Climate change is no longer a distant risk discussed at global summits. It is here, it is local, and it is already reshaping how Nigerians live, work and do business. From flooding in Lagos and Bayelsa to desertification in the North and erratic rainfall affecting food production nationwide, climate impacts are testing the resilience of our communities and the sustainability of our economy.
Yet, much of our response remains reactive: emergency relief after floods, ad hoc repairs to damaged infrastructure, or short-term policy announcements. What is urgently required is a shift from reactive to proactive building resilience. This is where Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks offer a powerful, practical pathway forward.
Climate resilience is the capacity of communities, systems and businesses to anticipate, absorb and adapt to climate-related shocks while continuing to function and grow. It is not just an environmental issue; it is an economic, social and governance imperative. ESG, when properly applied, embeds resilience into decision-making, investment planning and community engagement.
From an environmental perspective, resilience begins with how we manage natural assets. Healthy ecosystems act as natural buffers against climate shocks. Reforestation, wetland restoration and sustainable land use reduce flood risks, protect water sources and improve food security. In my work across ESG advisory and reforestation projects, I have seen how tree planting is often dismissed as “environmental charity”, yet it is in fact climate infrastructure. A forest can stabilise soil, regulate temperature, protect livelihoods and reduce the long-term costs of climate disasters.
For businesses, integrating environmental resilience means understanding climate risks across the value chain; these range from sourcing and logistics to energy use and waste management. Companies that invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate-smart operations are not only reducing emissions; they are protecting themselves against rising energy costs, supply disruptions and regulatory shocks. Climate resilience is increasingly a competitiveness issue.
The social pillar of ESG is where resilience becomes deeply human. Climate impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable populations like women, children, informal workers and rural communities. Floods destroy homes and small businesses. Droughts disrupt farming and push families deeper into poverty. Heat stress affects productivity and health. The list goes on.
Building social resilience requires intentional investment in people and communities. This includes climate-aware health systems, resilient housing, skills development for green jobs, and inclusive community engagement. Businesses operating in climate-exposed areas must go beyond corporate philanthropy to structured social investment that strengthens local adaptive capacity. When communities are resilient, businesses are more stable. When communities fail, businesses inevitably bear the cost.
Governance is often the least discussed but most critical pillar of climate resilience. Without strong governance, environmental and social initiatives remain fragmented and ineffective. Climate resilience demands clear policies, transparent decision-making, data-driven risk assessment and accountability at the board level.
Boards and executive teams must treat climate risk as a strategic risk, not a sustainability footnote. This includes climate scenario analysis, integration of climate considerations into enterprise risk management, and clear oversight of ESG performance. Regulators and policymakers also have a role to play by providing consistent frameworks, incentives and enforcement mechanisms that encourage long-term resilience rather than short-term compliance.
In Nigeria and across Africa, the climate challenge is often framed as a development constraint. I see it differently. Climate resilience, anchored in ESG, is a development opportunity. It can unlock new financing, attract responsible investment, create jobs and strengthen trust between businesses and communities.
Global capital is increasingly flowing towards climate-resilient and ESG-aligned projects. Investors are asking tougher questions: How exposed is this business to climate risk? How prepared is its workforce and host community? How strong is its governance? Organisations that cannot answer these questions convincingly will struggle to compete for capital, contracts and credibility.
At the same time, we must resist the temptation to treat ESG as a reporting exercise detached from local realities. Climate resilience in Nigeria will not be built by copying frameworks wholesale from Europe or North America. It must be contextual, grounded in local data, community needs and indigenous solutions. ESG works best when it is practical, measurable and embedded into everyday business and governance decisions.
The climate is changing, whether we are ready or not. The real question is whether our institutions, businesses and communities are equipped to adapt and thrive. ESG offers more than a language of sustainability; it provides a structure for resilience.
As an ESG professional, I am convinced that the organisations that will succeed in the next decade are not those that react fastest after a crisis, but those that prepare intentionally before it arrives. Climate resilience is not a cost to be managed. It is an investment in continuity, stability and shared prosperity.
In the face of a changing climate, resilience is no longer optional. Through ESG, it is achievable.
Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun is the founder and managing partner at Teasoo Consulting Limited, a foremost ESG consulting firm. She is a former Community Content Manager at Shell Petroleum Development Company and served as the Special Adviser on Strategy, Policy, Projects, and Performance Management to the Government of Edo State. She is also the host of the #SarahSpeaks podcast on YouTube @WinningBigWithSarah, where she shares insights on leadership, strategy, and sustainable growth.
