Most smokers will never quit and need better alternatives to cigarettes, a Philip Morris International (PMI) executive said on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at a Cape Town event on tobacco harm reduction.
Tommaso Di Giovanni making a presentation
“The vast majority of people, of smokers out there… do not quit. They continue smoking, using one of the most dangerous tobacco and nicotine products out there,” said Tommaso Di Giovanni, PMI vice president for communications and engagement.
“It’s time to look at this with new eyes, with a new paradigm.”
Di Giovanni argued that nicotine is addictive but “relatively harmless compared to many other substances” created by cigarette combustion, which he called the primary cause of smoking-related diseases.
The “Technovation: Cape Town” gathering brought together PMI executives, public health experts and consumer advocates to discuss accelerating a “smoke-free future” by encouraging smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives.
Speakers discussed alternatives, including e-cigarettes, pouches and heated tobacco products that avoid burning tobacco and creating harmful chemicals.
“We have alternatives that do not burn and do not create that chemical factory you have in cigarettes or cigars,” Di Giovanni said.
PMI has invested heavily in these products based on a vision “where everyone can move out of cigarettes and use better products,” he added.
Di Giovanni cited Japan and Sweden as markets where alternative product adoption contributed to significant smoking rate declines.
Panel discussions covered leveraging collective action, strategies for adopting smoke-free innovations, developing health regulation, ensuring accurate consumer information and building trust through scientific evidence.
Participants examined South Africa’s proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill as a case study for African policy, questioning stakeholder inclusion and balancing public health goals with harm reduction approaches.
Di Giovanni concluded by calling for continued dialogue, even with those who disagree, to accelerate positive change for smokers.
Global energy investment is set to increase in 2025 to a record $3.3 trillion despite headwinds from elevated geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, a new IEA report says, with clean energy technologies attracting twice as much capital as fossil fuels.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA)
Investment in clean technologies – renewables, nuclear, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency and electrification – is on course to hit a record $2.2 trillion this year, reflecting not only efforts to reduce emissions but also the growing influence of industrial policy, energy security concerns and the cost competitiveness of electricity-based solutions, according to the 2025 edition of the IEA’s annual World Energy Investment report.
Investment in oil, natural gas and coal is set to reach $1.1 trillion.
In addition to a comprehensive assessment of the current investment landscape across fuels, technologies and regions, this 10th edition of the World Energy Investment report explores some of the major changes over the past decade.
“Amid the geopolitical and economic uncertainties that are clouding the outlook for the energy world, we see energy security coming through as a key driver of the growth in global investment this year to a record $3.3 trillion as countries and companies seek to insulate themselves from a wide range of risks,” said IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol.
“The fast-evolving economic and trade picture means that some investors are adopting a wait-and-see approach to new energy project approvals, but in most areas we have yet to see significant implications for existing projects,” added Birol.
“When the IEA published the first ever edition of its World Energy Investment report nearly 10 years ago, it showed energy investment in China in 2015 just edging ahead of that of the United States,” Dr Birol added. “Today, China is by far the largest energy investor globally, spending twice as much on energy as the European Union – and almost as much as the EU and United States combined.”
Over the past decade, China’s share of global clean energy spending has risen from a quarter to almost a third, underpinned by strategic investments in a wide range of technologies, including solar, wind, hydropower, nuclear, batteries and EVs. At the same time, global spending on upstream oil and gas is gravitating towards the Middle East.
Today’s investment trends clearly show a new Age of Electricity is drawing nearer. A decade ago, investments in fossil fuels were 30% higher than those in electricity generation, grids and storage. This year, electricity investments are set to be some 50% higher than the total amount being spent bringing oil, natural gas and coal to market.
Globally, spending on low-emissions power generation has almost doubled over the past five years, led by solar PV. Investment in solar, both utility-scale and rooftop, is expected to reach $450 billion in 2025, making it the single largest item in the global energy investment inventory. Battery storage investments are also climbing rapidly, surging above $65 billion this year.
Capital flows to nuclear power have grown by 50% over the past five years and are on course to reach around $75 billion in 2025. Rapid growth in electricity demand also underpins continued investment in coal supply, mainly in China and India. In 2024, China started construction on nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal-fired power plants, pushing global approvals of coal-fired plants to their highest level since 2015.
In a worrying sign for electricity security, investment in grids, now at $400 billion per year, is failing to keep pace with spending on generation and electrification. Maintaining electricity security would require investment in grids to rise towards parity with generation spending by the early 2030s. However, this is being held back by lengthy permitting procedures and tight supply chains for transformers and cables.
Lower oil prices and demand expectations are set to result in the first year-on-year fall in upstream oil investment since the Covid slump in 2020, according to the report. The expected 6% drop is driven mainly by a sharp decline in spending on US tight oil. By contrast, investment in new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities is on a strong upward trajectory as new projects in the United States, Qatar, Canada and elsewhere prepare to come online. Between 2026 and 2028, the global LNG market is set to experience its largest ever capacity growth.
Spending patterns remain very uneven globally – with many developing economies, especially in Africa, struggling to mobilise capital for energy infrastructure, the report finds. Today, Africa accounts for just 2% of global clean energy investment. Despite being home to 20% of the world’s population and rapidly growing energy demand, total investment across the continent has fallen by a third over the past decade due to declining fossil fuel spending and insufficient growth in clean energy.
To close the financing gap in African countries and other emerging and developing economies, international public finance needs to be scaled up and used strategically to bring in larger volumes of private capital, according to the report.
This year’s edition of the World Energy Investment report features an interactive data explorer that enables users to compare energy investments across multiple sectors, fuels and technologies between the periods 2016–2020 and 2021–2025, covering global trends as well as data for 19 individual countries and regions.
The second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) officially kicked off on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, with speakers issuing a rallying call for increased investment and stronger partnerships to support the sustainable adaptation and adoption of agricultural technologies.
The African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) 2025
The four-day event running is co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MINAGRI), and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), under the theme: “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmers.”
“We need supportive ecosystems – including enabling policies, investments in infrastructure, access to finance – and, most importantly, the voices and agency of farmers themselves must shape the solutions we develop and promote,” said Dr. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda, as he presided over the official opening ceremony in Kigali.
He urged all the stakeholders attending the conference to use the ACAT platform to not only share knowledge but also forge practical partnerships that can scale proven innovations and bring real transformation to smallholder farmers who are the true custodians of Africa’s food systems.
“Let us remember that technology is not just about tools and platforms – it is about people. It is about a farmer, young or old, in a rural village using a mobile phone to check crop prices. It is about a young innovator developing a drone to monitor pests and diseases. It is about a continent that believes in its capacity to feed itself and to thrive,” added Dr. Ngirente.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: “Africa can turn around some of the current challenges facing its agricultural sector. However, he maintained that no single country, institution, or actor can transform African agriculture alone.
“Transforming Africa’s agriculture can only happen if countries and institutions in the region collaborate across borders and sectors. African governments must work hand-in-hand with private sector players, research institutions, civil society, and most importantly, with the farmers themselves to birth and sustain a new era of farming and food production. It is a high-paced era that leaves no room for excuses. Africa must make progress and move forward,” noted Dr. Jonathan.
He pointed out that the future of agriculture on our continent is intricately tied to our ability to embrace and scale available and emerging technology. These technologies range from precision farming and satellite imaging to drone technology and artificial intelligence, digital tools and can revolutionise the sector.
“We are already witnessing promising innovations in this regard across the continent. In Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda, tech-driven platforms are connecting farmers to markets, providing weather forecasts, and facilitating access to credit. Yet, for these innovations to scale, we must deliberately invest in rural infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordable connectivity,” he stated.
Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Republic of Rwanda, emphasised that putting farmers’ needs and preferences first is a paradigm shift. It means placing smallholder farmers, the unsung heroes of our food systems, at the center of all decisions, investments, and innovations. It involves listening to their challenges, valuing their traditional knowledge and wisdom, and co-creating solutions that empower them to enhance productivity.
“Our policies and programmes in Rwanda are based on the knowledge that providing farmers with the necessary resources, information, and support networks is essential for sustainable development,” he said.
He pointed out that Rwanda’s agricultural transformation agenda has been informed by a farmer-centric approach, which ensures that useful innovations are accessible to farmers.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire, the Executive Director of AATF, noted that when farmer-centred technologies are implemented within a supportive and enabling environment, they significantly increase productivity, improve livelihoods, and drive economic empowerment.
“For over two decades, AATF has coordinated the formation and implementation of public-private partnerships aimed at facilitating development and access to agricultural technologies that address production challenges, enhance yields, and contribute to the continent’s economic growth while enhancing community health and wealth.”
Despite progress in research and technology development, the diffusion of these innovations to end-users, especially farmers, remains limited. Persistent bottlenecks are preventing the delivery of these innovations to market, which diminishes the return on investment in agricultural R&D and undermines the intended impact.
“Addressing these challenges requires deliberate action by high-level decision-makers and institutions across the continent to improve value chain optimisation and facilitate intra-African trade,” Dr. Kanangire added.
ACAT will continue to provide a critical platform for stakeholders who are committed to advancing Africa’s socio-economic development and food security through agricultural innovation. It stimulates conversations on sustainable pathways for developing, transferring, and adopting agricultural technologies among smallholder farmers to achieve rural economic transformation.
The Conference has brought together over 800 delegates drawn from the African continent and beyond. They include government representatives, industry thought leaders, policymakers, technical experts, private institutions, farmers, women, and youth.
The convening is expected to build momentum towards action on current discussions and recommendations on the importance of the utilisation of innovative agricultural technologies.
On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), UNESCO has called on its Member States to make education a central lever for ocean protection.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
In Nice, UNESCO unveiled new initiatives, ranging from classrooms to video games, to raise young people’s awareness of the need to safeguard marine ecosystems. The organisation also strengthened its partnerships to ensure funding of those initiatives.
“To protect the ocean, we must change our relationship with it, and this change begins with education. UNESCO is supporting its Member States to integrate the ocean and the environment into classrooms and the daily lives of young people,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
Putting the ocean at the heart of classrooms
UNESCO has made environmental education a priority, to integrate it into school curricula and in the daily life of schools. The organisation supports its Member States – such as South Africa, Portugal and South Korea – in developing educational content on the protection of the ocean. With UNESCO’s support, Brazil this year became the first country to adopt a national curriculum, from primary to secondary level, dedicated to ocean literacy.
Presented in 2022 at the One Ocean Summit, UNESCO’s educational reference framework for ocean education has enabled nearly 2,400 schools in 48 countries to join the global network of Blue Schools. It provides a framework for schools wishing to integrate the ocean into their teaching, through practical activities and field projects. In addition, UNESCO has trained nearly 350,000 young people and adults in ocean protection issues.
Video games and ocean sciences: a new tool for learning
UNESCO has unveiled Ocean Heroes, a new adventure in the Minecraft video game. Developed with Minecraft Education and Voice of the Ocean Foundation, over 35 million players will be able to explore coral reefs, seaweed forests and mangroves aboard a research vessel, while facing real threats such as pollution and invasive species.
Through entertaining missions, young players will acquire practical knowledge of ocean sciences, biodiversity and conservation techniques. The game offers concrete scientific challenges to solve, develops critical thinking skills and reinforces understanding of the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems.
Increased financial support for educational and scientific programmes
UNESCO and the Prada Group have announced the renewal of their SEA BEYOND partnership, a global educational programme dedicated to spreading knowledge about the ocean and its preservation. With the commitment of both organisations, since 2019, the programme has resulted in the training of more than 34,000 students in 56 countries, as well as the opening of an ocean education centre in Venice.
Together, they announced the creation of a fund to finance projects led by young people on every continent, strengthening ocean education and culture within their communities. With an initial contribution of €2 million from the Prada Group, this UNESCO fund will be open to the participation of new partners in 2026.
UNESCO has also turned its scientific campaigns into educational tools: its pilot program on environmental DNA, which mapped 4,500 marine species in 21 World Heritage marine sites, involved scientists and local schools in sampling missions for three years. With the support of the Minderoo Foundation, this project will continue in 25 new marine areas protected by UNESCO.
A lecturer at the University of Uyo, Prof. Edem Eniang, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, expressed worry at indiscriminate tree felling for timber and charcoal production, describing it as destruction of the environment.
Felled trees at the Heritage Park and Gardens, UI
Eniang said in Lagos that illegal logging increased in Nigeria in the past two years.
According to him, economic hardship contributed to the situation.
The biodiversity expert, however, cautioned that destroying the environment for a temporary economic gain would be counter-productive.
He said that illegal logging would have long-term negative consequences and should be avoided.
Eniang said that the environmental was being highly degraded by indiscriminate felling of trees as unpatriotic people turned mangrove forests to alternative sources of income and energy.
He warned that nature’s ways of reacting to such could be catastrophic.
“Violation of the nation’s forest reserves without regard to measures put in place to protect such assets depicts high level of retrogression.
“The environment remains the bedrock of human existence, and development efforts should be consistently geared toward its protection for sustainability.
“Renewable energy should be the trend toward better environment.
“Government should avoid polices that make people to dependent on trees in the forest as an alternative source of energy or means of livelihood,” Eniang said.
UN-Habitat and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan have announced the theme for the upcoming thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13): “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.”
Baku in Azerbaijan will host WUF13 in May 2026
The announcement was made at the recently held resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.
Set to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, WUF13 will focus global attention on the housing crisis and underscore the role of adequate housing in building inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable cities and communities.
“The World Urban Forum is one of the largest UN platforms convening diverse parties to exchange, partner and act on priorities to promote sustainable cities and communities – in line with the priorities of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals – and is a truly transformative global urban coalition,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Assembly, which brought together 193 Member States and urban stakeholders from across the world to advance sustainable urban development.
Housing at the heart of sustainable urbanisation
The theme of WUF13 comes at a critical moment, with nearly 3 billion people currently experiencing some form of housing inadequacy, including more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements or slums and over 300 million experiencing homelessness.
“We are determined to work closely with a wide range of partners to make WUF13 in Baku a major milestone for the global housing agenda,” said Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan and WUF13 National Coordinator.
As the world approaches the midpoint in implementing the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 will explore housing as a catalyst for more equitable and climate-resilient urban development. The Forum will also contribute directly to the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s quadrennial report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
Looking ahead to WUF13
Since its inception in 2001, the World Urban Forum has grown into the UN’s premier platform for examining the impacts of rapid urbanisation and sharing solutions. The last session, held in Cairo in 2024, brought together more than 25,000 participants from 182 countries and culminated in the Cairo Call to Action – a roadmap for sustainable urban transformation.
Climate transparency is more than a reporting requirement under the Paris Agreement – it’s a strategic tool to unlock the finance countries need to meet their climate goals.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell
As nations update their national climate plans (NDCs) in 2025, a new case study by UN Climate Change’s #Together4Transparency initiative, developed in partnership with the Centre for Clean Air Policy, highlights how strong transparency systems can help mobilize climate finance and drive global action.
The study shows that when countries embed transparency into their climate reporting systems, they can more effectively pinpoint investment opportunities in high-priority areas, identify financing gaps, and attract both public and private funding.
By aligning transparency frameworks with national priorities and capacities, governments can clearly demonstrate their climate progress and finance needs, building trust and enabling coordinated support.
The case study presents the concept of a three-part engine that drives climate action:
NDCsset national targets and estimate the cost of climate action.
Transparency mechanisms track progress and identify gaps in action and support.
Climate finance bridges these gaps, making implementation possible.
The publication focuses on Panama’s National Climate Transparency Platform, launched in 2022, as a compelling example of how robust transparency mechanisms can help unlock vital climate finance. This digital portal integrates climate data and policy information through modular, interconnected systems, ensuring consistent, traceable reporting aligned with Paris Agreement requirements.
Panama’s platform shows how national systems can embed Enhanced Transparency Framework requirements in a way that not only fulfills international reporting commitments but also supports NDC implementation and drives transformative climate action.
German environmentalists have filed charges against the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg for allegedly failing to meet its climate targets, the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) group said on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
DUH managing director, Jürgen Resch
The non-profit, which brought the case to the state administrative court in Mannheim, aims to compel state authorities to implement an action programme before the next state elections in March 2026, in order to meet the self-imposed targets.
According to the Climate Protection Act of Baden-Württemberg, the state must reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 65 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
This reduction is intended to help the state achieve climate neutrality by 2040.
However, last year scientists projected that Baden-Württemberg, which is home to many of Germany’s manufacturing businesses, including major car industry players like Porsche and Mercedes, was on track to miss the 2030 target.
The Climate Act also stipulated that further measures must be taken if an “imminent significant deviation from targets” is identified.
So far, the state government, a coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats and the Greens, had failed to act.
DUH managing director, Jürgen Resch, accused the state government of deliberately violating the law.
He proposed introducing a statewide speed limit on the Autobahn, a controversial issue in Germany, as well as energy-efficient refurbishments of schools and daycare centres as additional ways to reduce emissions.
Abu Dhabi has recorded a Sustainable Fisheries Index of 97.4 per cent by the end of 2024, continuing a six-year streak of marine conservation achievements in line with World Oceans Day.
Recent marine monitoring documented key indicators of ecosystem recovery
The accomplishment marks an improvement from just 8.9 per cent in 2018, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.
Recent marine monitoring also documented key indicators of ecosystem recovery.
Notably, 55 specimens of the rare nuaimi fish were recorded, along with the first sighting of the white-spotted grouper in Abu Dhabi – now added to the international Fish Base database.
Other rare species spotted include the large-scaled triggerfish and the spotted oceanic triggerfish.
To support fish stock recovery, the UAE has enforced internationally aligned regulations on commercial and recreational fishing and expanded marine protected areas.
Additional initiatives include coral propagation, artificial reef installation, and enhanced aquaculture.
Experts believe the index milestone demonstrates the value of science-based policy and global best practices in restoring fish populations and protecting ecosystems.
The Executive Director, Cedars Refuge Foundation (CRF), Mr. Peter Unekwu-Ojo, has called on young Nigerians to abstain from taking flavoured tobacco products that pose dangers to their health.
A cross-section of students of Klinnicaps Academy and some members of the foundation
Unekwu-Ojo made the call during an anti-tobacco campaign at Klinnicaps Academy in Koroduma, Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The theme of the campaign is: “Exposing Lies, Protecting Lives: Unmasking the Appeal of Tobacco and Nicotine Products.”
According to him, the campaign focuses on exposing the deceptive strategies of the tobacco industry.
“The campaign is aimed at combating the rising tobacco use among young Nigerians.
“We are engaging the students in an enlightening and interactive session aimed at unmasking the harmful realities behind flashy advertisements and flavoured tobacco products,’’ he said.
Addressing the students and school officials, Unekwu-Ojo denounced the manipulative tactics employed by tobacco companies, accusing them of deliberately targeting children and youths.
“These industries are setting young people up against their future. They sandwich their products with glamorous colourful packaging, enticing flavours and high-profile adverts, hiding the dangerous consequences of addiction.
“The educational session not only delivered hard-hitting facts, but also encouraged vibrant feedback and critical reflection from students.
“The campaign emphasises that the glitz associated with tobacco products is a smokescreen concealing long-term health risks and dependency
“Every child deserves a future free from the industry’s traps flavoured nicotine, flashy adverts and peer-induced pressure.
“Tobacco use is not a fashion statement, it is a death sentence disguised in shiny colours,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. John Egla, Executive Director, Development Initiatives for Societal Health, reiterated the irreversible danger posed by tobacco use.
According to him, tobacco is a killer; there is no safe level of smoking.
He said that Cedars Refuge Foundation would be establishing Tobacco-Free Clubs in 10 high schools across Nasarawa State.
“These clubs will empower students with knowledge, peer leadership and advocacy tools to resist and counter tobacco industry influence.
“The 2018 Tobacco Atlas revealed alarming statistics that over 942 million men and 175 million women worldwide aged 15 and older are smokers, with usage rising across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria,” he said.
He attributed this growth to increased affordability and aggressive marketing strategies by tobacco companies aimed at vulnerable youth populations.
Mr. Patrick Ori, the school principal, expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, acknowledging the importance of early intervention and continuous education.
Ori urged the students to resist peer pressure, adding that the critical role of parental supervision in safeguarding their future could not be overemphasised.
The Dean of Studies, Mrs. Precious Ojiaku, urged students to uphold strong moral values.
She advised them to avoid falling prey to nicotine hooks and flavour packages that were designed to entice and trap the unsuspecting living a morally grounded life.
“Living a morally grounded life, avoidance is the most effective resistance against an industry that profits from addiction and suffering,” she said.
She added that the campaign marks a significant step in the broader Smoke-Free Campaign led by Cedars Refuge Foundation.
Ojiaku said that the campaign also targets hotel operators, market leaders, motor park managers, primary health care centres, influencers, policymakers and relevant stakeholders.
“It is important that stakeholders enforce the smoke-free provisions of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act and Regulations, in collaboration with relevant enforcement agencies.
“The message is clear as well as resounding that ‘Tobacco has no place in the future of Nigerian youth’,” she added.
The high point of the campaign was the official establishment of a Tobacco-Free Club at Klinnicaps Academy, Karu.
The foundation distributed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to support the club’s activities and empower students with facts and skills to stand against tobacco use.
