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DCC, SPP begin second subnational climate governance performance ranking

Michael Simire
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DCC, SPP begin second subnational climate governance performance ranking

The Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) has announced the commencement of the second subnational climate governance performance ranking.

DCC and SPP
Some of the participants at the DCC and SPP virtual workshop

The processes started on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, with a virtual workshop organised by the DCC and the SPP to inform state climate change desk officers, directors, permanent secretaries, and climate focal persons of the improved ranking methodology and project timeline.

The virtual meeting was attending by over 40 officials from across the 36 states of the federation.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director of the DCC, emphasised the importance of the ranking as a tool for assessing and promoting best practices in climate governance at the subnational level. She stated that the data collected on the process is also vital for shaping national climate policy and guiding implementation.

The Director said that the Minister of Environment considers the first subnational climate governance ranking one of the key achievements of the ministry and is fully supportive of the effort to run the process again this year.

Dr. Abiola-Awe commended the dedication and commitment of the climate change desk officers and stressed the importance of strategic partnerships and capacity building for enhancing climate resilience.

“The journey toward climate resilience is complex and demands collective resolve, innovative solutions, and strong partnerships. The performance ranking offers a unique lens for evaluating our progress, identifying gaps, and sharing successful strategies. This second edition will deepen our understanding, inspire stronger commitments, and strengthen governance mechanisms that are inclusive, transparent, and effective,” she said.

In his address, the President of the SPP, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, acknowledged the desk officers’ role in facilitating the first subnational climate governance ranking and rating through the commitment and effort they put into completing the survey questionnaires. He described them as the real heroes of the initiative, adding that the inaugural rating and ranking is generating attention and attracting global interests.

“The subnational climate governance rating and ranking is a highly innovative project – perhaps the first of its kind in Africa. I am therefore not surprised that the Honourable Minister recognizes the importance of this highly innovative project, and has embraced it as one of his major flagship achievements,” he said.

Prof. Okereke stated that because the ranking was gaining a lot of interest, it is important to make methodological improvements to ensure its legitimacy.

He stated that the revisions to the method for this year include the establishment of a review and quality assurance panel comprising of high calibre national and international climate governance experts and emphasis on one submission from each state which must have final endorsement of the honourable commissioner or permanent secretary.

He said that the ranking methodology would be revised to give more weight to climate project implementation and that the organisers are speaking with international development partners about how to increase the reward given to the wining states.

Professor Okereke announced that, in parallel to the rating and ranking exercise, SPP would be working with the DCC to mount a range of capacity building trainings and workshops for the state desk officers and commissioners of environment in the country.

“We should remember that the main goal here is not to single out and shame underperformers, but to foster a spirit of collaboration, encourage all states to do better, recognize the ones that are doing well, and give opportunities to the ones that are lagging behind to see what the people ahead are doing and to copy from them,” he added.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Environmental and Natural Resources in Ekiti State and Chairperson, Committee of Commissioners for Environment, praised the initiative and pledged Ekiti State’s full cooperation in providing accurate and timely data for the ranking.

Desk officers took turn to give their commendations to DCC and SPP on the ranking project, and vouched to work with their principals to submit accurate data and also to make themselves available for the training and capacity building programmes.

Launched in July 2024, with states like Lagos, Gombe, Ebonyi, Borno and Ekiti as high performers, the subnational governance rating and ranking initiative aims to streamline and catalyse climate action at the subnational level through a systematic, rigorous and robust ranking and rating process.

The second edition will build on this momentum to achieve its goal of empowering subnational governments and improving climate change governance across Nigeria.

SB62: Least Developed Countries decry slow progress on climate action

Michael Simire
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SB62: Least Developed Countries decry slow progress on climate action

As the June Climate Meetings (SB62) enter the final stretch, the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group on Climate Change have raised an alarm over a perceived slow and insufficient pace of global climate action. According to the group, current efforts are dangerously inadequate to protect the more than one billion people represented and who live on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Evans Njewa
Evans Njewa, Chair of the LDC Group

The organisation expressed concern over the continued delay in submitting updated and ambitious 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – especially by countries whose emissions reductions are critical to closing the gap – and the lack of ambition in many of those submitted to date. At the same time, progress on finalising measurable indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) remains worryingly stagnant, added the LDC.

“We are already enduring the most devastating consequences of climate change, cyclones, floods, droughts yet support continues to arrive too little and too late,” said Evans Njewa, Chair of the LDC Group. “The decisions made here in Bonn must reflect the urgency of our reality. Time is not on our side.”

As Parties approach the 2025 deadline for submitting new or updated NDCs, the LDC Group reiterated its call for NDCs that align with the 1.5°C temperature goal and reflect each country’s fair share of the global effort. With only 24 Parties having submitted their NDCs to date, the group urged developed countries and major emitters to lead by example through timely, science-based, and adequately financed submissions.

On climate finance, the LDC expressed disappointment at the outcome of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), with weak and vague commitments that risk failing to scale-up funding and improve access to climate finance, particularly for vulnerable countries.

“The finance flows we are seeing do not match the scale of the crisis. We urge the COP30 Presidency to ensure a transparent and credible roadmap toward delivering $1.3 trillion in climate finance by 2035. This roadmap must provide clarity on sources, timelines, and accountability mechanisms,” said Njewa.

He stressed that the current goal on adaptation is disconnected from the realities faced in vulnerable countries. As a concrete outcome of this session and COP30 in Belém, he called for a commitment to triple adaptation finance by 2030.

As negotiations on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) continue, the LDC called for the establishment of robust indicators to measure progress across key sectors such as food, water, health, biodiversity, and resilient infrastructure.

It opposed attempts to dilute accountability by excluding indicators that reveal gaps in support or capacity.

“For us, success on the GGA will not be defined by the length of agreed text – but by lives saved and futures secured. We must track the means of implementation to ensure real progress.”

Four years since its establishment, the Mitigation Work Programme designed to urgently scale up ambition and action in this critical decade has severely drifted off track, observed that group, adding: “We are on a bumpy trajectory that could collapse this process as we note persistent resistance to addressing mitigation issues holistically, especially those linked to finance.”

The LDC added: “On Just Transition, we emphasise that our priorities differ significantly from those of developed economies. For us, a just transition means universal access to clean energy, enhanced energy security, green jobs, and most urgently comprehensive debt reform for our economies, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens.

“The UAE Just Transition Work Programme must not become a one-size-fits-all framework. If it is fit for purpose, it must centre the voices, needs, and realities of LDCs.

“We believe the road to COP30 offers a critical opportunity to restore trust in the multilateral climate process. That trust is hanging in balance. To rebuild it, developed countries must lead with ambition, finance, and fairness for effective implementation.

“We are committed to advancing the work here at SB62 and beyond. The world cannot afford to let the most vulnerable fall through the cracks.”

FENRAD urges Abia action over worsening erosion crisis in Ebem Ohafia

Michael Simire
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FENRAD urges Abia action over worsening erosion crisis in Ebem Ohafia

The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has called on the Abia State Government to urgently address the growing threat of erosion in Ebem Ohafia, a community grappling with increasing environmental degradation.

bem Ohafia
Erosion site at bem Ohafia, Abia State

According to a statement made available to EnviroNews, Executive Director of FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the erosion menace in the area has worsened over the years, posing serious risks to lives, homes, and livelihoods. The foundation noted that, without swift intervention, the situation could spiral into a full-blown humanitarian and environmental disaster.

“Properties have been damaged, families displaced, and the community is living under the threat of further erosion-related catastrophes,” stated Comrade Nwafor.

FENRAD outlined four key demands for the state government:

  • Immediate Damage Assessment – A full technical evaluation of the erosion-impacted areas to determine the scope and urgency of the situation.
  • Urgent Erosion Control Measures – Quick deployment of infrastructure solutions such as drainage systems, embankment reinforcements, and other critical interventions.
  • Relief for Affected Families – Provision of temporary shelter, food, and essential supplies to displaced and vulnerable residents.
  • Long-Term Erosion Management Plan – A sustainable, community-inclusive framework for managing erosion and promoting environmental conservation in Ebem Ohafia.

Nwafor emphasised that this is not just an environmental issue but also a public safety and development concern that requires immediate political will and action.

“As a civil society group committed to environmental justice and sustainability, we call on the Abia State Government to prioritise the welfare of its people and act now,” noted the advocate.

The foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting community resilience and environmental advocacy across the state, urging citizens, policymakers, and stakeholders to join in pushing for urgent and long-term solutions in Ebem Ohafia.

Ogun adopts tech-driven strategy against single use plastics

Michael Simire
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Ogun adopts tech-driven strategy against single use plastics

Ogun State Government says it has adopted a new strategy focused on innovation, job creation, and industrial sustainability in tackling Single Use Plastics (SUPs).

Ola Oresanya
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya

The State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lagos.

Oresanya, speaking in response to the recent ban on SUPs by the Lagos State Government, said Ogun adopted its new strategy after a thorough environmental assessment, leveraging available technology to drive meaningful change.

Though he commended the Lagos State Government for its policy direction on SUPs, the commissioner emphasised that Ogun’s unique socio-economic and industrial context required a customised approach to waste management and climate action.

“We respect what Lagos has done, especially given their population size and industrial dynamics,

 “However, Ogun State is charting a different course – one that aligns with our goal of decarbonising industry while stimulating economic inclusion,” Oresanya said.

According to him, Ogun, a highly industrialised state, is implementing a climate strategy centred around reducing carbon emissions through alternative energy sources.

“One of the key solutions being pursued is the conversion of waste, particularly highly combustible materials like single-use plastics, into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).

RDF is an energy alternative for furnaces and kilns in cement and metal recycling industries.

“Single-use plastics have a high calorific value, making them ideal for industrial furnaces operating at high temperatures.

“Rather than banning them, we aim to create value through incentivised collection, feeding into the RDF supply chain,” Oresanya said.

He added that, to operationalise the vision, the state is establishing community waste aggregation centres where both organic and inorganic waste, including SUPs, would be processed into RDF.

He noted that the facilities were expected to provide low-skill employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups, while simultaneously addressing landfill constraints.

According to him,  the state currently generates about 4,000 tonnes of waste per day, a figure far below the estimated 20,000 tonnes needed to fully power the RDF demand from industries.

Oresanya said that a pilot project was underway to optimise waste-to-fuel conversion, with plans to eventually import waste from other states to meet industrial demand.

He said that the initiative was supported by Manufacture Africa, a British corporation in partnership with McKinsey & Company and other international development organisations, all working to create a circular economy around waste in Ogun.

“This is a win-win strategy. We reduce pressure on landfills, provide industries with cleaner fuel alternatives, and put food on the table for thousands by creating jobs,” Oresanya said.

He explained that the Ogun model represented a forward-thinking approach to environmental management, balancing ecological sustainability with economic growth.

He added that instead of an outright ban on SUPs, the state was choosing to create value and opportunity from “what is otherwise seen as waste”.

By Fabian Ekeruche

Activists draw the line with striking banner action as June climate talks enter final days

Michael Simire
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Activists draw the line with striking banner action as June climate talks enter final days

As negotiations at Bonn enter their most critical phase, activists from across Latin America and Indigenous communities staged a powerful banner action today, sending a clear message to COP leaders: “Renewables in. Fossils out. Indigenous leadership and traditional communities first.”

Bonn
2025 Bonn Climate Change Conference

The action served as a defiant stand for climate justice and a demand for bold political will, featuring a bold, horizontal banner held by dozens of climate justice advocates while speakers delivered powerful statements. These included demanding negotiators commit to a full, fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels, a tripling of renewable energy capacity, and the recognition and inclusion of Indigenous and traditional communities’ leadership in all aspects of climate decision-making.

While a recent letter from the COP30 Presidency outlined intentions for process reform, campaigners are emphasising that what’s needed now is substantive reform rooted in urgency, ambition, and justice.

Chief Ninawá Inu Huni Kui says: “We demand and call on all institutions, governments and international organisations to recognise that there will be no solution to the climate crisis without the direct and effective presence of Indigenous peoples and local communities at the decision-making tables.

“Therefore, we call on all indigenous and local communities to organise themselves and strengthen their strategies to firmly and legitimately occupy all the seats at the tables of world leaders. We are not here to ask for permission; we are here to guide the way and ensure that decisions made to address climate change are guided by ancestral wisdom and a commitment to all forms of life.”

Alia Kajee, Global Campaigner, 350.org, says: “As one of the biggest democracies in the world, the home of the Rio Convention, we look to COP30 to lead with accountability and courage honouring all people and those who have the moral authority over climate. The time is now.

“We stand in solidarity with Indigenous and traditional communities; they are not just passive stakeholders – they are rights-holders. Their voices must not only be heard but heeded. Their leadership must shape the agenda – and not from the sidelines. The world is watching.  And across the globe, people are rising.”

Abel Rodrigues, Member of Fridays For Future Brazil, says: “Oil won’t bring money to our people. They are promoting the narrative that we need oil in Amazonia for economic development. This is not true. It will result in the collapse of our environment and our people won’t see any of this money. We should continue focusing on renewables and be an international example to keep us all within 1.5°C.”

Francisco Kelvim,  Coordinator for the Movement of People Affected by Dams and representative of the People’s Summit, says: “We’re building the Peoples’ Summit, an autonomous and independent process of mobilising peoples to change climate history at COP30. We will only confront the economic interests of the fossil industry with pressure and mobilisation of the peoples, which is why we have now more than 800 organisations around the world building that process.”

UNFCCC Parties must help protect civic space in climate talks – Civil society

Michael Simire
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UNFCCC Parties must help protect civic space in climate talks – Civil society

Civil society constituencies participating in the UNFCCC climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, shared an open letter with all Parties to the Convention, raising urgent concerns over what appears to be the UNFCCC Secretariat’s arbitrary and escalating censorship of peaceful expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Tasneem Essop
Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network

The letter – signed by the Women and Gender Constituency, YOUNGO, and Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations – the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ) and Climate Action Network (CAN), calls attention to the Secretariat’s recent decision to prohibit the use of the phrase “End the Siege” during a planned action at SB62 in Bonn, despite allowing language such as “end the genocide.”

The UNFCCC Secretariat cited the need to “maintain a neutral and constructive environment,” but civil society actors reject the idea that silence in the face of a humanitarian catastrophe constitutes neutrality.

Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International, said: “Let’s be clear: the UNFCCC Secretariat is not neutral – it’s policing civil society while the rest of the UN system, including the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, openly call for an end to the siege of Gaza. When our banners are censored for using the same language as UN leaders, it’s not about rules – it’s about politics. The UNFCCC is embarrassingly out of step with the rest of the UN and with fundamental human rights. We refuse to be complicit in this erasure of the truth.”

The letter states: “Silence is not neutrality. To censor calls to ‘End the Siege’ is to condone it. The climate crisis cannot be addressed in isolation from broader struggles for justice and human rights.”

The letter

To: All Parties to the UNFCCC

Cc: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat

Bonn, 20th June 2025

Subject: Civil Society Protest Against UNFCCC’s Arbitrary Censorship of Solidarity with Palestine

Your Excellencies,

We write to you today with grave concern and indignation.

As civil society, we have been a part of the UNFCCC for close to three decades. Our engagement has included advocating for and bringing voices of peoples and communities on the frontlines through actions and press conferences inside the UNFCCC amongst others. For the last two years in the UNFCCC sessions, COP’s and SB’s, we have faced an escalating pattern of arbitrary censorship from the UNFCCC Secretariat – specifically targeting expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian peoples.

Despite our repeated efforts to navigate and comply with an increasingly ambiguous and inconsistent set of restrictions, the Secretariat has continued to impose arbitrary limits on our collective rights. Legitimate, peaceful expressions of solidarity – statements, words, signs, and slogans that align with international human rights and international humanitarian law – have been censored or blocked.

This situation has reached a new and deeply troubling low. The UNFCCC Secretariat, in a response to an application for a Palestine solidarity action in the venue of SB62, communicated that they could not authorise the use of the phrase “End the Siege” in the banners and any accompanying text. As they did not object to the other phrases we use, including “end the genocide”, their focus on the siege wording is unusual and perplexing. This further demonstrates the arbitrariness of their decision-making.

The reason provided by the UNFCCC Secretariat was their need to “maintain a neutral and constructive environment that supports open dialogue among Parties”, and authorisation must be assessed in light of the current context. We struggle to understand how a clamp down on the calling out of an ongoing and well-documented humanitarian catastrophe can be considered neutral, particularly when the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives of other UN bodies have called for the same thing using the same language. In addition, a majority of states who are also Parties to the UNFCCC process have voted for a resolution in the UN General Assembly demanding an immediate and lasting ceasefire and an end to the blockade in Gaza. To silence the call to “End the Siege” is to condone it.

This is no longer a question of procedure or neutrality. It is picking a side, and in this case, a side that does not align with the UN’s own values and international humanitarian law. Civil society has decided to end our negotiations on Palestinian Solidarity actions with the Secretariat that compromises our rights to civic space and freedom of expression within this space. We refuse to accept a decision that directly contradicts the rights and freedoms that the UN was founded to protect. We have therefore decided to make our grievances public in the hope that all people of conscience will support basic human rights and bring it to the attention of Parties because the UNFCCC Secretariat’s attempts at silencing us is done in the name of Parties. .

The climate crisis is inseparable from questions of justice and human rights. The Paris Agreement itself is emphatic that “Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights […]”

The Secretariat’s refusal to acknowledge an unfolding crime against humanity, together with its active suppression of calls to end the genocide and siege, and doing so in the name of Parties in the UNFCCC, has deeply shaken our confidence in this body’s ability to safeguard humanity’s future. This is a sentiment that echoes far beyond these walls, and risks making multilateralism irrelevant to humanity.

The UNFCCC Secretariat’s narrow understanding of climate, ignoring its intersections with civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, not only is contrary to the Convention and the Paris Agreement but will lead to a failure in finding systematic and sustained solutions to the climate crisis.

We appeal to Parties to reaffirm the rights of civil society, particularly our freedom of expression in calling out a genocide and the vested interests that uphold this as well as the climate crisis.

Silence is not neutrality.

Sincerely,

Women and Gender Constituency (WGC)

Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations – Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (ENGO/DCJ)

Environment Non-Governmental Organisations – Climate Action Network (ENGO/CAN)

Children and Youth Constituency (YOUNGO)

Charting Africa’s agricultural breakthrough: Some highlights from ACAT2025

Michael Simire
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Charting Africa’s agricultural breakthrough: Some highlights from ACAT2025

The Second African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT2025) has taken place in Kigali, Rwanda, reigniting a sense of purpose – that Africa’s smallholder farmers can lead the continent into a food-secure, technologically enabled future with the right alliances, resources and resolve.

Dr Goodluck Jonathan
Former President of Nigeria and Africa’s Ambassador for Agricultural Technology, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in a handshake pose with Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Ag. Head, Genome Editing Programme, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD

The conference showcased cutting-edge innovations from Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered agronomic advisors, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled irrigation systems to gene-edited crops and blockchain traceability platforms aimed at transforming smallholder farming across the continent.

Special sessional demonstrations answered the question of exactly how these innovations would improve and transform the lot of Africa’s smallholder farmers.  From a lay man’s perspective, the AI and IoT agronomic innovations are supplementing the activities of Agricultural Extension Officers who are gradually becoming “endangered.”

The demonstrations featured AI and IoT agri-based technologies such as iSDA Africa’s Virtual Agronomist programmed to provide customized farming advice in the area of nutrient planning, pest/disease diagnostics and crop yield tracking via whatsapp, which some Ugandan and Tanzania farmers are already benefitting from. The Satellite and Sensor-based tools such as real time remote sensing platforms are used for field-level crop stress monitoring, water efficiency and planting optimisation.

Others included the IoT-enabled irrigation systems that adjust watering based on real-time soil moisture and weather data, which has proven to improve efficiency in water-scarce regions.  Zipline’s drone-assisted scouting and planting that is useful for pest detection, spraying and precision seeding. Then, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)’s small scale aquaponic food production for integrated fish and plant farming.

The demonstrations clearly established not just the practicality of these virtual agric-tech innovations currently being piloted in very few African countries, but the urgent need to scale up their adoption continent wide.

The Opening Session

ACAT2025, was organised under the auspices of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the Rwandan Government on the theme: “NextGen Ag-Tech Solutions for Africa’s Farmer.” It brought together over 800 African and international delegates from the public and private agriculture sectors and included high level policy makers, research institutions, academia, funding partners, private sector players, farmers and youth groups.

The four-day conference, held from Monday June 9 to Thursday June 12, 2025, served as a continental platform that discussed the development, adoption, and scaling of innovative technologies that can unlock sustainable productivity, empower Africa’s farmers to transform the continent’s food systems, ensure food security and make agriculture attractive to Africa’s youth.

Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Édouard Ngirente, formally opened ACT2025. He was hopeful that aside knowledge sharing, the ACAT platform would be used “to 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.”

The Prime Minister urged governments and development partners to create supportive ecosystems for innovation, inclusive policies, infrastructure investment and active farmer participation.

Former Nigerian President and Africa’s Ambassador for Agricultural Technology, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, pointed out that transforming Africa’s agriculture can only happen through regional, institutional and sector cooperation. He stressed that such collaboration is required “… 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.”

AgTech: Farmer-centered/farmer co-creator

In another session, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, emphasized that enabling African farmers to adopt technology requires “a paradigm shift where farmers are placed at the center of innovation, decision-making, and investment.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, the Executive Director of the AATF, Dr. Canisius Kanangire, stated: “When farmer-centered technologies are implemented within a supportive and enabling environment, they significantly increase productivity, improve livelihoods, and drive economic empowerment.”

However, farmers who attended the conference were of the view that beyond technologies being farmer-centered, farmers should also be deeply involved in the development of these technologies. At the farmer’s dialogue session, they declared that “farmers must be co-creators of the technologies that affect their lives and livelihoods.”

But for African farmers to better benefit from innovative technologies, panelists at a session on digital infrastructure, agreed on the urgent need to address critical challenges including limited internet connectivity, digital illiteracy, affordability issues, and inadequate infrastructure maintenance that could obstruct farmers adoption of innovative technologies.

For the way forward, the panelists proposed co-designing technologies with farmers, simplifying digital tools, building trust through training, and shifting rural mindsets toward embracing modern agriculture.

Financing AgTech

Another set of panelists tackled the complex issue of financing AgTech innovations. They called for alignment between risk mitigation, private sector capital, and supportive policies, underscoring that innovation must scale through farmers, not around them. They identified increased agricultural lending, investment in crop innovation, and stronger collaboration on regulatory frameworks as major areas for commitment.

The Managing Director of Equity Bank Rwanda, Hannington Namara, who was on the panel, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to allocate at least 30 per cent of its total loan portfolio to agriculture, with plans to scale further as risk factors are addressed. He urged other financial institutions across Africa to follow suit and prioritize agriculture in their lending strategies.

The session concluded with a strong message that “agriculture’s potential is not limited by opportunity but by alignment. Risks are real but solvable through shared responsibility, policy cohesion, and innovation that places the farmer at the center.”

Other major highlights

ACAT2025 also spotlighted the role of youth in shaping the future of agriculture. A dedicated session on mentorship and deal-matching for young agri-innovators provided a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to pitch ideas and explore partnerships. The session concluded that for young people to fully tap into available financial resources for agri-innovation, they must also develop complementary skills like effective communication to strengthen their pitches to donors and play a central role in feeding the continent.

A key highlight of the conference was the formal announcement of a strategic partnership between AATF and AgriEdge, aimed at boosting the development and uptake of digital agricultural technologies across Sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership will foster the exchange of technology-driven innovations and knowledge that benefits smallholder farmers, researchers, and policymakers alike.

A high-level ministerial dialogue involving Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania recognized enhanced investment, integrating gender perspectives, and aligning national budgets with agricultural technology as areas requiring priority national attention. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan used the occasion to urge African governments to intensify their efforts, stating: “Africa has what it takes: talent, land, ingenuity and political will.”

He further called on governments to create a stable and transparent environment for investors by strengthening biosafety frameworks, investing in rural infrastructure, and ensuring agricultural priorities are reflected in national budgeting.

AATF’s Executive Director, Dr. Kanangire, for his part, stressed the urgency of action, remarking, “It is not the seed in the field that feeds the nation; it is the seed in the soil.”

The closing sessions of ACAT2025 reinforced the need for continued multi-stakeholder collaboration, strong public-private partnerships, and sustained investment in agricultural research and technology.

By Ama Kudom-Agyemang

Can Casinos go green? Renewable energy initiatives in the gambling industry

Michael Simire
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0
Can Casinos go green? Renewable energy initiatives in the gambling industry

The shiny lights, the endless slot machines, and the 24-hour activities of casinos may be symbolic of glamour and fun, but they do have a heavy environmental toll. The gambling industry is one of the resource-intensive sectors in the hospitality sphere, and you will find out why this is the case right here. The race towards achieving a greener future means that casinos must ensure they clean up their act.

Casinos
Casinos

Due to this growing awareness, there has been a surge in sustainability projects aimed at reducing environmental footprints. Whether casinos in Las Vegas can be green or not is no longer the question, but rather how quickly the relevant changes can be implemented and how effectively the physical side of gambling, which attracts millions of visitors annually, can be improved without altering the very nature of the experience. 

With consumers expecting more accountability from the brands they patronise, even the best casino sites are being judged not solely based on their game choices and promotional offers, but also on how they conduct their operations sustainably.

Energy Requirement of Casino Operations

The size of the casinos is such that hardly any other businesses can compare with it. Las Vegas and Macau are significant destinations in themselves; they attract thousands of guests, numerous restaurants, theaters, shops, and convention centres all in one place. The energy demand is gigantic. Lighting facilities, air conditioning, slot machines, surveillance security, elevators, and even indoor waterfalls need a constant energy supply.

Similar to regular casinos, online casinos, although less resource-intensive, are dependent on massive data centers and server networks to accommodate thousands of simultaneous players from different parts of the world. The greenhouse effect of crypto casinos and live dealer games has increased with high-definition video streaming and the environmental costs associated with casinos that accept crypto transactions.

Due to such dependency on energy, the issue of casinos has become central to the debate over the environmental responsibility of corporations. The good news is that a significant number of operators are taking steps by doing renewable energy and using sustainable building.

On-Site and Solar Power

Investment in solar energy is one of the most popular methods used by casinos that want to minimise their carbon footprint. The rooftop solar panels are increasingly being used to reduce the use of fossil fuels in sunny places such as Nevada. Other resorts have even established solar farms whose primary purpose is to supply energy to these resorts during periods of high energy demand, such as peak hours.

Locally generated solar energy helps casinos stabilise their energy costs, and the power needs do not significantly impact the local power grids. Using smart energy management systems, operators have discovered that they can now view the usage on a real-time basis, optimise power distribution and evaluate the surpluses of the energy to be used at night or other times of elevated load.

Such relocations not only benefit the environment but also contribute to saved operating costs. By cutting energy expenditure, casinos can spend on other fun features, matter of fact their customers, their digital tech or other provisions-all the time increasing their green profile.

LEED Certification and Sustainable Design

Emergent casino projects are being made increasingly sustainable. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification has been used as the benchmark for green building in the commercial real estate industry, and several casino resorts have achieved it.

The set of features that can be used in sustainable design is versatile and it contains not only the energy-saving HVAC systems and emissions-free materials but also water-conserving plumbing solutions and the use of natural daylight. These are some of the aspects that casinos can significantly reduce by incorporating them into their construction and renovation strategy.

Even waste-to-energy systems have been installed in some properties that collect heat and convert organic waste into usable fuel. Some have included green roofs, charging stations of electric vehicles, and recycling plans on a complete sustainability plan.

Cloud Efficiency and Online Casinos

Online casinos in the online world are also examining how to operate more sustainably, in terms of cloud computing and energy-efficient server infrastructure. The adoption of green data, which relies on renewable sources of energy, is increasingly prevalent among top platforms.

Although the online casinos still have a lower environmental impact compared to their land-based cousins, the ever-growing popularity of online games implies that their sustainability must be taken into account at an earlier stage of development. The operators, who invest in green hosting solutions and minimise the use of unnecessary data, can decrease their impact and capture the attention of eco-friendly players.

Further, part of the trend is that incorporate sustainability into things such as branding and customer communication as using promotions that advocate environmental causes, or promising contributions based on customer actions.

Regulatory Powers and Pressure

Regulatory authorities and governments are also intervening in the promotion of greener casino operations. To promote this efficiency, some areas require new energy standards for commercial buildings, such as those in the entertainment and hospitality sectors. These standards require casinos to improve insulation, upgrade lighting, and adopt energy-efficient machinery.

Another force is public opinion. With the constant increase in awareness of climate change, consumers are becoming more inclined towards businesses with which they resonate. This change of opinion is particularly evident among a younger population that is both online and environmentally conscious.

Those casinos willing to implement the policy of transparency in terms of sustainability and effectively advertise their attempts will receive a competitive advantage. It can be proven with certification, energy reports, or community-oriented collaboration, but establishing trust and loyalty requires a genuine appreciation of green activities.

So, What Lies Ahead?

Although encouraging gains are being made, challenges lie ahead. Renewable energy systems are expensive to install upfront, and not every casino owner and operator possesses the funds and foresight to dedicate themselves to sustainability. Environmental objectives may be neglected in competitive markets due to the pressure to focus on short-term revenue.

Moreover, there is the complex and costly work of retrofitting the existing older properties to newer energy systems. Most of the iconic casinos were built before the use of green standards, and it becomes a logistical problem to upgrade these facilities. In the case of these properties, incremental improvement may be the only viable option.

Ekiti adopts Sustainable Commodities approach to agriculture, forests

Michael Simire
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Ekiti adopts Sustainable Commodities approach to agriculture, forests

Ekiti State has taken a big step toward a productive and sustainable approach to agroforestry, becoming the latest jurisdiction to sign up to the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI), a 10-country compact which puts producer countries in the driving seat for sustainable and deforestation-free development of both crops and forests.

Ekiti
Culturally protected areas like Ogun grove at Ire-Ekiti preserve rare trees and act as seed banks, which can boost biodiversity of the surrounding cocoa-farm landscape

Ekiti State has joined ASCI as it offers both a way of protecting the state’s environment, and also a way of enhancing livelihoods in line with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s emphasis on maximising agricultural and rural development with grassroots impact.

Nigeria at a federal level has been a signatory to the Africa Sustainable Commodities Declaration since 2022, and while Edo State has been a member for much longer, the size and federal structure of Nigeria will mean that implementation of the ASCI Declaration has to happen on a state-by-state basis.

Ekiti State, which is located at the historic heart of Nigeria’s cocoa and timber industries, is looking for a way to both protect its environment and find growth opportunities on which the agricultural sector can be rebuilt. Rural development is one of the government’s six core policy objectives.

There is a huge opportunity in the current boom in commodity crops such as cocoa and oil palm which needs to be aligned with forest protection and reforestation objectives – this can be done because there are real win-wins for Ekiti’s farmers and livelihoods, while keeping its forests standing.

Once one of Nigeria’s foremost states for production forestry, Ekiti has suffered extensive deforestation in the past but still has important areas of forest and biodiversity, while more tree cover is needed to increase resilience against climate change and erosion.  Equally, the resurgence in agriculture, especially small and medium enterprises, needs to be given what it needs to grow strongly.

For Ekiti, this means careful and coordinated planning between agricultural and forestry interests – in the past, an ad-hoc approach had thrown up numerous contradictions, misunderstandings and compromises – and had neither delivered agricultural growth nor slowed forest loss.

ASCI and its principles can be used as a tool to coordinate this planning, and the land use/ land cover survey which has just been completed in partnership between the State, UK FCDO and the international NGO ProForest helps to carefully zone activities tothe most suitable locations, and to recognise environmentally sensitive areas, as well as to identify degraded forest land which can be reforested or released for agroforestry, according to local community needs and comparative advantage.

Ekiti is fortunate to have islands of biodiversity such as sacred forests and mountaintops to integrate into these plans – adding to the richness of its protected areas. It has recognised 10 such as Community Protected Forests but there remains the crucial need to protect these sacred areas for their cultural importance and community use.

Ekiti State also has Nigeria’s only private tree growers’ association, which is helping to promote the growing of both exotic timber species and endangered indigenous trees. Joining up all of these parts in a consolidated action plan under ASCI means that Ekiti can realise its agricultural vision of secure livelihoods for its population, whilst preserving the forests and sacred groves for its population of the future, and for the benefit of the world in terms of carbon sequestration and protected biodiversity.

ASCI’s facilitator in Ekiti State is Dr. Yemi Akinyugha, Technical Advisor to the Governor on Green Economy and Ecological Matters. You can follow developments in the State on social media at (FORESTRY COMMISSION AND COMMISSIONER OF AG SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES)

IBAT Alliance celebrates investment of $2.5m in nature data

Michael Simire
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IBAT Alliance celebrates investment of $2.5m in nature data

The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Alliance on Monday, June 30, 2025, announced that its 2024 investment in biodiversity data reached a record level of $2.5 million – an increase from $1.2 million in 2023. The growth has reportedly consolidated IBAT’s position as a leading curator of authoritative biodiversity data.

IBAT Alliance
The IBAT Alliance 2024 investment in biodiversity data reached a record level of $2.5 million

This increase in investment – more than double the figure generated in 2023 – is said to be significant for two reasons.

First, it means that vital funds will be reinvested back into three of the world’s most authoritative biodiversity datasets, supporting critical updates and maintenance:

  • The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)
  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • The World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA)

This ensures access to credible, science-based global biodiversity data for accurate screening and reporting, enabling meaningful action for nature. It also helps build a more complete picture of the state of nature globally, enhancing understanding of threats to biodiversity and driving tangible conservation action.

Secondly, the growth in funds demonstrates that businesses and financial institutions around the world are investing in authoritative biodiversity data and incorporating it into their decision-making. This is driving real action on the ground at an ever-increasing scale. By year end, over 200 private sector organisations had used IBAT to access biodiversity data, and in doing so provided critical funds that are used to further their development.

The datasets available through IBAT are used for early risk screening, setting goals and measuring progress towards global biodiversity targets such as those in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They support businesses in understanding the impact of their activities on the natural world, in assessing these impacts, as well as dependencies and risks and aligning with regulatory and disclosure requirements.

IBAT was developed and is maintained by the IBAT Alliance, a coalition of four of the world’s most influential conservation organisations: BirdLife International, Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).

This level of investment from IBAT has enabled Alliance partners to update, expand and improve critical, science-backed biodiversity data that supports policies and decisions for people and nature. For example:

  • The investment allows Alliance partners to develop new approaches to improving data quality and accessibility, ensuring that researchers and decision makers the world over can continue to depend upon these resources. It also enables partners to build and strengthen relationships with data providers on the ground, helping them develop their capacity and therefore securing data streams for the future.
  • Over 600 new Key Biodiversity Areas were identified in 2024, with a particular focus on South America and Africa. The countries in these regions are among the most biodiverse in the world but have typically been underrepresented. Capturing the new data will ensure that their unique landscapes and wildlife – and the local communities that depend upon them – are given due recognition and consideration in policies and planning.
  • In the World Database of Protected Areas, data updates have been completed for around 100 territories across all global regions, enhancing knowledge and showcasing conservation progress.
  • The funding has enabled comprehensive assessments of nearly 170,000 species for the IUCN Red List, from the Philippine eagle to the black rhino and the sunflower sea star. The categorization used in Red List data helps inform conservation efforts, with real results. For example, the Iberian lynx has been reclassified from Endangered to Vulnerable thanks to targeted conservation efforts. Red List data are also being used to benefit human health, enabling scientists to better understand the distribution of medicinal plants and of animal species that may be vectors for zoonotic diseases.

This work will continue into 2025 and beyond, building a more complete picture of biodiversity and the natural world as a foundation for action.

Ed Ellis, Head of IBAT, said: “It is fantastic and inspiring that IBAT has been able to invest a record $2.5 million into biodiversity data in 2024, surpassing investments made in previous years. This contribution to the sustainability of world leading biodiversity data plays a crucial role in ensuring these datasets continue to be updated and expand, increasing our understanding of the health of our planet and the species and places most in need of conservation.

“The growing use of IBAT encouragingly shows that more private sector actors are recognizing the importance of incorporating biodiversity into their operational decisions and highlights that key role that businesses can play in bending the curve on biodiversity loss.”

Martin Harper, CEO, BirdLife International, said: “The fantastic embrace of IBAT in the past year has allowed us to make vital improvements to functionality and user experience within the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. This will make it even easier for businesses to make informed decisions about their operations for the benefit of nature. It will also allow us to keep growing the network of KBAs which underpin global commitments to protect 30 per cent of land, freshwater and sea by 2030.”

Dr Grethel Aguilar, Director General, IUCN, said: “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is often referred to as the barometer of life – such is its value in assessing the extinction risks facing animals, fungi and plants around the world. Investment from IBAT allows us to maintain the IUCN Red List as a vital resource for governments, businesses and scientists alike.

“The investment supports the addition of new species groups to the IUCN Red List, updates of previously assessed species and improvements to systems and data. Overall, I’m delighted to see IBAT make such an important contribution to our mission – both financially and through the provision of trusted tools and services to State and non-State actors, as we seek to mobilise a whole-of-society approach to deliver high-integrity nature-positive outcomes.”

Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer, Conservation International, said: “Ever since IBAT’s creation in 2008, our partnership has proven the appetite private companies have for making the right decision for nature and their business using tools like IBAT. The scientific rigour that is the foundation of IBAT data, plus the combination of these datasets and their analysis, is what makes IBAT a key partner to the private sector in pursuing a more a sustainable future. As a founding partner, Conservation International is delighted to see more investment going into the very foundation of IBAT.”

Neville Ash, Director, UNEP-WCMC, said: “The World Database on Protected Areas is the world’s most authoritative source of information on the coverage and state of protected areas. It is an essential resource for supporting governments and the international community to track progress towards area-based commitments in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“Data on protected areas, made available via IBAT, are also used by businesses and financial institutions to support screening for biodiversity risks and to avoid harm to these important areas. IBAT is playing a significant role not only by supporting wise decision-making, but also by contributing to the much-needed investments to maintain these critically important global biodiversity data.”

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