In yet another pacesetting move, the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah has approved the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), making it the first sub-national government in Nigeria to adopt a long-term climate strategy that incorporates emissions modelling, micro energy audits, and extensive stakeholder engagement.
  
In the same vein, the State Executive Council has also approved the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) policy strategy to expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities, leveraging distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.
   
The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, announced the approvals at the end of the State Executive Council meeting at the weekend.
 Briefing newsmen alongside the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Prof. Sam Ugwu, and the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Uramah, the SSGP said ESCPAP underscored Mbah administration’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience, ensuring that key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.
   
The ESCPAP, according to the government, represents a pioneering effort to facilitate clean energy development, stimulate job creation, and foster green technology advancements.
   
“We do recall that Enugu State had started this policy design in the past eight months, and finally, after the surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.
   
“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth. This is very important for us in job creation, and we are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060,” he said.