The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc has commenced corporate baseline assessments under its N-Zero initiative to help local corporates strengthen climate readiness and position for green capital.

The initiative, launched in January in partnership with DEG Impulse gGmbH and Africa Foresight Group, aims to transition businesses from climate pledges to practical execution through strategy formulation, emissions measurement, and carbon-market participation.

According to a statement from the exchange on Friday, the baseline assessment will evaluate companies across climate-risk management, emissions reporting, target-setting, and technical capacities to identify key operational gaps.

It noted that N-Zero had so far engaged over 50 companies, with 17 formally onboarded as community members and more than 100 receiving the baseline survey.

The onboarded firms include Access Holdings, Dangote Cement, United Bank for Africa, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, First HoldCo, Fidelity Bank, Zenith Bank, Wema Bank, NEM Insurance, Chapel Hill Denham, BUA Cement, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Presco, Oando, HBM Nigeria, Seplat Energy, and Skyway Aviation Handling Company.

Commenting on the exercise, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Mr Temi Popoola, stressed that net-zero alignment was becoming vital for corporate survival and funding.

Popoola said, “The transition to a net-zero economy is increasingly becoming a factor in competitiveness, investor confidence, and access to capital. Nigerian businesses, therefore, need to move beyond climate ambition to demonstrate measurable and credible progress.

“N-Zero is designed to help companies understand where they stand today, identify the gaps that matter most, and build practical pathways towards where they need to be. The baseline assessment is a critical step because it gives us the evidence and insight required to tailor support and help participating companies turn climate intent into measurable action and long-term value.”

The exchange added that following the baseline study, participating entities would undergo digital diagnostics and technical reviews to refine their target-setting and execution roadmaps.

Under the 2026 roadmap, the baseline phase and initial needs assessments are scheduled for completion in September, paving the way for partner-led technical support sessions in October and November.

The overall initiative targets assisting participating firms in developing science-aligned targets, facilitating carbon-offset projects, and targeting an overall reduction or avoidance of about 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.