Category Archives: News Updates

The abiding vision of COP30 is the Global Mutirão. This concept, birthed by the Brazilian COP30 Presidency, recognises the need for collective action built brick by brick from the local to the national, the regional, and the global. Mutirão therefore places its feet firmly on the grounds that nothing concrete can be attained in the global drive for climate resilience and sustainable growth without collective and collaborative actions.

This perhaps became extremely urgent as the world battled an attack on multilateralism following the change of government in the United States of America, earlier this year. As some are putting a knife on the things that held us together, it became increasingly important that the world rally and bring back that very important spirit of multilateralism as aptly captured by the Mutirão vision.

Significantly, this year too, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) brought back the climate weeks with the first one taking place in Panama. Currently, the second climate week is going on in Ethiopia – the Origin of Life and a significant venue to resurrect the spirit of humanity.

What immediately captures the attention of many participants during the high-level Opening Ceremony is the level of importance given to this by the international community with the event graced by Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Ms. Noura Hamladji; both High-level Champions for COP29 and COP30, Ms Nigar Arpadarai and Dan Ioschpe respectively; both COP29 and COP30 Youth Champions, Leyla Hasanova and Marcele Oliveira respectively; Chair of the SBI, etc.

Strikingly, the presence of these champions of climate action was underscored by a repetitive call for collaboration.

Accordingly, Ms. Noura Hamladji stressed that there is no solution to climate change at the scale needed without solidarity and enlightened that climate weeks are about harvesting innovation, sharing best practices, and turning pledges into action.

Ms Hamladji’s view was further echoed by the COP29 High-level Champion and Member of Parliament, Ms Nigar Arpadarai, who highlighted the risk of mistrust in the climate change process and why COP29 tried to ensure that the voices of the global south were heard loud and clear. She reiterated that, to succeed, the COP process must reinvent itself all the time and be deeply etched in honesty, humanity, and a deepening of trust.

This overwhelming emphasis on trust, solidarity and collaboration, becomes more significant when one takes into consideration the fact that, for the UNFCCC, the focus for this second climate week is “Finance for Adaptation” – a focus that resonates with African needs and vision which was highlighted by the Chair of the African Group of negotiators, Dr. Richard Muyungi, when he called for COP30 to make the Global Goal on Adaptation work for Africa. This was further backed by the COP30 Youth Champion.

For Oliveira the youths’ focus is on adaptation finance, with the local communities and people directly impacted part of the decision process.

This unified call for adaptation finance remains a key pillar of Africa’s climate demands. But it must come in the form of grants, and not loans disguised as climate finance.

What one then expects is that this rekindling of the spirit of multilateralism must transcend beyond talks to action. There is an urgent need to mount the right pressures and ensure that the right support is delivered to Africa’s most vulnerable. This is critical as we move from Addis to Baku, to Belém, and beyond.

Thankfully, Ethiopia’s efforts at championing homegrown options and showing conscious leadership on climate action, including through its “Green Legacy Initiative” and the targeted generation of over 5,000 MWs of power through its “Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” shows Africa’s commitment to champion climate action even as a low-emitting continent. It further sends a message to other African leaders to take up the gauntlet and run with the idea that the continent’s sustainable development is anchored on well-structured climate action.

By Nnaemeka Oruh, Senior Policy Analyst on Climate Change, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in Addis Ababa

The UNFCCC’s Africa Climate Week (ACW) 2025 is in full swing at the Addis International Convention Centre (AICC). Participants from all over the world have gathered to hold conversations centred on moving beyond ambition to implementation.

Although relatively different from the city-wide nature of the London Climate Action Week and even recently, the Rio Climate Action Week (RCAW), ACW is packed with loads of programmes aimed at motivating engagements, especially bilaterally, that will further advance Africa’s position in the landscape of global climate action.

Within the first two days, we have witnessed key events such as NDC clinics with high-level engagement by key stakeholders and donor organisations working on providing implementation support for key aspects of the NDCs 3.0 of countries; the breakout sessions on the UAE Just Transition Work Programme; brainstorming sessions on adaptation finance; and critically, series of open-access meetings aimed at capacity building for accessing climate finance.

Aware that this is a critical year for NDCs and bearing in mind that this iteration must reflect not only increased ambition, but also address implementation challenge – finance being key – the NDC clinics take on added importance as they present an interactive clinic for shared ideas and careful mapping of the way forward hinged on professional expertise and local experiences.

Conversations on adaptation finance in particular and capacity building on how to access climate finance are both also central and align with the NDC issue. Africa needs climate finance to not only tackle climate adaption challenges, mitigate emissions, seek for ways to deal with the losses and damages from climate impacts, but also to position itself for sustainable development. These sessions, from NDC clinics to capacity building on accessing climate finance are thus critical and as expected, at the soul of the Africa Climate Week.

Curiously, as you navigate from one room to the other, and interact with participants from across the world, one thing immediately strikes you as an African – the absence of subnational actors at these very important sessions. This absence resoundingly points to an ongoing pattern of limited subnational participation in key climate conferences where they can learn, build alliances, and position themselves to be more impactful.

At almost every key climate change event, representatives of the national government dominate with little or no participation by the subnational actors who, indeed, should be at the frontline of climate action.

This absence of subnational actors’ voice – the real implementers of climate action and those who bear the direct brunt of extreme climate change vulnerabilities – is reflective of not just national disregard of their importance, but also of the lack of awareness by the subnational of their own importance.

This blatant disregard of the subnational and the key role they play has been the subject of many international, regional, national, and subnational engagements by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) most of which are geared towards enhancing the capacity and awareness of subnational actors in the climate discourse, while also consciously ensuring that they retrieve their right of place at the table.

It is often the case that at the end of gatherings such as this, many are quick to tag them as climate “razzmatazz” with no concrete impact on the continent. Yet, we forget that oftentimes, what makes a gathering impactful does not necessarily have to be the line up and depth of events, but also how much each country makes concrete efforts to ensure that the right people – in this case the subnational actors – are part of the process.

Indeed, it is important that subnational actors should not be missing during these technical sessions of knowledge sharing and exchanges hence it is highly imperative that priority is accorded them to participate at these events with adequate funding. It is only when the right people are in the room, will they be able to learn, contribute to shaping the process, and finally lead implementation.

By Nnaemeka Oruh and Gboyega Olorunfemi, Senior Policy Analysts, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), in Addis Ababa

As we gather for the 2nd Africa Climate Week/Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we must confront the stark realities of our continent’s challenges with clarity and resolve to survive and thrive in an era of escalating climate crises and shifting geopolitics. At the heart of this determination should be two interlinked priorities: building capacity across the continent and deepening African solidarity. In an era when multilateralism is collapsing, the need for self-reliance has never been stronger.

Earlier this year, during the African Union Summit, I warned of the dangers of Africa’s over-reliance on Western aid. Recent events have only amplified these concerns. The resurgence of nationalist governments and policies in the West threatens to leave Africa vulnerable, as global powers increasingly prioritize their own interests. This warning might sound alarmist, but recent events point to the dawn of this gloom future if action is not taken to correct course.

Too many African countries remain vulnerable because critical services and long-term programmes depend on a narrow set of aid dangled on strings.

On US President Trump’s resumption of office January this year, for example, changes in U.S. foreign-aid policy pulled the rug on the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), terminating large portions of contracts and put the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other U.S. global-health funding under review, forcing clinics and HIV/health programmes in multiple African countries to scale down or close. Similarly, President Trump have signed executive orders that directly and indirectly target U.S. foreign-aid flows and policies that fund climate-related programs and partner organisations.

Coincidentally, the United Kingdom’s drastic cuts to aid budgets have led to the cancellation of vital projects tackling neglected tropical diseases and other health challenges in Africa. Major spending shifts and reprioritisations by other donors have produced similar shocks, exposing the fragility of depending on external goodwill—a goodwill that is rapidly eroding.

Climate change poses an existential threat, especially in Africa, yet our response has been alarmingly inadequate. Some have argued that Africans have no concept of the future, and therefore cannot plan for it, and our actions and inactions risks proving them right. African governments and institutions have treated development as something to be hoped for from abroad rather than built at home. Corruption, complacency and a lack of urgency among leaders have hindered the development of infrastructure, research capacity, resilient institutions and other relevant systems necessary to address our collective challenges. Sadly, whether we can conceptualize it or not, the future is not a distant horizon—it is here, demanding action now.

That said, the call for self-reliance is not an argument to abandon the demand for climate justice. The principle of climate justice is undeniable: Countries and corporations that historically emitted the most have a moral and legal responsibility to fund restoration (loss, damage and ambitious mitigation). Africa will, and should continue to press for this. However, given that climate change impacts all no matter who caused it, justice and agency can be complementary. We can, and must, pursue both: press for fairer global commitments, while accelerating the continent’s ability to plan, fund and implement sustainable solutions. If there is one lesson from recent geopolitical shifts and funding shocks, it is that survival cannot be left to the goodwill of outsiders. Africa’s future must be built by Africans, with partners who act in good faith and on fair terms.

The path forward lies in building our own capacity and fostering solidarity across the continent. African governments must set ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and commit to their implementation, rather than treating these commitments as a five-year ritual of box-ticking. Projections consistently show a very large financing gap between what Africa needs to implement its climate plans and current contributions, while current flow of climate finance is inadequate. African governments must increase domestic funding for climate projects. We must prioritise renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and climate-adaptive infrastructure to safeguard communities and stimulate green jobs across the continent.

Africa needs approximately USD 200 billion annually to achieve sustainable development, but money alone is not enough. Governments must root out corruption and ensure resources are channelled into education, innovation and technology that empower the next generation of African problem-solvers.

Regional and subregional cooperation through frameworks such as the African Union, ECOWAS, SADC, and other bodies must be strengthened so countries can pool risk, coordinate procurement and mobilise rapid, predictable finance in crises.

Also, subnational governments, women and youth must be at the centre of planning and implementation as they are the ones who will translate policy into on the ground action.

The time for complacency is over. Africa’s survival depends on our ability to unite, plan, and act decisively. At the Africa Climate Week/Summit, let us commit to a future where we are not victims of circumstances but architects of our own resilience.

The choices we make at this summit will determine our fate in the near future. The world may falter in its promises, but we must not falter in our resolve.

—Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke is a professor of Global Governance and Public Policy at University of Bristol, visiting professor at the London School of Economics, UK and co-chair of Ukama Platform, a group of thought-leaders that aim to strengthen Africa-Europe relationship to achieve just sustainability transformation

A respected subnational climate change leader and conservation champion, Yakubu Kolo, has provided reflections on Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and how states hold a central role in both design and implementation, calling for access to finance for states.

He made this call at the National Stakeholders’ NDC 3.0 validation workshop organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) to present update of Nigeria’s NDCs in preparation for the National Executive’s approval and eventual submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in-person and online on August 27, 2025, with stakeholders from across multiple sectors in attendance.

The Nigerian NDC 3.0 provides a comprehensive update to the 2021 submission, developed through a rigorous whole-of-government and whole-of-society process to ensure the needs of a broad range of stakeholders were addressed.

Kolo, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Niger State, while speaking at the validation workshop, acknowledged that the process of developing NDC 3.0 has shown committed efforts to course-correct and be inclusive, participatory, and people-centered.

“State governments were given the opportunity to provide input which we gladly participated in. We therefore hold the process in high esteem to reflect clarity and transparency in its targets, policies and measures and on cross-cutting issues and actions and it must therefore go beyond the rituals of getting input without an ounce of them reflected in the final document,” he said.

Kolo noted that the Nigerian NDC 3.0 must set clear ambition that reflects leadership, embed stronger adaptation strategies, and ensure financing is both practical and accessible to states.

He stated further: “As the September submission deadline approaches, it must also align ambition with implementation, setting clear targets that are not just impressive on paper but actionable on the ground.”

While concluding his speech as the representative of the subnational governments, Kolo affirmed that the NDC must be ambitious, inclusive, and credible, and must reflect the important contributions of the subnational as the burden bearer of climate change vulnerabilities.

“Anything less would betray our people’s yearnings and squander our chance to lead Africa toward a climate-resilient future,” he concluded.

The NDC validation workshop convened stakeholders from across the country as part of the process to finalise Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 before submitting to the UNFCCC. The workshop had representatives from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Youth Constituency, German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), United Nation Women, Global Disability Green Initiatives (GDGI), International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), as well as NGOs/CSOs.

By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Communication Specialist, SPP.

Umar Saleh Anka
Year 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and its mandatory requirement that Parties must develop and implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The NDCs are nationally determined plans put together by each country outlining the actions needed to meet their long-term goals as a statutory commitment under the Paris Agreement. Nigeria, despite facing unprecedented challenges of climate change has demonstrated great poise and good leadership in setting up the process to review its NDCs through stakeholder engagements, consultation, data collation and workshops since May 2025.

Nigeria, among other parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) may have missed the first deadline to submit its NDCs, but the internal process initiated by the government is in order to meet the new deadline of September 2025. It is important to know that the NDCs are not optional, but they are a statutory pledge to the global community, and more importantly, to our citizens, that we are serious about addressing climate change while driving sustainable development.

Across the world, as at August 2025, less than 30 parties have submitted the 3rd iteration of their NDCs, with less than 5 of those from Africa. Nigeria on the other hand is ensuring a broader and open participation of the process in order to build synergy among its domestic stakeholders: an act that is commendable, and should count Nigeria among the countries leading the frontiers of the NDC process. If Nigeria’s NDC 2.0 which committed to an unconditional reduction of emissions by 20% and a conditional target (contingent on international support) of 47% below BAU by 2030 was celebrated as a bold step, her NDC 3.0 must set a new ambition to enhance resilience planning, synergy between adaptation, loss and damage, energy transition, with a clear link with our development plans putting the subnational at the heart of effective implementation, ensuring a purposive intention to train the states to develop our NDC that will align with the national target but a mere mention in the document. The national must ensure supporting the subnational to build a system for Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) to accommodate states input rather than over reliance on the national platform.

In reaffirming our commitment to sustainable development, green infrastructure, and climate resilience in Kano State, we have recently launched a historic climate policy and action plan – strategic implementation framework, we went ahead to develop the state readiness and action plan for the climate finance to guide the state’s environmental governance and transition to a low-carbon economy. In the same strength, we unveiled two new legal instruments: the Kano State Environmental Pollution Control Law and the Kano State Environmental Pollution and Waste Control Regulations 2025. These documents are to reemphasise Kano state’s position as a West African cosmopolitan hub for climate governance, considering the importance of these new laws to the priority sectors of Nigeria’s NDCs, as part of the mitigation measures, we distributed 5 million trees (geo tagged) for the 2025 planting season

Yes, we praised the new NDC process, but we must not forget the things that set us back in the past. We must address them in a holistic manner whilst awaiting the final approval of the NDC 3.0. I recognise that all the states were given the opportunity to provide data for the development of the NDC 3.0. It is therefore imperative that these data be aggregated, synthesised and integrated into the NDC with recognition of the peculiar climate challenges facing the respective states in Nigeria and targeting them for implementation to align with one of the principles of the UNFCCC of equity. This is important because, many of the projects promised in past NDCs are nowhere to be found on the ground; whilst validation exercises carried out in states have too often been tokenistic, with subnational inputs ignored in the final documents – this cannot continue. We are positive that NDC 3.0 will bridge the gap and empower the states to build a system that can support the national with valid and verifiable data

Nevertheless, what is clear is that our next NDC must set economy-wide emission reduction targets that accelerate clean, sustainable, affordable, and just energy access. It must explicitly align climate and biodiversity action, halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation, and transforming food systems through agroecology—all of which are critical priorities for the Nigerian states that are on the frontline of desertification, drought, and food insecurity, and actively bearing the direct brunt of climate change. The states must be elevated to translate NDCs commitments into practical action. Therefore, the validation must acknowledge this and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

The NDCs operation thrive in a broader context of plans and alignment with Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and Climate Change Act 2021. Nigeria’s NDCs 3.0 must be bold, grounded in ambition, people-centered with the subnational at the heart of effective implementation for inclusive accountability and ensuring lasting impacts.

Umar Saleh Anka, Ph.D(s), FOSHA, FNES, FIEPN is the Director, Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Kano State, Nigeria