scale of change needed in energy efficiency, materials, resilience, and more.

News Report

What Does the Scorecard Assess?

We assess building-related policies in 5 critical areas for climate action:

Net Zero Carbon

Reducing emissions from construction and building operations.

Water Efficiency & Resilience

Conserving water and managing climate risks like floods.

Circular Economy & Waste

Reusing materials, reducing waste, and driving resource efficiency.

Climate Resilience & Adaptation

Designing buildings to withstand climate shocks.

Biodiversity & Nature-Based Solutions

Integrating green spaces and protecting ecosystems.

Progress So Far

Workshops 1 & 2 (2024)

Stakeholders mapped Nigeria’s policies and drafted the first version of the Local NDC Scorecard. 

Beta Global Scorecard Released (Feb 2025)

Nigeria contributed to the WorldGBC Global Scorecard Framework.

Next Steps (Mar-Aug 2025) – Workshops 3 to 7 will refine the scorecard and co-develop Nigeria’s National Action Plan for Low-Carbon, Resilient Buildings.

What We've Learned So Far

The database will provide data on the Carbon Impact of

Key Policy Gaps

No mandatory energy efficiency standards for buildings.
Few green building incentives.
Fragmented regulations across states.
Climate resilience is not mainstreamed into construction codes.

But There’s Momentum

National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) driving climate action.
National Building Code updates are under consideration.
Growing interest in green certifications like EDGE and DGNB.

Who’s Involved?

Partners & Stakeholders

National Council on Climate Change (NCCC)
Federal & State Ministries (Environment, Housing, Power)
Subnational Governments (Abia, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos)
Built Environment Professionals (NIA, NSE, NIQS, NITP, and more)
Private Sector & Developers

Global Collaboration with WorldGBC and other pilot countries.

Be Part of the Change

Get Involved