More than 150 representatives from the frontlines of the climate crisis in the Asia-Pacific region have come together to identify programming opportunities that would realise their countries’ climate aspirations.
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown
Representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – 13 from the Pacific region plus Maldives and Timor-Leste – convened in the Cook Islands on May 2025 for the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) Regional Dialogue with the Pacific and Asian SIDS. They shared successes and lessons from partnering with (GCF) and explored ways to strengthen collaboration to support enhanced project pipelines.
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown, focused on the opportunity at hand. “Our collective goal must be to strengthen coherence, increase scale and deliver real impact on the ground. Faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably,” he said.
“This is where the Green Climate Fund plays such a critical role, not just as a financier, but as a genuine partner; a partner that is responsive to country realities, aligned to regional priorities, and willing to innovate alongside us to overcome persistent challenges.
“The dialogue is an opportunity to move from conversation to action. It is an opportunity to co-design solutions that preserve national and regional ownership while strengthening the delivery of climate finance where it matters most: In our communities, on our lands, and across our oceans.”
The Dialogue enabled GCF to better understand and respond to the priorities, challenges, and needs of SIDS in the region. The Fund also updated partners on its latest policies, tools, and guidance to simplify and quicken access to finance. A series of technical discussions and workshops focused on specific programming areas for the private and public sectors within GCF’s updated Strategic Plan were held over the course of the three-day event.
The Director of GCF’s Asia Pacific Regional Department, Hemant Mandal, acknowledged the leadership of the Pacific and Asian SIDS on the regional and global climate agenda.
“This region has always punched above its weight. From governance to innovation, Pacific voices have shaped GCF,” he said. “With nearly 20 per cent of our Asia-Pacific portfolio invested in this (Pacific) region, we are proud of what we’ve built together, and we are here to grow that partnership.”
The Dialogue was co-hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister, Climate Change Cook Islands, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. Participants included the GCF’s government focal points (National Designated Authorities), Accredited Entities (national and international), Civil Society Organisations, and other partners.
A new ecological corridor of around 800,000 hectares, or 8,000 km², was announced by the Kyrgyz Republic on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The corridor is set to link up existing conservation areas and complete a protected area spanning a total of over 1,2 million hectares, in a landmark move for biodiversity.
A view of the newly created ecological corridor in Kyrgyz Republic
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) supported the Kyrgyz government by providing ecological modelling to help define the corridor’s borders. The area will connect the Khan-Tengri National Park and Naryn Nature Reserve, passing through several other conservation areas along the way.
The corridor aims to safeguard migration and dispersal routes for key mountain wildlife species under pressure from changing habitat conditions due to overgrazing and climate change. The species include snow leopards, which are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and its prey species, such as the Asiatic ibex and the argali sheep.
The ecological corridor is said to be the biggest to be created under the Kyrgyz Republic’s Law on Specially Protected Natural Areas. Ecological corridors balance conservation goals with sustainable land use. While they are legally part of the protected area system, the corridors allow activities like seasonal grazing with some limitations, ecotourism, and reforestation, provided they do not harm biodiversity or disrupt ecological processes such as wildlife migration.
Previously, over 65,000 sheep grazed in the corridor area during summer months. With the corridor’s introduction, grazing planning and the rotation of livestock herds will be adapted to reduce this figure by 15,000, leaving mountain pastures more time to recover and providing grazing opportunities for wildlife. The redistribution process, coordinated with local herders and community leaders, aims to protect livelihoods while environmental goals are met.
“The establishment of this corridor marks a major milestone in conservation for Central Asia and can serve as a model for the region,” said UNEP’s Europe Office Director, Arnold Kreilhuber. “By creating a network of connected landscapes, the Kyrgyz Republic is leading the way in preserving not only iconic species like the snow leopard but also safeguarding the nature that people’s livelihoods depend on.”
“This is a collaborative effort to conserve our ecosystems without excluding the people who rely on them,” said Mirslav Amankulov, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic. “There are no permanent settlements within the corridor, and we’ve worked closely with herders to ensure fair access to alternative pastureland.”
The corridor was established following a modelling study conducted by Humboldt University in Berlin and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic under a UNEP-led project. The modeled ecological corridor outlines were presented at community roundtables and received unanimous support from local authorities and scientific institutions.
Looking ahead, the country plans to integrate ecological corridors into other sectoral planning and policy – such as national pasture development plans and hunting regulations – to support biodiversity conservation. Monitoring systems, including biomass assessments, will help to oversee pasture use and track ecological health.
“Ecological corridors are a crucial way to ensure that, despite the changing climate, ecosystems can continue to provide essential services that people and nature rely on – from clean water and fertile soils to climate resilience and room for migration,” said Johan Robinson, Officer in Charge for UNEP’s Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division. “The Kyrgyz Republic is choosing a more sustainable future for both nature and communities”.
To enhance climate-smart conservation in Central Asia, the possibility of establishing transboundary ecological corridors extending beyond the Kyrgyz Republic is being considered.
This announcement coincides with the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, highlighting the Kyrgyz Republic’s commitment to global efforts in preserving the planet’s natural heritage.
Support for the ecological corridor was provided through the UNEP-led ‘Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation’ (CAMCA) project, funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German government, in collaboration with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), WWF USA, and two Kyrgyz NGO’s, CAMP Alatoo and Ilbirs Foundation.
The project aims to enhance the conservation of flagship migratory mammal species of Central Asia through climate change-informed management and decision-making.
Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp) has launched its school recycling initiative at Ireti Senior Grammar School, Falomo, Lagos.
Owen Omogiafo, the President/Group CEO, Transcorp Group leading sensitization of students during waste recycling campaign by the firm in Lagos on Thursday
The awareness campaign, with the theme: “Transcorp Transforms School Recycling Initiative”, began with a lecture on waste separation and benefits of recycling.
A waste management team educated students on how recycling plastic bottles could create income while saving the environment.
President and Group CEO, Owen Omogiafo, led an interactive session highlighting environmental risks of careless waste disposal.
She stressed the long-term impact of waste mismanagement on future generations and the importance of acting responsibly.
Two large recycling collection bins for paper and plastics were unveiled on the school grounds amid cheers from students and staff.
Omogiafo said the initiative is part of Transcorp’s Corporate Social Responsibility to foster environmental education in schools.
She explained that raising awareness among children helps build a generation that values sustainability and responsible habits.
“We’re seeing floods and disasters globally, including wildfires in California and evacuations in Argentina,” she noted.
Omogiafo added that Transcorp is encouraging other companies to follow suit and support environmental causes across Nigeria.
“This school is one of many. We’ll continue reaching out to more schools nationwide,” she affirmed.
She also revealed that Transcorp-owned schools run similar environmental education campaigns throughout the year.
Transcorp, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate, has investments in power, energy, and hospitality, backed by 300,000 shareholders.
Student representative, Utsu Comfort, thanked Transcorp and pledged student participation in improved waste practices.
Principal, Mrs. Okuyemi Babafemi, and teacher, Mrs. Ruth Aliu, praised the initiative for empowering students with recycling knowledge.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has urged communities in its 11 frontline states to take ownership of its projects and assets.
Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Alhaji Saleh Abubakar
The agency’s Director-General, Mr. Saleh Abubakar, made the call during a high-level advocacy visit to Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State in Dutse, the state capital, on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
He said community ownership is vital to safeguard projects and reduce vandalism incidents affecting NAGGW’s investments across Northern Nigeria.
Abubakar explained that the visit aimed to promote collaboration, awareness, and support for the agency’s activities within the state.
The agency operates in 11 northern states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
He stressed that, in rural areas, people rely on natural resources, making it crucial to advocate for human capital development and resource diversification.
Abubakar warned that unchecked desertification, land degradation, and climate change could ruin livelihoods, destroy habitats, and trigger conflict or forced migration.
“Human misuse drives land degradation, but through behaviour change and action, communities can reverse the damage,” the DG stated.
He said the visit was designed to raise awareness and encourage communities to protect NAGGW projects by treating them as their own.
He listed agency services, including degraded land restoration, afforestation, and alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on natural resources and boost rural economies.
Abubakar also highlighted efforts in promoting alternative energy, managing water resources, supporting irrigation, and conducting awareness campaigns across the 11 states.
He urged the governor to help protect current investments, replicate the awareness drive, and identify communities needing immediate NAGGW interventions.
Namadi, represented by Jigawa Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nura Ibrahim, praised the DG’s visit and appreciated the state being chosen for the first advocacy effort.
Namadi promised to sensitise residents on project protection and urged NAGGW to involve locals in project implementation for better outcomes.
He said local participation would enhance a sense of responsibility and encourage communities to protect projects in their areas.
“The vandalism of NAGGW facilities causes economic loss and hampers the sustainability of development efforts,” the governor warned.
He added the consequences affect not just communities but the nation as a whole.
“We will ensure our people recognise the projects as theirs and take collective responsibility for their protection,” Namadi assured.
President Bola Tinubu has urged the new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) board to consolidate the gains of the ongoing economic reforms, which have attracted commendations for the resilience and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.
From left: Chairman of the NNPC board, Ahmadu Musa Kida; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, after the inauguration of the NNPC Board at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday
This is contained in a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Board of NNPC Ltd. at the State House, Tinubu said he selected the board members painstakingly to ensure quality leadership.
“When I started searching, it took a while to come up with the kind of character that you represent. You represent the best in the industry, and I have set goals for you.
“You have the reputation, resourcefulness and experience to help the country. It is a call to duty for you.
“I believe you are among the best the industry can offer,” he said.
The President said the ongoing economic reforms had yielded results, with local and international acknowledgements.
“Nigeria has come of age. It is now more competitive and turning the corner, and with your highly respected team, I can relax and attend to other issues.
“Thank you for accepting the opportunity to serve your country and our dear country,” the President stated. Tinubu told the board that the volatility in the world’s economy would require looking inward for solutions, and Nigerians would depend on repositioning the NNPC Ltd.
He added, “Explore all options for a win-win situation for Nigeria. I am so proud of you and believe you will succeed.”
Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State, Petroleum, thanked the President for assembling the team he described as the best in Africa.
“I got calls from the whole of Africa, my colleagues in OPEC, saying that if this team does not deliver, Nigeria will have to import men from another planet to come and deliver the oil and gas sector in Nigeria,” he said.
Ahmadu Kida, the Chairman of the Board, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country.
He said the new Board would uphold the highest standard of leadership, courage and integrity in delivering on the President’s mandate.
Bashir Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., said the team had already met with industry stakeholders to review operations and business relationships.
“We have had several meetings, and we have set a direction with the mandate that you have given us. We have commenced the journey with a bi-weekly meeting with stakeholders,” he said.
Ojulari noted that the management had started optimising various aspects of the company, including the turnaround maintenance of the refineries.
He said production had risen to 1.7 million barrels in two months from 1.5 million barrels, with the target of reaching 1.9 million barrels by year-end.
“We will promise what we can deliver, and we will deliver on our promise,” he added. Ojulari also said the President’s economic reform had sent the right signals to attract foreign direct investments.
He assured us that the NNPC Ltd. would operate as a business.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has been honoured as the Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year at the prestigious Awards Night of the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Tony Attah (centre), and other leaders of the company as they celebrate the emergence of Renaissance as the Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year; and Tony Attah as Local Content Icon of the Year at the Awards Night of the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The growing energy firm on Thursday, May 22, 2025, bested industry giants including Exxon-Mobil Esso, SNEPCo, and Seplat to secure the coveted recognition.
Further solidifying the company’s remarkable debut, Managing Director of Renaissance, Tony Attah, was individually celebrated as the Local Content Icon of the Year. This significant medal haul comes barely two months after Renaissance’s landmark acquisition of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
The awards underscore Renaissance’s immediate impact and operational prowess. In its first full month of operation, the company surpassed its production target by an impressive 40%, a rare feat in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) hailed as ‘remarkable’ and ‘sterling’.
Speaking on the awards, Attah said, “The credit for this industry recognition goes to our staff for their resilience, hard work and belief in the new beginning in the Nigerian energy landscape that Renaissance represents.”
He described the awards as a challenge to the company to sustain its leading position in fostering energy security and industrialisation in a sustainable manner.
“We leverage indigenous expertise and strategic partnerships to drive responsible operations and deliver value across the energy value chain,” Attah added.
Apart from the dedicated workforce, the managing director noted that the other driving forces behind the early-day successes of Renaissance are the company’s joint venture partners, stakeholders and shareholders whose support, he said, had been total and steadfast.
Renaissance is a dynamic and rapidly expanding energy leader, committed to powering Nigeria and Africa’s energy security and industrialisation through sustainable energy solutions. As the operator of Nigeria’s largest oil and gas Joint Venture assets (NNPC/Renaissance/TotalEnergies/AENR JV), Renaissance produces from diverse onshore, swamp, and shallow water locations across the Niger Delta. The JV’s participating interests are: NNPC (55%), Renaissance (30%), TotalEnergies (10%), and AENR (5%).
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
Charles Oranyeli, Head, Supply Chain, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), speaking at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Speaking at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, SNEPCo MD, Ronald Adams, said projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts.
“SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater frontier with the Bonga development as the first deepwater oilfield exploration and production venture in the country,” Ron said in remarks which were delivered by Head Supply Chain, Charles Oranyeli. “Our operations have greatly benefitted Nigerian businesses, and we expect them to get ready to take up more opportunities.”
Adams said Nigerian companies could upscale their skills and continue to offer services in logistics, drilling, fabrication and construction of subsea manifolds, mooring and loading systems, pressure vessels and provision of gas processing equipment in deep-water, as well as procurement and civil works in shallow water.
Since starting production at Bonga in 2005, SNEPCo has been supporting Nigerian contractors and service providers to grow their capacity through the development of systems and a competent workforce with the aim to deliver projects safely, on time and within budget not only in Nigeria but also in the West Arican subregion.
The efforts have enabled Nigerian companies to play prominent roles in the safe and efficient operations of the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel which produced the 1-billionth barrel of oil from the field on February 3, 2023.
Adams added: “SNEPCo sees Nigerian content development as a business driver and not a regulatory requirement and will continue to support our companies to lay even bigger roles in their support for oil and gas operations.”
The three-day NOGOF is being hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) with the theme: “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Through Indigenous Capacity Development.”
SNEPCo is among the sponsors of the event, and is hosting an exhibition, highlighting its contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy and communities.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) will create more funding availability for indigenous companies.
Felix Omatsola Ogbe, head of the NCDMB
Mr. Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary, NCDMB, said this on Wednesday, May 21, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the ongoing fifth edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF 2025).
The fair has its theme as “Driving Investment and Production Growth: Shaping a sustainable Oil and Gas Industry through Indigenous Capacity Development.”
The Africa Energy Bank, with its proposed headquarters in Abuja, will be open for business before the end of the second quarter in 2025.
The NCDMB boss, however, expressed hope that the bank would create more funding availability for local companies in the sector.
“At NCDMB, we remain unwavering in our commitment to creating the right policies, providing funding mechanisms, and partnerships to support Nigerian businesses.
“I am happy to announce that the Board alongside other stakeholders recently formed the Africa Energy Bank with the proposed Headquarters in Abuja,” Ogbe said.
The executive secretary encouraged the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to make conscious effort to engage local companies in line with the provisions of its laws.
However, the NOGOF 2025 edition coincides with the 15th year anniversary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
Ogbe said following the establishment of the Board, it created a 10-year road map to deepen local participation and increase the participation of Nigerians in the activities of the oil and gas industry.
On this note, he said it had moved from five per cent in-country value retention in 2010 to 56 per cent in December 2024.
“Since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010, we have made remarkable progress in building the capability and capacity of Nigerians and of Nigerian companies, attracting critical investments in-country, and enhancing value retention,” Ogbe said.
He said the Board’s mandate had been further reiterated by President Bola Tinubu’s newly introduced “Nigeria First Policy,” a “bold, forward-thinking move” for the Nigerian Content drive.
He described the sale of onshore assets by the IOCs to indigenous companies as a bold step and strategic shift towards deeper local participation and value retention.
He congratulated Renaissance, Seplat, Oando and all our indigenous companies on their milestone achievements, and encouraged them not to relent.
“We must sustain the momentum and come together to support this local content stride in terms of procurement, capacity building, knowledge transfer, job creation and mentorship for upcoming investors,” Ogbe said.
In an address, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), said attracting both local and foreign investment required concerted efforts to create an enabling environment characterised by stability, transparency, and regulatory certainty.
Komolafe, represented by Captain John Tonlagha, Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC), said its mission in promoting sustainable value creation was geared towards driving investment and production growth by supporting indigenous capacity development and empowering local talent.
“The commission works towards fostering local expertise, achieving a reduction in our dependency on foreign companies and creating a robust, self-sustaining industry.
“Educating and training to create indigenous capacity is very crucial, hence investment in specialised education programmes and vocational training tailored to the needs of the oil and gas industry,” he said.
New data shows fires triggered unprecedented global forest loss in 2024, releasing more than four times the emissions from all air travel in 2023 – with devastating impacts on people and the climate, according to Global Forest Watch’s annual analysis
Global forest loss surged to record highs in 2024, driven by a catastrophic rise in fires, according to new data from the University of Maryland’s GLAD Lab, made available on World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch platform.
Fire fighters battle a forest fire
Loss of tropical primary forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares – nearly twice as much as in 2023 and an area nearly the size of Panama, at the rate of 18 soccer fields every minute.
For the first time on record, fires – not agriculture – were the leading cause of tropical primary forest loss, accounting for nearly 50% of all destruction. This marks a dramatic shift from recent years, when fires averaged just 20%. Meanwhile, tropical primary forest loss driven by other causes also jumped by 14%, the sharpest increase since 2016.
Despite some positive developments, particularly in Southeast Asia, the overall trend is heading in a troubling direction. Leaders of over 140 countries signed the Glasgow Leaders Declaration in 2021, promising to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. But we are alarmingly off track to meet this commitment: Of the 20 countries with the largest area of primary forest, 17 have higher primary forest loss today than when the agreement was signed.
The consequences of forest loss in 2024 have been devastating for both people and the planet. Globally, the fires emitted 4.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions – releasing more than four times the emissions from all air travel in 2023. The fires worsened air quality, strained water supplies and threatened the lives and livelihoods of millions.
Elizabeth Goldman, Co-Director, WRI’s Global Forest Watch, said:“This level of forest loss is unlike anything we’ve seen in over 20 years of data. It’s a global red alert – a collective call to action for every country, every business and every person who cares about a livable planet. Our economies, our communities, our health – none of it can survive without forests.”
While fires are natural in some ecosystems, those in tropical forests are mostly human-caused, often set on agricultural land or to prepare new areas for farming. In 2024, the hottest year on record, extreme conditions fueled by climate change and El Niño made these fires more intense and harder to control. Although forests have the ability to recover from fire, the combined pressures of land conversion and a changing climate can hinder that recovery and raise the likelihood of future fires.
Top Countries for Forest Loss
Brazil, the country with the largest area of tropical forest, accounted for 42% of all tropical primary forest loss in 2024. Fires, fueled by the worst drought on record, caused 66% of that loss – an over sixfold increase from 2023. Primary forest loss from other causes also rose by 13%, mostly due to large-scale farming for soy and cattle, though still lower than the peaks seen in the early 2000s and in the Bolsonaro era. The Amazon experienced its highest tree cover loss since 2016, while the Pantanal suffered the highest percentage of tree cover loss in the country.
Mariana Oliveira, Director Forests and Land Use Programme, WRI Brasil, said:“Brazil has made progress under President Lula – but the threat to forests remains. Without sustained investment in community fire prevention, stronger state-level enforcement and a focus on sustainable land use, hard-won gains risk being undone. As Brazil prepares to host COP30, it has a powerful opportunity to put forest protection front and center on the global stage.”
Bolivia’s primary forest loss skyrocketed by 200% in 2024, totaling 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres). For the first time, it ranked second for tropical primary forest loss only to Brazil, overtaking the Democratic Republic of Congo despite having less than half its forest area. More than half the loss was due to fires, often set to clear land for soy, cattle, and sugarcane, which turned into megafires due to heavy drought. Government policies promoting agricultural expansion worsened the problem.
Stasiek Czaplicki Cabezas, Bolivian researcher and Data Journalist for Revista Nomadas, said: “The fires that tore through Bolivia in 2024 left deep scars – not only on the land, but on the people who depend on it. The damage could take centuries to undo. Across the tropics, we need stronger fire response systems and a shift away from policies that encourage dangerous land clearing, or this pattern of destruction will only get worse.”
In Colombia, primary forest loss increased by nearly 50%. However, unlike elsewhere in Latin America, fires were not the primary cause. Instead, non-fire-related loss rose by 53%, owing to instability from the breakdown in peace talks, including illegal mining and coca production.
Joaquin Carrizosa, Senior Advisor, WRI Colombia said:“In 2023, Colombia saw the biggest drop in primary forest loss in 20 years, proving that when government and communities work together, real change is possible. The rise in primary forest loss in 2024 is a setback, but it shouldn’t discourage us as a country. We need to keep supporting local, nature-based economies – especially in remote areas – and invest in solutions that protect the environment, create jobs and foster peace.”
In 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo (ROC) saw the highest levels of primary forest loss on record. In the ROC, primary forest loss surged by 150% compared to the previous year, with fires causing 45% of the damage, worsened by unusually hot and dry conditions.
Like the Amazon, the Congo Basin plays a crucial role as a carbon sink, but the rising fires and forest loss now threaten its vital function. In the DRC, poverty, reliance on forests for food and energy and ongoing conflict driven by rebel groups have fueled instability and led to increased land clearing, further driving forest loss.
Teodyl Nkuintchua, Congo Basin Strategy & Engagement Lead, WRI Africa, said:“The high rates of forest loss in the DRC reflect the tough realities our communities are facing – poverty, conflict and a deep reliance on forests for survival. There’s no silver bullet, but we won’t change the current trajectory until people across the Congo Basin are fully empowered to lead conservation efforts that also support their rural economies.”
Dr. Matt Hansen, Professor, University of Maryland; Co-Director, Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) Lab, said:“We’re seeing unprecedented forest loss from fire in the few remaining ‘High Forest, Low Deforestation’ countries, like the Republic of Congo. This new dynamic is outside of current policy frameworks or intervention capabilities and will severely test our ability to maintain intact forests within a warming climate.”
However, it’s not all bad news. In Southeast Asia, there are signs of progress. Indonesia reduced primary forest loss by 11%, reversing a steady rise between 2021 and 2023. Efforts under former President Joko Widodo to restore land and curb fires helped keep fire rates low, even amid widespread droughts. Similarly, Malaysia saw a 13% decline and fell out of the top 10 countries for tropical primary forest loss for the first time.
Arief Wijaya, Managing Director, WRI Indonesia, said:“We’re proud that Indonesia is one of the few countries in the world to reduce primary forest loss. But deforestation remains a concern due to plantations, small-scale farming and mining – even within protected areas. We hope the current administration keeps the momentum going”.
The rise in forest loss also extended beyond the tropics. The world saw a 5% increase in total tree cover loss compared to 2023, adding up to 30 million hectares – an area the size of Italy. This increase was driven in part by the intense fire seasons in Canada and Russia, marking the first time that major fires raged across both the tropics and boreal forests since GFW’s record-keeping began.
Combatting Forest Loss
Peter Potapov, Research Professor, University of Maryland; Co-Director, Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) Lab, said:“2024 was the worst year on record for fire-driven forest loss, breaking the record set just last year. If this trend continues, it could permanently transform critical natural areas and unleash large amounts of carbon – intensifying climate change and fueling even more extreme fires. This is a dangerous feedback loop we cannot afford to trigger further.”
Rod Taylor, Director, Forests and Nature Conservation, WRI, said:“Forest fires and land clearing are driving up emissions, while the climate is already changing faster than forests can adapt. This crisis is pushing countless species to the brink and forcing Indigenous Peoples and local communities from their ancestral lands. But this isn’t irreversible – if governments, businesses, and individuals act now, we can stop the assault on forests and their custodians.”
To meet the global goal of halting forest loss by 2030, the world must reduce deforestation by 20% every year, starting immediately. In contrast, 2024 marked an 80% increase in tropical primary forest loss. To combat this loss, the world needs action on multiple fronts: stronger fire prevention, deforestation-free supply chains for commodities, better enforcement of trade regulations and increased funding for forest protection – especially Indigenous-led initiatives.
Achieving this will require political will, national strategies tailored to local realities and greater support from wealthier nations to ensure forests remain standing – and are valued more alive than lost.
Kelly Levin, Chief of Science, Data and Systems Change, Bezos Earth Fund, said: “Countries have repeatedly pledged to halt deforestation and forest degradation. Yet the data reveal a stark gap between promises made and progress delivered – alongside the growing impacts of a warming world. These findings should jolt us out of complacency. The Bezos Earth Fund is proud to support this vital tool for showing where we stand and ensuring action is grounded in evidence.”
As the hottest year ever recorded draws to a close, climate change is passing from theory to reality and gaining ever-increasing urgency in statehouses around the world. The goal of achieving net zero CO2 emissions worldwide by 2050 is widely agreed upon by climate experts as necessary to avoid irreversible changes in Earth’s weather patterns that could cause centuries of harm for everyone. The big question, of course, is how do we get there? Who bears what burdens, and how?
Oil and gas installations
For the developed world, the answer is strikingly simple: cut, cut, and cut some more. The countries that generate and consume the most energy have brought us to this point, and it’s their responsibility to become more efficient and find new and cleaner ways to maintain their current, comfortable lifestyle. While the cutting part has left much to be desired so far, the new and cleaner part looks promising. The cost of renewable energy (RE) sources such as wind and solar have been drastically reduced over the last decade to become some of the cheapest options available.
This is where the question gets thorny: What about the developing world, which has barely even begun to emit carbon, yet desperately wants (and deserves) to catch up to the developed world’s standard of living? How do places like Africa get what they want without erasing progress toward net zero? For many, the answer is leapfrogging.
What is Leapfrogging?
In short, leapfrogging is the idea that developing nations can bypass the last century and a half of carbon-heavy energy technology and jump straight to 100% renewable energy with no middle stage. It’s easy to see why this idea is tempting, and why so much talk of it is focused on Africa. Cheap technology is appealing to poor countries, and our equatorial continent between two oceans has some of the greatest potential for solar and wind power to be found anywhere on the planet.
Currently, more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity, and the total population is expected to double in the next three decades, so the demand is already enormous and accelerating by the day. By 2050, one in four people on Earth will be African.
Western attendees at climate conferences such as the United Nations Conference of Parties have opined that the world “cannot afford” for developing countries to follow the same trajectory as Europe, the U.S., and China to reach abundant, reliable energy supply. Mohamed Adow, director of the energy and climate think-tank Power Shift Africa, states that “Africa stands on the cusp of sweeping economic development. Whether this development is powered by clean renewables, or dirty fossil fuels, will go a long way to determining if the world meets the Paris Agreement goal…” Greenpeace urges African leaders “to avoid falling into the fossil fuel trap and lead the continent towards a clean, renewable, affordable and sustainable energy future.”
Boiled down, the implication is that Africa should avoid ANY investment in fossil fuels – complete prohibition. Suggesting otherwise in some circles verges on taboo. But is it realistic to expect Africa to go all-in on the latest technology and forego other resources it has in great abundance, like natural gas? Do the numbers back up their assertions? And is it even fair to ask so much from people with so far to go?
Not as Cheap as It Sounds
Even as solar panels and windmills drop in price, obtaining them is only one part of a much larger equation. Solar arrays, for instance, can be installed on a single home or in a microgrid connected to a small group of residences to power them directly. Multiply this by hundreds or thousands and the arrangement is known as distributed solar energy.
Leapfrogging using distributed solar has been described as similar to how the developing world leapt right past landlines and straight to cell phones with seeming ease just in the last couple of decades. If we can do it with communications, then why not energy?
Cost, for starters. A basic 8W solar array can cost 10 times more than a cell phone in a single year in Kenya. An 8W system is just enough to power a couple of LED lights and a cell phone charger. If you want to power a TV, a refrigerator, a washing machine, or other energy-intensive appliances, you’ll need a bigger and more costly array. If your village’s microgrid is small, what happens when too many people get refrigerators and air conditioning? Time to increase the size of the grid. And then inevitably, what happens when the sun doesn’t shine? Add storage batteries, or a local power storage facility. Expand from powering homes to industrial and agricultural use? Now your costs are growing exponentially. Realistically, who would stay satisfied for long with just two lights and a phone charger?
The difference between distributed cellular and distributed solar is networks. Distributed cellular works because everyone’s cell phone connects to a huge, centralized network of cell towers that are connected to reliable power and do all the work of connecting calls on the back end. Imagine if every home had to have its own cell tower and all the necessary hardware and software to connect to all the other phones in the world, and you can see how quickly that would get very expensive. That is distributed solar’s disadvantage – every separate grid has to do it all, and if one fails, the others can’t pick up the slack. The end result is a patchy, uneven, and unreliable supply of energy that is easily sabotaged by spikes in demand or ebbs in supply.
Like cellular, energy works best with economies of scale. Large central networks allow energy demand to be distributed based on supply and demand, with one region’s excess balancing out another’s shortage such that only the largest events can impact the entire grid at once. Can solar and wind grids be built this way? Yes, but to support industrial and agricultural use, it requires a huge investment in land as well as money for a payoff that is currently underwhelming at best.
The Benban Solar Farm in Egypt covers more than 37 square kilometers (14.3 square miles) – large enough to be visible from space – but can still only power 420,000 Egyptian homes; a small fraction of the country’s 102 million people. Expanding further might be fine in a country that’s mostly empty desert, but how much land can be set aside in more humid, arable climates where every scrap of farmland is needed to survive?
Mixed Energy Won’t Be the End of the World
While renewable energy does look like a great way to get people up and running who are starting with nothing, it clearly isn’t ready to solve all the problems of nations seeking higher levels of prosperity without all the guilt. African countries need to tap the power of the grid and every resource available to them in order to achieve what the West takes for granted every day. That includes fossil fuels, which Africa possesses in abundance, like it or not. But wouldn’t industrialising Africa with fossil fuels lead to climate catastrophe?
The answer to that question is often greatly exaggerated. Adding 250 million homes to the grid with 35 kWh/month usage (enough for a TV, refrigerator, and fan), even entirely from coal, would only increase current global greenhouse gas emissions by 0.25%. Of course, no one is suggesting firing up hundreds of coal plants across the continent, but natural gas is widely acknowledged as the cleanest form of fossil fuel, its use for generating electricity is well established, and Africa already has massive amounts of it.
Instead of starting at the bottom of the carbon ladder, burning the dirtiest stuff first in its own industrial revolution, Africa is poised to start at the top. The no-carbon approach may not be fully feasible, but a low-carbon approach most certainly is.
A Question of Fairness
According to a special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), staying within a 1.5°C maximum average global temperature rise will require a 45% decline in global CO2 emissions from 2010 levels by 2030. In reality, it needs to decline more than twice that fast since global emissions actually grew 10% between 2010 and 2019.
In 2021, Africa accounted for just 3.9% of all CO2 emissions worldwide. All of sub-Saharan Africa could triple its electricity use overnight using only natural gas and still account for only a 1% increase in global emissions, so low is its starting point. By combining natural gas with renewable energy to make the best use of both, the increase would certainly be less than that. It is hardly fair for the rest of the world to tell Africa to hold itself back for the “common good” while they continue to belch out 96% of the problem.
The solution to climate change is not for the developing world to risk “leapfrogging” over vital steps to industrialization, but for the developed world to do far more to reduce its own output that created the mess in the first place. Africa deserves the chance to improve the quality of life for its people, and it has the resources to solve its own problems if given the chance.
By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber
