Climate Diplomacy and Nigeria’s Position in International Climate Negotiations

This study examines Nigeria's negotiating position and diplomatic behaviour in international climate change forums, particularly the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP), assessing the coherence between Nigeria's climate commitments and its domestic fossil fuel interests. As one of Africa's largest oil producers and a country highly vulnerable to climate change impacts including desertification in the north and flooding in the south, Nigeria occupies a contradictory position in global climate diplomacy. Drawing on the two-level game theory and green foreign policy frameworks, this research analyses how Nigeria has navigated the tension between its economic dependence on petroleum revenue and its obligations under the Paris Agreement during COP meetings from 2021 to 2024. The study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on analysis of Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions, COP negotiation records, parliamentary debates, and academic literature. Interviews with officials from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency provide primary data. Findings are expected to reveal that Nigeria's climate diplomacy is characterised by pragmatic positioning that prioritises energy transition financing and loss-and-damage mechanisms over binding emissions commitments. Recommendations are directed at strengthening Nigeria's domestic climate governance to underpin more credible international positions. Keywords: climate diplomacy, Nigeria, COP, Paris Agreement, fossil fuels.