Land Governance as a Pathway to Climate-Resilient Built and Natural Environments: Advancing Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Finance in Nigeria: Comparative Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Global South

Abstract

Effective land governance is increasingly recognised as a prerequisite for climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria. However, inadequate integration of climate risk and sustainable finance into land governance continues to constrain investment in resilient housing, infrastructure and ecosystem conservation. This study examined the interrelationships among land governance, climate risk, and sustainable finance and their implications for the built environment (housing, infrastructure, and property development) and the natural environment (land, ecosystems, and biodiversity). Specifically, it assessed the influence of land governance on land-based investment under climate risk, evaluated the integration of climate risk into land governance and urban planning, examined the role of sustainable finance in promoting climate-resilient land governance and green building, and drew comparative lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Global South. A qualitative research design was adopted, employing systematic review and thematic content analysis of verified secondary sources published between 2012 and 2025, with emphasis on studies from 2019–2025. The findings revealed that insecure land tenure, fragmented institutions, weak land information systems, inadequate integration of climate risk into planning frameworks, and insufficient mobilisation of sustainable finance significantly hinder climate-smart investment. Comparative evidence demonstrated that integrated and participatory land governance systems enhance resilience and attract green investment. The study recommends strengthening tenure security, modernising land information systems, mainstreaming climate risk into land-use planning, and expanding blended and green finance to foster resilient and sustainable built and natural environments in Nigeria.