Legal and institutional framework for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria through the Clean Development Mechanism---possible lessons from India

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto protocol was received by most developing countries as an innovative mechanism through which they could achieve their different sustainable development goals. Years after its adoption however, only a few developing countries like India have benefited from the sustainable development gains offered by the mechanism. Nigeria remains one of those developing countries that have ratified the protocol but have not achieved much sustainability from it. This has been attributed to Nigeria's unpreparedness to host CDM projects and its perception by investors as one of the most unattractive CDM investment spots on earth.;This thesis argues that for Nigeria to be considered by prospective CDM investors as an attractive destination, the appropriate starting point is to create a legal framework which removes the identifiable barriers to CDM implementation in Nigeria. This thesis provides answers to the question: "what legal and regulatory actions should Nigeria undertake to be able to attract and capture CDM investments like India is doing?" This thesis outlines the transferable ideas in India's CDM legal framework that could be adopted in Nigeria.