The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it has intensified enforcement operations across the state to curb indiscriminate waste disposal, black spots and persistent environmental violations that threaten public health.
This is contained in a statement issued by LAWMA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on Monday, November 17, 2025, in Lagos.
Gbadegesin who acknowledged challenges in waste management in some areas said the Authority remained committed to eliminating reckless disposal practices.
Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin
He said Lagos’ coastal geography made strict enforcement unavoidable, noting that waste dumped into drains and canals worsened flooding, contaminated water sources and disrupted the city’s environmental systems.
“A bag of refuse tossed into a drain anywhere in the metropolis does not disappear. It blocks culverts, worsens flooding, exposes households to contaminated water and sends plastics and debris into our canals and lagoon systems.
“Illegal dumping has consequences far beyond the act itself,” he said.
Gbadegesin said the authority had moved from episodic exercises to an intelligence-driven enforcement model, integrating surveillance, community reporting and swift prosecution of offenders.
He said the agency had carried out far-reaching operations in several parts of the state and had arrested and prosecuted violators to serve as deterrent.
“Enforcement is central to our mission. Lagos cannot achieve a clean, flood-resilient city without consequences for illegal dumping and non-compliance.
“We are acting decisively to ensure there is no room for environmental infractions,” he said.
Gbadegesin said LAWMA would continue to work with Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators and provide backup services in areas needing urgent attention.
He added that the state government was supporting PSP operators to recapitalise for better service delivery.
He said the authority had recently completed the evacuation of a notorious dumpsite in Somolu Local Council Development Area, in partnership with Somolu LCDA, Bariga LCDA and the Oodua People’s Congress, which would now secure the site and conduct night and early-morning patrols.
Gbadegesin disclosed that several offenders had been apprehended, including commercial tricycle operators who were caught dumping waste illegally.
“This shows that advocacy and enforcement must be continuous and backed by real-time surveillance,” he said.
The chairmen of Somolu LCDA and Bariga LCDA pledged stronger collaboration with LAWMA to sustain advocacy and enforcement, in line with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources’ directive for LGAs and LCDAs to take ownership of waste management in their areas.
Gbadegesin said LAWMA had strengthened public sensitisation through radio programmes and social media, focusing on recycling, proper waste disposal, the role of PSP operators and penalties for environmental violations.
He urged residents to acquire covered waste bins, avoid patronising cart pushers and desist from indiscriminate dumping, stressing that environmental protection was a shared responsibility.
“While enforcement is our duty, voluntary compliance is what will secure the future. Lagosians must embrace responsible waste disposal because a polluted environment eventually harms everyone,” Gbadegesin said.
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has called on African negotiators attending COP30 to resist anything short of a decision that reflects the scale and urgency of adaptation on the continent.
The body and other African non-state actors are reportedly alarmed at the seeming little progress on the means of implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) discussion and an alleged pressure to force through “half-baked indicators”.
According to them, without means of implementation, indicators are useless.
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), delivering remarks at the opening session of the Africa Day
In a statement issued on Monday, November 17, 2025, PACJA alleged that “unfair game” characterises COP30 negotiations on financing implementation for the GGA, and that it “must come to a halt”.
The group submitted: “Africans came to Belem in Brazil with one hope – to secure the means for implementation of adaptation programmes, precisely climate finance for implementation of the GGA. Unfortunately, in the current state, securing the much-needed climate finance for adaptation is not only a distant away, but a mirage!
“In the current state of talks, what we see are machinations by developed country parties to rewrite the Paris Agreement by shifting obligations for the implementation of the adaptation agenda to those least responsible for the climate crisis, and those with the least capability to finance adaptation. The Paris Agreement principle on Common but Differentiated Responsibilities based on Respective Capabilities is being thrown to the dogs, and in its place, Africa is being requested to demonstrate its contribution towards funding adaptation.
“We are disturbed by a number of indicators that are hellbent on rewriting the Paris Agreement and shifting the responsibility of financing the implementation of the convention to African countries, which are already debt-stricken. Indicators such as “proportion of government budget allocated to climate adaptation and resilience” and “annual adaptation finance expenditure” effectively transfer the burden of financing adaptation to developing countries.
“At the onset, we insist that financing adaptation cannot be optional; it is not charity, and therefore, it is mere rhetoric to discuss indicators of GGA, without the requisite means of implementation. For UNFCCC COP30, the horse has to lead the cart – in this case, climate finance.
“As the negotiations enter the second and final week, there are no indicators on finance yet on the table. The indicator list on means of implementation is yet to be finalised. This is a worrisome state because parties have no basis for negotiation on the most crucial ingredient for the delivery of the GGA. Whereas the call for ambitious GGA has been normalised, we assert that there cannot be ambition on action without corresponding ambitious support. We cannot strive to measure the results of an action that is not funded.
“Yet, whereas the strive to adopt the GGA indicators remains on, glaring gaps in these indicators point to the need for much more work and collaborative action. The multivariate issues and gaps in the list of indicators point to much more protracted work to be precise and certain in what we seek to measure, as well as relevantly so in aligning efforts. For instance, a number of indicators focus on superficial outputs rather than measuring transformative and tangible results/ adaptation outcomes.
“We assert that securing the GGA indicators is inadequate unless supported by adequate means of implementation and therefore call on the COP30 Presidency to take personal leadership and influence on the global community to ensure GGA indicators are complete with means of implementation.
“The grandstanding on climate finance, which is an essential ingredient in the implementation of the adaptation agenda, cannot go unchallenged. In addition, we take note of other pertinent issues that should be at the focus of expedited closure:
The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework must include strong and measurable indicators on the Means of Implementation (MoI), as determining factors for accountability and alignment with Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement. These indicators should comprehensively assess both action and support provided to developing countries, measuring access to, quality of, and the scale of adaptation finance in line with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Mainstream the global reform agenda into adaptation, ensuring appropriate reforms in finance, debt, taxation and trade to afford vulnerable states and their citizens the fiscal space necessary to implement adaptation efforts.
Defer the adoption of the GGA indicators for further in-depth discussions, refinement, and utilise the opportunity provided by COP30 to take note of the work and progress that has gone into the development of these indicators.
A deeper introspection of the policy implications of the GGA indicators is important, ensuring that there are no substantial policy shift expectations for Africa
“We insist that COP must maintain its fidelity to parties’ commitments. It’s a public discourse, not a private one. The more UNFCCC COPs begin to focus on private provision of climate finance, they lose focus.
“We urge parties at COP30 to pay more attention to the amount of international public finance provided by developed countries to developing countries to implement the GGA, including its targets.”
Seplat Energy Plc, leading Nigeria indigenous energy company, has continued its tradition of empowering the media with knowledge and tools for professional growth through a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in Imo State.
The training, held in Owerri, the state capital, brought together 25 journalists from both print and electronic media across the state for an intensive learning experience designed to enhance communication, writing, and digital storytelling skills.
Manager, Corporate Communications, Seplat Energy Plc, Stanley Opara; Management Team of ELOH Consulting; CEO, DFD Smart & Standard Concept, Dan Aibangbe; and journalists, during a Media Capacity Building Workshop organized by Seplat Energy for journalists in Owerri, Imo State as part of its human capital development initiative …recently
In his opening remarks on behalf of the Director, External Affairs & Social Performance, Chioma Afe; the Manager, Corporate Communications, Stanley Opara, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to nurturing media partnerships that promote transparency, accountability, and national development. He emphasised Seplat Energy’s role in supporting journalists to adapt to the fast-evolving digital and technological landscape.
“We consider excellence as cardinal in everything we do. The critical role of the media in shaping narratives and culture makes it very important to embed global best practice in its delivery. This is what we need to drive development in Nigeria, and Seplat Energy is well aligned on this,” Opara said.
The Base Manager, Eastern Assets, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine, encouraged journalists to make the most of the robust training and capacity-building opportunity, advising them to remain spontaneous, adaptable, and open to exploring career prospects that leverage their transferable skills.
The workshop featured insightful sessions led by Dr. Solomon Avbioroko, who explored the psychology of communication, professional interaction, and the importance of self-awareness in journalism. Participants engaged in interactive exercises and assessments that deepened their understanding of effective storytelling and newsroom productivity.
Media expert, Mr. Nnamdi Uwaemulem, facilitated practical modules on report writing and mobile video journalism (MOJO), introducing participants to the art of creating impactful stories using smartphones, from framing and lighting to mobile editing.
His second session, Media Transformation and Emerging Opportunities, examined how digital disruption is reshaping the industry and opened participants’ eyes to new opportunities in media entrepreneurship and content creation.
Another facilitator, Mr. Abiola Adedeji, guided participants through Understanding Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy, highlighting how data-driven storytelling and analytics can amplify journalistic impact across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Participants described the experience as both practical and transformative, commending Seplat Energy for its sustained investment in human capital development. The company’s initiative once again underscores its belief that skilled and informed media remains critical to driving sustainable national development and shaping positive public discourse.
Amid discussions around a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels at COP30, at a High-Level Briefing organised as part of the Action Agenda on Monday, November 17, 2025, the Kingdom of Cambodia announced its support for the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative.
Soung Sophorn, Secretary of State of the Council of Ministers, spoke of Cambodia’s intention to continue engaging and collaborating as the 18th nation-state composing the Initiative working to develop a binding mechanism to accelerate a global just transition and a managed phase out of oil, gas and coal.
Cambodia announces support for Fossil Fuel Treaty
Sophorn addressed the delegates in the room:“It is my honour to address this High-Level Meeting on the Fossil Fuel Treaty. Cambodia welcomes this important global initiative, which aligns with our national direction toward a low-carbon, green economy, climate-resilient future. Cambodia supports the Fossil Fuel Treaty as a tool to accelerate global ambition. We believe its goals are essential to safeguarding our planet and protecting vulnerable communities.
“Cambodia stresses that developing countries cannot undertake this transition alone. We require enhanced international support, including climate finance, technology transfer, capacity development, and partnerships to diversify our energy systems and ensure that workers and communities are not left behind.
“Cambodia stands ready to work with all countries to advance the principles of no new drilling, a managed phase-out of fossil fuels, and a just, people-centred transition. Together we can build the foundations of a peaceful, sustainable and climate secure future for all. I am making this commitment now because I love my country and my people.”
Ministers of the 17 participating nations and 10 other like-minded countries attended the High-Level Briefing to discuss the legal pathway towards a Treaty, the legal and finance mechanisms that could be included in a Treaty, an overview of the Journey Fund, and how these workstreams work toward the First International Conference on the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels, to be hosted by Colombia in April 2026.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change of Vanuatu, spoke on the panel: “The UNFCCC process is already undermined because it is dominated by fossil fuel interests. We are trying to bring ambition back into this process. The ICJ says now that it’s a legal obligation. We need to engage in initiatives such as the Fossil Fuel treaty, which are key to successfully achieving the 1.5ºC goal.
“What we need is for all the big emitters to work and to join us. Multilateralism is the way to solve this. We have done it before, for nuclear weapons, the cluster munitions treaty, there are precedents. We are here at COP30, to say get off this pathway to help us all.”
Maina Talia, Minister of Climate Change of Tuvalu, welcomed more countries joining: “The logic is very simple: when we talk about the Treaty, we are talking about achieving the 1.5ºC climate goal. Achieving it means addressing the root cause of the crisis. Climate change falls disproportionately in our countries. We are talking about the very survival of our people.
“Here we are in Belém after 30 years, and it’s about time for us to agree to very serious, practical actions, rather than more talk. If we cannot achieve everything at COP, at least there is something we can do, which is that more countries join the Treaty Initiative. We need everyone on board.”
Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, Climate Ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda: “Antigua and Barbuda has been leading strategies for enhanced efforts in many fields. Something that has become clear to us is that international collaboration is essential. We have seen in all the advisory opinions that echo that what is needed is clear action, based on science, so that the most vulnerable countries are not placed with a disproportionate burden for the transition. We hope this Treaty helps us to leverage this kind of ambition. We welcome Cambodia and look forward to like-minded countries to help us in this initiative.”
Cambodia is the second country in South East Asia to support the Treaty proposal, after Timor Leste. Cambodia’s participation in the Initiative significantly strengthens the development of a Treaty, leveraging its experience in shaping the Ottawa Process – a successful multilateral effort to ban landmines – to help advance a global framework for phasing out fossil fuels.
Other countries also joined the event and made interventions during the Briefing.
Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal: “I come from a country, Nepal, which is threatened by the impacts of raising emissions. We are committed to meeting the 1.5 limit, which is very important. We are committed to reducing emissions by 2045. We are here on behalf of the people of Nepal, expressing solidarity with this initiative. We are very much with you, and we would like to thank you for leading this very important initiative.”
Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka: “The science is unambiguous. Sri Lanka recognises the value of global initiatives, and underscores the need for equity, distributed responsibilities, and access to resources. The global community must work together to ensure that transformation does not deepen inequalities. We commend the leadership and commitment of all participating nations to accelerate efforts to address the climate crisis at this moment now.
“Disproportionate impacts, intense rainfalls, landslides, these are not distant threats, it defines our present. As an observer of the Initiative, we will continue to engage in this process and learn from those countries to build a mechanism to complement the existing climate treaties like the Paris Agreement, and to protect the most vulnerable countries.”
Nithi Nesadurai, Director and Regional Coordinator of Climate Action Network Southeast Asia:“Climate Action Network Southeast Asia is delighted that Cambodia has declared its support for the fossil fuel treaty initiative. By making this declaration, Cambodia has shown outstanding climate leadership for the region and the rest of the world. It has now set the marker and created the impetus for the remaining nine countries in Southeast Asia to also express their support for a Treaty.
“Cambodia had already shown its climate leadership when it became the second country in SEA to submit its NDC3.0, setting an ambitious target of 55% reductions in emissions by 2035. Shifting away from fossil fuels also makes economic sense for Cambodia, as the transition will reduce its expenditure on importing oil, gas, and coal. CANSEA looks forward to working with our members in the country and the Cambodian government to implement the Treaty proposal.”
The timing of the announcement is significant, as delegates will discuss over the coming week the “roadmap” to transition away from fossil fuels that President Lula called for at the opening of the leaders Summit. The proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty offers a somewaht actionable roadmap, one that is binding, 1.5ºC-aligned, equity-based and includes a commitment to end expansion and scale finance for the transition. Cambodia is said to have shown leadership by adding its support for the negotiation of a Treaty to accelerate a fast, fair, and financed global transition away from coal, oil, and gas.
The meeting follows the Ministerial Caucus of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, which took place right before at COP30, where Ministers of Participating Nations discussed the legal pathways to advance progress towards the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Treaty. This process, supported by UN resolutions and other diplomatic outreach, is expected to kick off at the Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels, hosted by Colombia in April 2026.
The Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative appears to be gaining rapid momentum globally. 18 nation-states and other like-minded countries such as Sri Lanka and Nepal, are now participating in the process to develop a Fossil Fuel Treaty, with the proposal being formally endorsed by 145+ cities and subnational governments around the world, who agree that a binding legal framework is necessary to accelerate a just and equitable global transition for the phase out of oil, gas and coal, and to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a blue Mazda vehicle carrying one lion cub and two patas monkeys in clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.
The command’s Spokesperson, Isah Sulaiman, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, November 17, 2025, in Badagry, Lagos State.
According to him, the vehicle, with registration number MUS 743 HA, was intercepted during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji, along the Badagry-Seme Expressway.
Lion cubs
“Upon inspection, the operatives discovered one lion cub and two Patas Monkeys being transported in the vehicle in clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.
“Two individuals, Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian; claimed ownership of the animals.
“They confessed that they had purchased them in Kano with the intention of conveying them to the Benin Republic,” he said.
Sulaiman said that, in line with Nigeria’s status as a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and in accordance with global wildlife-protection standards, the endangered species were immediately confiscated and taken to the command for documentation.
“The two male suspects were detained for further investigation to ascertain the level of their involvement in wildlife trafficking.
“For proper care, safety and expert handling, the endangered species were formally handed over on Nov.16, to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative.
“The handover was carried out by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed (DC Administration) on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga,” he said.
Speaking, Adenuga reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to enforcing all laws relating to wildlife protection, environmental conservation and border security.
The Controller reiterated the command’s resolve to continue working with relevant agencies to ensure that the illegal trade in endangered species was curtailed.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, November 17, 2025, released a new study, titled: “A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles.”
Led by Ocean Conservancy researchers, the peer-reviewed paper is said to be the most comprehensive study yet to quantify the extent to which a range of plastic types – from soft, flexible plastics like bags and food wrappers; to balloon pieces; to hard plastics ranging from fragments to whole items like beverage bottles – result in the death of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals that consume them.
A bird feeding on a plastic waste
The study reveals that, on average, consuming less than three sugar cubes’ worth of plastics for seabirds like Atlantic puffins (which measure approximately 28 centimetres, or 11 inches, in length); just over two baseballs’ worth of plastics for sea turtles like Loggerheads (90 centimetres or 35 inches); and about a soccer ball’s worth of plastics for marine mammals like harbor porpoises (1.5 metres, or 60 inches), has a 90% likelihood of death.
At the 50% mortality threshold, the volumes are even more startling: consuming less than one sugar cube’s worth of plastics kills one in two Atlantic puffins; less than half a baseball’s worth of plastics kills one in two Loggerhead turtles; and less than a sixth of a soccer ball kills one in two harbor porpoises.
“We’ve long known that ocean creatures of all shapes and sizes are eating plastics; what we set out to understand was how much is too much,” said lead author of the study, Dr. Erin Murphy, Ocean Conservancy’s manager of ocean plastics research. “The lethal dose varies based on the species, the animal’s size, the type of plastic it’s consuming, and other factors, but overall, it’s much smaller than you might think, which is troubling when you consider that more than a garbage truck’s worth of plastics enters the ocean every minute.”
To arrive at their findings, Ocean Conservancy scientists analysed the results of 10,412 necropsies, or animal autopsies, conducted worldwide in which cause of death and data on plastic ingestion were known. Of the animals studied, 1,537 were seabirds representing 57 species; 1,306 were sea turtles representing all seven species of sea turtles; and 7,569 were marine mammals across 31 species.
They then modeled the relationship between the plastics in the gut and likelihood of death for each group, looking both at total pieces of plastics as well as volume of plastics. Based on data availability, they also looked at different plastic types to determine which are particularly lethal to each group. They found that rubber and hard plastics are especially deadly for seabirds, soft and hard plastics for sea turtles, and soft plastics and fishing gear for marine mammals.
“This study reminds us that plastic bags, lost fishing gear, and other larger items can be dangerous to animals big and small,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Ocean Plastics Research and study co-author, Dr. Britta Baechler, who co-authored a study in 2024 that showed microplastics are present in both animal and plant-based proteins eaten by humans. “One in 20 sea turtles that we studied died from ingesting plastics. I wouldn’t take those odds.”
Nearly half (47%) of all sea turtles; a third (35%) of seabirds; and 12% of marine mammals in the dataset had plastics in their digestive tracts at their time of death; overall, one in five (21.5%) of the animals recorded had ingested plastics, often of varying types. Additional findings included:
Seabirds
Of seabirds that ate plastic, 92% ate hard plastics, 9% ate soft plastics, 8% ate fishing debris, 6% ate rubber, and 5% ate foams, with many individuals eating multiple plastic types.
Seabirds are especially vulnerable to synthetic rubber: just six pieces, each smaller than a pea, are 90% likely to cause death.
Sea Turtles
Of sea turtles that ate plastic, 69% ate soft plastics, 58% ate fishing debris, 42% ate hard plastics, 7% ate foam, 4% ate synthetic rubbers, and 1% ate synthetic cloth.
Sea turtles, which on average weigh several hundred pounds, are especially vulnerable to soft plastics, like plastic bags: just 342 pieces, each about the size of a pea, would be lethal with 90% certainty.
Mammals
Of marine mammals that ate plastic, 72% ate fishing debris, 10% ate soft plastics, 5% ate rubber, 3% ate hard plastics, 2% ate foam, and 0.7% ate synthetic cloth.
Marine mammals are especially vulnerable to fishing debris: 28 pieces, each smaller than a tennis ball, are enough to kill a sperm whale in 90% of cases.
The study also found that nearly half of the individual animals who had ingested plastics are red-listed as threatened – that is, near-threatened, vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered – by the IUCN.
Notably, the study only analysed the impacts of ingesting large plastics (greater than 5 millimetres) on these species and did not account for all plastic impacts and interactions. For example, they excluded entanglement, sublethal impacts of ingestion that can impact overall animal health, and microplastics consumed.
“This research really drives home how ocean plastics are an existential threat to the diversity of life on our planet,” said Nicholas Mallos, vice president of Ocean Conservancy’s Ending Ocean Plastics programme and a study co-author. “Eating plastics is just one way that marine life is threatened by the plastic pollution crisis. Imagine the dangers when you also consider entanglement and the everpresent threat of toxic chemicals leaching from plastics.”
Scientists estimate that more than 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean every year. Much of those plastics are single-use items like those commonly found by volunteers during Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup. Since 1986, more than 19 million volunteers have removed more than 400 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide.
“Every year, volunteers collect massive numbers of balloons, plastic bags, straws, food wrappers, and other items that are lethal to wildlife even in small amounts, according to this research,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups, Allison Schutes. “When you pick up just a few pieces of plastic, you are helping to protect the life of a marine animal. And when we all clean up together, we are helping to protect countless lives.”
Scientists have determined that to successfully address the plastic pollution crisis, we need to reduce plastics production, improve waste collection and recycling, and clean up what does get into the environment.
“We are thrilled to have this new research quantifying the wildlife impacts of plastic pollution,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Plastics Policy, Dr. Anja Brandon. “While there is no single solution to this issue, these hard numbers reaffirm that our work addressing particularly problematic items like balloons and plastic bags are truly meaningful. In the fight to protect our marine wildlife, every policy and every individual action matters.”
“Governments around the world are grappling with how to address plastic pollution, and they are looking for science-based targets to inform policy decisions,” said Dr. Chelsea Rochman, associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, scientific advisor to Ocean Conservancy, and senior author of the study. “This research provides an important foundation for decision-makers to understand thresholds for risk to better protect biodiversity.”
Over 35 government and philanthropic funders organised by the Forest Tenure Funders Group (FTFG) have announced a new, five-year, $1.8 billion pledge to support Indigenous Peoples, local communities and, for the first time, Afro-descendant communities in securing land rights across an expanded range of ecosystems, including forests, mangroves and savannahs.
The first-ever Forest and Land Tenure Pledge was announced in 2021; this new pledge provides an additional $1.8 billion on top of those funds already delivered.
Securing Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ land rights is one of the most effective investments the world can make in climate action, according to a significant body of scientific evidence. Indigenous Peoples and local communities safeguard around 40% of the world’s remaining intact ecosystems, yet less than half of their lands are legally recognised.
Levi Sucre Romero is coordinator of the Meso-American Alliance for People and Forests (AMPB) from the Bribri indigenous group in Costa Rica. Photo credit: AMPB
Forests managed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities have consistently lower deforestation rates than other areas. With tropical forest loss reaching record levels in 2024, land tenure is a key lever to preserving lands around the globe while also securing the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who use and steward forests sustainably. A new body of research shows that Afro-descendant territories offer significant biodiversity and climate benefits as well.
Levi Sucre Romero, from the Mesoamerican Alliance of People of Forest (AMPB), said: “By making this commitment, major governments and funders recognise the crucial role we play in the fight against climate change and acknowledge the efforts our communities have made to create our own funds that reach our people without unnecessary bureaucracy. We welcome this with cautious optimism, knowing that promises alone cannot stop the deforestation, fires, and unprecedented violence we face today in our territories.
“The funds must reach Indigenous Peoples and local communities directly, without getting stuck in bureaucracy. Land titling processes must treat us as partners and value our deep knowledge of the territories. These promises give us hope, but only the actions taken from today onward will give us a real chance to preserve the forests that protect not only us, but the entire planet, from catastrophic climate change.”
The new pledge builds on the success of the original $1.7 billion COP26 commitment, which has channeled $1.86 billion to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities in securing land rights and protecting forests. The FTFG’s contributions over the past few years have helped drive a 36% increase in climate funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of the Packard Foundation, said: “This pledge brings to life a shared vision for protecting critical ecosystems and supporting the people who steward them. Through deep and sustained collaboration, we’re working to shift policies and align funding in ways that support lasting solutions for both people and nature – from securing land rights for Indigenous Peoples, local communities and Afro-descendant communities, to strengthening institutions, and advancing climate resilience.”
The renewed Forest and Land Tenure Pledge will mobilise funding that reaches communities directly and advances land tenure, supporting long-term access to finance for communities that are too often excluded from direct climate and forest financing. Also of note is that the new pledge will include more than just forests, to honour the way in which Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants and local communities manage multiple ecosystems adjacent to one another – for example, savannahs and rainforests – which leads to greater carbon storage overall.
At the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belem, Brazil, the Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) Coalition has rejected the newly launched Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), describing it as a dangerous and misleading attempt to financialise nature under the guise of protecting it.
The TFFF, spearheaded by Brazil, is being touted as a $125 billion blended-finance fund that promises annual payments to countries for protecting and maintaining their forests.
But in a statement on Monday, November 17, 2025, the Africa MBPP said the facility – widely marketed as an innovative climate finance instrument – offers no real support to climate-vulnerable nations.
The coalition warns that TFFF reduces tropical forests to “tradable assets” controlled by powerful financial institutions. Photo credit: UNDP Cambodia/Chansok Lay/Oddar Meanchey
The Africa MBPP, comprising over 32 member organisations including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Gender CC Southern Africa, Global Forest Coalition (GFC), and others from across the continent, is committed to holding polluting corporations accountable for their significant contributions to the climate crisis.
The coalition warned that TFFF reduces tropical forests to “tradable assets” controlled by powerful financial institutions, who will in turn perpetuate the same extractive systems that drive deforestation, exploitation, and inequality.
“The excitement that has trailed the launch of the TFFF is misplaced,” the coalition said. “Rather than safeguarding forests, it commodifies living ecosystems, undermines Indigenous and community-led stewardship, and erodes the principles of climate justice it claims to uphold.”
According to the group, the TFFF poses grave risks to Africa, home to some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and climate-vulnerable communities.
“Instead of empowering African nations, the Facility risks tightening financial dependence and eroding local sovereignty over forest resources,” the Africa MBPP said
Countries including Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Uganda are being drawn into a system, the group says, that places investor returns above community needs.
“What it offers is not real climate finance, but new layers of external bureaucracy and financial engineering,” the group warned.
According to the coalition, the TFFF’s model, which centres a large investment fund whose returns are prioritised for investors before any payments reach countries, risks deepening corporate influence and excluding frontline communities whose knowledge and custodianship have long protected biodiversity.
The Fund proposes to pay countries about $4 per hectare of standing forest annually, an amount the coalition describes as tokenistic compared to the ecological, cultural, and economic value of tropical forests and the real costs of community-led protection.
Far from advancing the Paris Agreement or Africa’s restoration goals, the coalition added, the TFFF “threatens to divert attention and resources away from genuine, community-led climate actions towards opaque financial schemes whilst replacing public accountability with private financial interests at the same time.”
The group criticised the Facility’s financing structure, noting that it functions less like a climate-response mechanism and more like a financial vehicle designed to generate market-based returns. The coalition expressed concerns that forest payments are tied to the performance of the facility’s investment portfolio, meaning countries receive only what is left after investor obligations are met.
It argued that this approach represents “a blatant privatisation of forest finance, rooted in speculation rather than sustainability.”
“By contrast, if even 1 percent of the $2.7 trillion spent annually on global military budgets were redirected, it would free up $27 billion a year – over six times what the TFFF’s risky, market-based model promises.”
According to the coalition, this comparison “exposes the TFFF for what it truly is: a profit-making instrument disguised as climate action.”
The MBPP Coalition also condemned the decision to appoint the World Bank as trustee of the TFFF, describing it as a regressive and exclusionary arrangement that undermines local ownership and accountability.
“Experience has shown that World Bank–led climate finance centralises power, delays funding, and silences frontline communities, making the TFFF another bureaucratic obstacle rather than a climate solution,” the coalition added.
“Accountability in climate finance starts with rejecting corporate capture,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA. “The World Bank must not be allowed to turn forest protection into another business model.”
For Mokoena Ndivile from Gender CC Southern Africa, “Forest preservation is not a privilege; it is a right tied to the survival, dignity, and livelihoods of communities, especially women who depend on the forest for sustenance and resilience. Handing control of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) to the World Bank risks turning this right into another instrument of financial control, and we will not accept that.”
Similarly, Kwami Kpondzo of the Global Forest Coalition (GFC)expressed concern that “World Bank involvement in TFFF would marginalise knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities, prioritise corporate profit over community needs, thereby weakening local ownership and stewardship of forest resources.’’
The coalition insisted that the TFFF‘s governance structure fails to represent or prioritise the Global South. “Its systems for access and oversight, it said, are built to serve financiers, rather than forest peoples.”
“The TFFF offers no path to justice, only an illusion of progress,” the coalition concluded. “True climate action will not come from financial schemes or distant institutions, but from the communities that have always protected the forests with their lives.”
The MBPP urged world leaders to reject the Facility and instead support transparent, community-led climate finance systems that strengthen, not undermine, local control and environmental justice.
On the occasion of Africa Day at COP30, the continent advanced the theme “Africa at the Forefront of Climate Action: Sustainable Finance for Green, Resilient and Inclusive Growth”, reaffirming its commitment to climate finance that works for people, the planet and prosperity.
The event, held on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, in Belém, brought together ministers, development partners, as well as representatives the African Union Commission, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the African Development Bank Group and Afreximbank, alongside members of civil society and youth.
COP30
Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, climate commitments are still struggling to meet the scale of the challenges that the world is facing. The objectives of limiting global warming are moving away, funding remains below needs, and the gap between promises and actions continues to widen. For Africa, which is home to 20% of the world’s emits less than 4% of greenhouse gases and receives less than 10% of adaptation funding and only 3% of global climate finance, the stakes are simply vital.
Building on the outcomes of the Second African Climate Summit, the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Africa Day at COP30 strongly reaffirmed a clear message: climate finance must be commensurate with the continent’s priorities and needs.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the The African Union Commission, Moses Vilakati, reaffirmed the unity of the continent and its leading role in the fight for climate justice.
“Africa speaks with one voice, strong, united and determined, for climate justice. From Africa to Belém, we reaffirm our unity of action and our leadership role, guided by the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities,” he said, adding: “We are not mere beneficiaries of the global transition, but fully active actors in the global transition. committed, bearers of just, inclusive and African climate solutions, to build a more equitable and sustainable global future.”
The discussions focused on mobilising sustainable, equitable and innovative financing to accelerate industrialisation continent. The leaders stressed that Africa’s future depends on the development of its natural resources, whether it is the processing of critical minerals or the development of renewable energy at the local level.
The African Development Bank Group Vice-President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate and Climate Kevin Kariuki, the Minister of Green Growth, said: “Africa is already at the forefront of global climate action, developing solutions that are firmly rooted in local realities and have international impact.”
He added: “We are moving forward today with a renewed vision, led by our President, Mr. Sidi Ould Tah, and structured around four strategic priorities called the ‘four points of the African Development Bank’ ‘Cardinals’: unleashing the power of African capital, strengthening the continent’s financial sovereignty, turning demography into an asset and building resilient infrastructure, while creating real added value.
“The fight against climate change is at the heart of this ambition. We are acting decisively to close the sustainable finance gap, increase the continent’s adaptive capacity and accelerate climate action through innovation, partnerships and financial leadership.”
Africa is among the world’s leading producers of critical minerals, such as cobalt and manganese, but still derives only a small share of the added value generated by their exploitation. By focusing on local processing, battery production and the development of regional value chains, the continent aims to move from being an exporter of raw materials to that of a driver of innovation and green industrial production.
Africa also has immense potential in the carbon market but currently captures less than 1% of global revenues. Through African-led reforms and governance, this market could generate up to $100 billion per year and create five million green jobs by 2030.
Participants stressed the urgency of rethinking the global financial system, by putting in place mechanisms direct, transparent and non-debt-based, designed and led by Africa itself. Despite the commitments made at COP29, only a small share of global climate finance is actually reaching African communities. The Day strongly reaffirmed the continent’s call to define a new collective and quantified climate finance target, commensurate with the urgency and concrete needs.
On behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Cosmas Milton Ochieng, Director of the Division Climate Change, Food Security and Natural Resources, said: “Restructuring the global financial architecture is not just a matter of equity, it is a condition for survival.
“Africa needs a predictable, transparent, and equitable climate finance system that directs resources to where they matter most: in the hands of African countries and communities driving transformative climate action.”
The call for sustainable domestic financing was also highlighted. The continent has more than $350 billion in sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, which could be mobilised to support green infrastructure, build resilience, and spur innovation. The development of these internal resources, combined with partnerships will be decisive in achieving Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Africa Day was not a simple commemoration, but a true declaration of intent.
Leaders called for fair carbon pricing, direct access to climate finance, and a transition so that no one in Africa is left behind. African countries call for full implementation of commitments made in Baku, including the mobilisation of $300 billion in dedicated climate finance to the continent.
COP29 in Baku failed to raise the resources needed to respond to the African climate crisis. Despite calls for an annual global target of $1.3 trillion by 2030, of which $300 billion goes to Africa, structural barriers remain. African leaders had defended non-generative subsidies and direct access to funds through African institutions, such as the African Development Bank Group.
However, the final agreement favoured a model based on debt and dependence on external intermediaries, turning nearly 60% of climate finance into new debt for African economies.
As the world now turns its attention to Belém, Africa’s message is clear: the continent is not asking for Charity, but a true partnership, a new global climate pact that recognises its leadership, values its contribution to the preservation of the planet and invests in its people.
About Africa Day
The Day is one of the continent’s flagship events at the United Nations Conference on Change Climate. It provides a platform to highlight the continent’s leadership role in climate action and advocate for equitable and sustainable access to climate finance. This maifestation embodies the common vision of African institutions: building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for the entire continent.
Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, says Nigeria will intensify efforts to advance the green economy toward mitigating climate change.
Majekodunmi said this on Monday, November 17, 2025, during an interview on the sideline of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Belém, Brazil.
She said focus on overall environmental sustainability including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management would be maintained nationwide.
Director-General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi
According to her, Nigeria has taken this charge to heart. Our commitment is not just an aspiration; it is a solemn national mandate to reach a 32 per cent emission reduction target by 2035.
“We have already submitted our comprehensive Third Nationally Determined Contribution; the first among West Africa, approved the National Carbon Market Framework, and operationalised our Climate Change Fund.
“These actions send a clear, powerful signal that Nigeria is ready for high-integrity and large-scale clean energy investment; yet a gap remains between potential and proof.”
She disclosed that the Federal Government would support private sectors that were ready to deploy scalable off-grid solutions toward ensuring diversification of nation`s energy sources to close persistent energy gaps in the hard-to-reach communities.
“This aligns with the Nigeria Just Transition Guideline and action plan we have recently validated.
“Such clean energy projects from the private sector will strengthen the NCCC’s efforts to advocate for and mandate the decarbonisation of energy production thereby ensuring Nigeria remains Paris aligned.
“Nigeria offers political stability, massive market demand, and a new, robust climate policy architecture designed to attract and protect investors’ capital,” she added.
The NCCC director general reiterated that the Nigerian government through the council supported the wind sector as a vital pillar in the Nigerian energy mix plan.
“Let the winds of change that sweep across Nigeria’s land be harnessed not just as potential, but as tangible power, driving our sustainable development and guaranteeing a greener, brighter future for every Nigerian,” she said.
In another development, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, Executive Director, West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), said that driving wind energy in Nigeria would greatly boost energy supply.
WAGEDI is a pan-African research institute housed within Gregory University, a private tertiary institution located in Uturu, Nigeria.
Onuoha, who spoke on the sideline of the conference, said that government policies and incentives Nigeria had committed to global climate action were key drivers behind wind energy projects in the country.
According to him, the electric power sector reform Act of 2005 laid the groundwork for private sector participation in electricity generation; creating a regulatory framework that includes renewable energy.
“Additionally, Nigeria’s ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2016 and subsequent submission of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2017 underscored the country’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“These commitments have spurred investment in low-carbon technologies, including wind energy as part of Nigeria’s strategy to meet its international obligations.”
He added that domestically, policy initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) and the Climate Change Act of 2021 have further accelerated the development of wind energy.
“The REMP outlines specific targets for renewable energy adoption, aiming to achieve a 23 per cent share by 2025, with wind power as a critical component.
“The government’s REMP that was inaugurated in 2011 aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 13 per cent by 2015, 23 per cent by 2025, and 36 per cent by 2030.
“Energy target will be comprised of renewable and carbon intensive sources as coal (2,200MW), the Nigerian National Integrated Power Project (NIPP)(1,896MW), Independent power projects (IPPs) (296MW), Legacy assets (thermal) (5600MW), hydro (1300MW) and wind(10MW).
“The Climate Change Act institutionalises climate governance, requiring the government to develop pathways toward net-zero emissions by 2060.
“These frameworks provide a roadmap for renewable energy deployment and attract international support and funding, as demonstrated by partnerships with institutions like the African Development Bank and commitments from global entities such as the U.S.-EXIM Bank,” he explained.
According to him, Nigeria’s recent Energy Transition Plan (2022) and the passage of the Nigerian Electricity Act in 2023-mark significant milestones in advancing the renewable energy agenda.
He said the initiatives prioritised sustainable energy projects with wind energy recognised for its role in off-grid electrification and regional development particularly in the northern and coastal areas.
He further said that the country’s carbon neutrality goal by 2060 emphasised the need for scaling renewable technologies, making wind energy a viable solution to bridge Nigeria’s energy deficit while aligning with global sustainability goals.
“These drivers collectively signal a strong commitment to integrating wind energy into Nigeria’s energy future, leveraging policy, technology, and international collaboration,” he added.
