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Developing countries decry ‘problematic’ Loss and Damage finance gap as campaign launched to demand rich nations pay up

Michael Simire
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Developing countries decry ‘problematic’ Loss and Damage finance gap as campaign launched to demand rich nations pay up

Developing country representatives on the Board of the UN’s Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) have issued a critical joint statement expressing concerns over the scale and status of resources, noting that a lack of transparency from contributors is “severely limiting” the ability to program funds and reducing confidence in the long-term commitment of partners. The statement was issued during the Fund’s 6th Board Meeting in Cebu, Philippines.

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong
brahima Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD)

The statement from the developing country constituency highlights that while funding needs for economic damages alone are estimated to be around $395 billion in 2025, only $348 million is currently available in the Fund. This comes after total pledges of $788.68 million, revealing a significant gap between promises and payments. The constituency underscored the “urgent and immediate need for new, additional, predictable and adequate financial resources” to help developing countries respond to escalating climate disasters.

The developing country constituency maintains its position that the Fund must programme at least $100 billion a year by 2030 as a minimum and called for the Board to shift its priorities towards launching an initial capitalization and replenishment process that goes “far beyond the initial pledges.”

The press conference featured an important video statement from Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, who highlighted the need to scale up funds to address the actual needs of developing countries.

NEW Global Campaign – “FILL THE FUND” Launched

In direct response to this crisis of inaction, a global coalition of climate justice movements and civil society groups representing thousands of organisations launched “Fill The Fund,” a new global campaign to demand wealthy nations and corporate polluters meet their historical responsibility to pay for the climate crisis. 

Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, in a recorded statement: “Pledges alone cannot rebuild what has been erased by the climate crisis in Vanuatu and across the world. A single cyclone caused over $500 million in damages, yet we are capped at receiving just $20 million a year from the Loss and Damage Fund.

“The question now is whether the fund will be able to mobilize the scale of resources needed to meet the moment and deliver – especially when we consider that children in developing countries suffer more than $400 billion in impacts annually.”

Elena Cristina Pereira Colindres, FRLD Board Member (Honduras), speaking on behalf of the G77 constituency: “The current financial situation and the lack of clarity on the overall scale of the Fund will likely affect the start-up phase and the long-term scaled financing needed from the Fund. 

“We therefore raise the question of whether the Board should now shift its priorities towards launching an initial capitalisation and replenishment process of new, additional, predictable, and adequate resources at a scale that goes far beyond the initial pledges.”

Richard Sherman, Co-Chair, FRLD Board (South Africa), speaking in his national capacity: “We have to build the abacus, so to speak, of the fund’s financial architecture: how we mobilise money, how we bank contributed funds, and how we disperse money to countries. Although this is a small step, it has a big, big, big footprint.

“We need to continue our work with vigilance, and with the support of civil society all around the world, to ensure the fund remains accessible, open, and inclusive—which is not necessarily a simple thing to do.”

Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson, FRLD Board Member (Barbados): “Middle-income nations like Barbados are on the frontlines of climate impacts, yet we often cannot access the finance needed. When Hurricane Beryl struck us, we lost 90% of our fishing fleet and significant coastal infrastructure.”

“That is why the Board’s decision in Barbados this past April was a critical step forward: it established the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM) and, crucially, ensured that 50% of the funding goes to LDCs and SIDs as grants, not loans.”

Daniel Lund, FRLD Board Member (Fiji): “Our red line- the imperative to keep the global average temperature rise below 1.5 degrees – is on the brink of being breached. Recent science suggests that an overshoot may be unavoidable.”

“This must be a fund that works differently and thinks differently; one that can effectively work with national systems and be responsive to the needs on the ground. We must incentivize social protection and avoid the fragmentation and administrative burden that the current project-based financing regime continues to create.”

Harjeet Singh, Convenor of the new Global Campaign “Fill The Fund” on Loss and Damage Finance, and Founding Director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation said at the launch event: “The creation of this Fund was a historic victory, but it will be a meaningless one if it is not filled with new, additional, and accessible public grants. This campaign will unite the voices of thousands of organizations to demand that developed countries stop shirking their responsibilities.

“The ‘Fill The Fund’ campaign will coordinate global advocacy, track pledges and payments through a public dashboard, and mobilize citizens to pressure governments ahead of key moments, including the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.”

Claire Miranda, Deputy Programme Manager for Climate Justice, APMDD (Philippines) and member of the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ): “It is significant that the FRLD Board is meeting here in Cebu, one of the cities hardest hit by Super Typhoon Rai in 2021, which left a vast trail of death and devastation across our country.

“Bringing the Board discussions here is not just symbolic; it is a reminder of who this fund must serve. But symbolism is not enough. We need substance. We need decisions that move us from delay to delivery, from pledges to actual contributions, and from rhetoric to real reparations. We need to fill the fund.”

Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International: “The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund was a major political achievement, thanks to the leadership and pressure from civil society and developing countries. However, the real test will be how this Fund is filled. With increasingly devastating climate impacts, felt mainly in the Global South, we are talking billions, not millions, that are needed for recovery and rebuilding. 

“Rich nations, who caused harm historically, must pay up. We are talking about public, grants-based finance. The attempts by the World Bank to get the private sector involved in financing the Fund is yet another escape clause for rich nations. You cannot profit off of suffering. Rich nations must pay their dues. They can find the money to fund wars and subsidise fossil fuels, so there can be no argument that there is no money.”

Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns, ActionAid USA: “When rich countries say they don’t have the money to contribute to global climate solutions, it’s a bluff. In this fiscal year alone, the US government plans to spend nearly $200 billion on border security and immigration enforcement. That is almost 11,000 times more than its paltry $17.5 million contribution to the Loss and Damage Fund – money that will go towards persecuting everyday people rather than supporting their needs.

“This has never been about a lack of resources; it has always been about a lack of political will. When those in power decide something is a priority, they can mobilize untold amounts of money at the drop of a hat. It’s time that rich countries choose to prioritize survival and dignified life for billions of people around the world. Living up to their obligations to contribute to the FRLD is a core part of that choice.”

Liane Schalatek, Associate Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington, DC, said: “Only 358 million US Dollar in the bank when at least the same number in billions is needed per year – this is the sad state of efforts to mobilize financing to #FillTheFund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). 

“Announced with much fanfare at COP28 in Dubai 20 months ago, developed countries have so far failed to fulfill their legal obligation and moral duty to help marginalized people and vulnerable communities in developing countries to cope with ever more devastating extreme weather events with hurricanes, floods and droughts, glacier melt and sea level rise, and more and more lives and livelihoods lost. No more excuses and evasions. 

“We need public grant finance delivered to the Fund in the billions as a matter of urgency and climate justice. If countries in the Global North can find money for military expansion, subsidizing fossil fuels, beefing up border controls and tax gifts for the richest, they can summon the resources to #PayUp4LossAndDamage – NOW!”

Chiara Liguori, Climate Justice Senior Policy Adviser, Oxfam GB: “The establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage in 2022 was hailed as a historic moment. But little money has followed since then. We have only seen more excuses and delaying tactics.

“What would be really historic now is for rich countries  to live up to their responsibilities, honour their obligations and pay up for the losses and damages they have caused. Only this would ensure justice to the people left displaced, hungry or sick by the reckless behaviour of the richest and biggest polluters.”

Lien Vandamme, Senior Campaigner, Center for International Environmental Law, said: “States and corporations with historic and current responsibility for the climate crisis have legal obligations to pay for the damage. While we celebrated the historic step taken at COP27 to establish a Loss and Damage Fund, this fund remains an empty shell and people and communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis have yet to receive the first penny. 

“2025 is the year to change this: as countries are discussing how to scale up resources of the Loss and Damage Fund, international courts are confirming State obligations to repair climate and environmental harm, at home and abroad. COP30 must tie all of this together and deliver a clear path forward towards the urgent delivery of hundreds of billions needed annually. The delay must end and polluters must pay.”

Brenda Mwale, Finance Lead, Loss and Damage Collaboration, said: “Adequate funding for the Loss and Damage fund is not merely a financial necessity; it constitutes human rights and legal imperative to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable nations. Sufficient resources are essential for supporting recovery efforts, and ensuring a more equitable global response to climate-induced disasters. 

“The current state of resources in the Fund highlights the reluctance of developed countries to assume responsibility and support frontline communities at the scale required. This issue should be treated with urgency and see the delivery of Loss and Damage scale of at least 400 billion USD a year.  The response to COVID-19, demonstrated the capacity and availability of resources to support vulnerable communities. The money is there! ”

Ineza Umuhoza Grace & Nicolas Gaulin, Global Coordinators, Loss & Damage Youth Coalition, said: An empty Fund means more droughts, floods, and temperature extremes. An empty Fund means broken homes, displaced families, and unchecked destruction and disease. An empty Fund means foregoing development to pay for a crisis the primary victims didn’t create. An empty Fund means developed countries continue to downplay and reject their historical responsibility in fueling the climate crisis. An empty Fund means no trust in real action. Developing countries and frontline communities have the right to new, additional, predictable, public, grants-based and easily accessible funds to survive and thrive. 

“These funds are neither charity, nor development aid or investment opportunities. These funds are meant for equitable climate action that addresses real pain at the frontlines. Nothing short of trillions will rectify this egregious breach of justice and global solidarity, consistently perpetuated by a collective of wealthy nations. The Fund must be filled today, tomorrow, and until it matches the scale of needs on the ground.

Nithi Nesadurai, Director & Regional Coordinator, Climate Action Network Southeast Asia, said: “Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and their rising intensity, which are aggressively adding to the loss and damage being incurred in the developing world in particular, it is imperative that developed countries meet their obligations by contributing significantly to the Fund with immediate effect. Delay tactics cannot be tolerated anymore.”

Dr. Isatis M. Cintron-Rodriguez, Founder and Director, Climate Trace, Puerto Rico, said: “Trust is in high demand and as the currency for climate justice it hinges on developed countries stepping up with public finance that is new, additional, high quality, non-debt inducing, and commensurate with the harm incurred. Anything less risk turning a promise into betrayal for the world’s most affected communities.”

Renaissance CEO seeks PIA review, applauds regulatory progress

Michael Simire
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Renaissance CEO seeks PIA review, applauds regulatory progress

Managing Director and CEO of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Tony Attah, has called for a review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to align with current economic and sector realities.

Tony Attah
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Tony Attah

Speaking on the theme “Nigeria Oil and Gas: From Reforms to Recovery,” at the 2025 BusinessDay Annual CEO Nigeria Forum held in Lagos on Thursday, July 10, Attah, noted that while the PIA was a landmark reform when signed into law in August 2021, it had been in development for over two decades, during which time the global energy sector underwent significant transformation.

“The PIA was a bill for 20 years, and while we were busy trying to get it right, the rest of the world moved on,” Attah said. “It doesn’t take cognisance of digitalisation, doesn’t recognise AI, and, in today’s world, you cannot survive without digitalisation. The PIA came late even for its time.”

Attah commended the Nigerian government for recent reforms, including the Executive Order raising contract approval thresholds from $500,000 to $10 million, which he described as a “game-changer” for operational flexibility in a multi-billion-dollar industry.

He also praised the evolving regulatory environment, noting that over 50% of Nigeria’s oil production is now driven by indigenous companies, a testament to the success of local content policies and regulatory support.

“Government reforms are working. Nigerians are taking over. But while the reform is on, there’s still a lot more to be done,” he added.

Attah highlighted pipeline security as a critical challenge, urging regulators to define clearer frameworks for safeguarding infrastructure and ensuring that production reaches the export terminals without disruption.

“Production is no longer the problem. It is getting the product to market, that is. Between production and point of sale lies the pipeline, and that’s all about security,” he said.

Reaffirming Renaissance’s commitment to national development, Attah described the company’s vision as Afro-centric, focused on enabling energy security and industrialisation across Africa in a sustainable manner.

“We want to move Nigeria to centre stage as the true African giant. The renaissance has begun for our company and for our country,” Attah said.

Renaissance operates Nigeria’s largest upstream joint venture alongside NNPC Limited, TotalEnergies, and AENR, with a portfolio of 15 onshore and 3 shallow-water Oil Mining Leases, and the Bonny and Forcados crude export terminals.

In its first 100 days of taking over Shell’s shares in the defunct SPDC, Renaissance increased crude oil production by over 40%, including significant gas deliveries to Nigeria LNG Limited.

SPP inaugurates review panel to strengthen Second Subnational Climate Governance Ranking Process

Michael Simire
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SPP inaugurates review panel to strengthen Second Subnational Climate Governance Ranking Process

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP)inaugurated a Review Panel on July 8, 2025, to review the methodology and scoring matrix for the forthcoming second edition of the Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The Review Panel was carefully invited to provide advisory on the methodology and scoring matrix with a view to improving it and ensuring transparency and objectivity in the overall evaluation process.

During the virtual Inauguration session of the Review panel, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke welcomed the distinguished experts and expressed gratitude for their willingness to contribute their time and expertise in service of the collective goal of improving climate action, especially at the subnational level.

He emphasised the need to continually strengthen the ranking process to better reflect what states are doing to tackle climate change and to inspire greater climate ambition.

Prof. Okereke added that there is need to enhance and improve the process to ensure that it delivers its core objective of accurately shining a spotlight on what states are doing to combat climate change and to motivate them to do more.

“There is a growing consensus that in contexts where legislation may be weak, tools like climate governance rankings can help stimulate accountability and progress,” he said.

“I am delighted that you have accepted to be part of this expert review panel. In a political environment where legislation is not strong, one way to improve climate governance is through climate governance ranking. While no one tool is sufficient, the subnational ranking has gained traction and credibility following the success of the inaugural ranking, helping to stimulate accountability and progress. Your contributions as experts will be critical to ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness,” he added.

Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, reiterated the commitment and support of the Federal Ministry of Environment to the Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking of Nigeria’s 36 states, and re-assured that states are better empowered to drive climate action, while encouraging other relevant stakeholders and experts to be part of the process of empowering subnational governments.

“I appreciate the SPP team for their commitment to the success of this subnational ranking. Following the success of the first ranking, we have seen a number of states share best practices to ensure that climate policies are enacted and implemented in their states,” she added.

Participants commended the progress in climate change initiatives at the subnational level, while emphasising the importance of measuring governance commitment and tracking implementation impacts.

Dr. Priscilla Achakpa highlighted the need for states to prioritise climate change governance and expressed appreciation for the platform, which she noted has set a precedent for subnational climate action in Nigeria.

Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba lauded the initiative as a welcome development in improving climate governance at the subnational level, stating that what cannot be measured cannot be improved.

In her contribution, Mrs. Halima Bawa noted that while projects undertaken at the subnational level such as solar panel installations are important, she emphasised the need to prioritise nature-based solutions, especially forest conservation and reforestation.

Other participants acknowledged the progress made at the subnational level, highlighting the importance of evaluating governance frameworks and tracking the impact of their climate actions and policies.

Dr Eugene Itua commended the efforts of the SPP and DCC team from the first edition and kickstarting the second edition.

The panel’s recommendations are expected to inform the revised framework for the upcoming edition of the ranking, which will build on the success of the inaugural report to deepen climate ambition and implementation at the state level.

The expert review panel is composed of Prof. Chinedu Nwajiuba, Chair of the Board, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL); Prof. Olukayode Oladipo, Adjunct Professor, UNILAG; Prof. Daniel Gwary, University of Maiduguri; Dr.Eugene Itua, CEO, Natural Ecocapital; Mrs Halima Bawa, Director, National Council Climate Change Secretariat; Dr. Pricilia Achakpa, Global President of the Women Environment Programme (WEP); Mr. Olumide Idowu, Executive Director, International Climate Change Development Initiative; Mr. Amara Nwankpa, Director General (Acting) Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation; Mr. Eghose Omoigui and Madam Gbemisola Akosa, Executive Director Centre For 21st Century Issues (C21st).

By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Communication Specialist, SPP

Building a resilient future: Climate action & community empowerment

Michael Simire
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Building a resilient future: Climate action & community empowerment

Keynote address delivered by Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), at the 3rd Niger Delta Climate Conference held at Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Nnimmo Bassey
Nnimmo Bassey

When we speak of building a resilient future, we have to look at the environment in which we live and examine the state of that environment. What are the living conditions for humans and other beings that we share the planet with? The Niger Delta is a deeply polluted environment, a deeply degraded territory, one of the worst polluted places on the planet.

Researches have confirmed this sad reality. The Environmental Assessment of Ogoni land issued by United Nations Environment Program in 2021 clearly shows the desperate pollution of Ogoni land – the land, the water, and the air. In some places, hydrocarbons have penetrated the soil up to 5 meters. By the time the cleanup started, pollution had sunk as deep as 10 meters.

In 2023 the Bayesian State Oil and Environment Commission, issued a report entitled An Environmental Genocide, Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria. Now, when we speak of environmental genocide, we have to understand this by looking at what genocide itself means. Genocide is an intentional attack and annihilation of a people, ethnic cleansing. An environmental genocide can also be termed ecocide. It happens when there’s an intentional and persistent destruction of a particular environment, as has been the case of the Niger Delta over the last 68 years.

The Niger Delta is a territory that the inhabitants are literally the living dead due to horrific environmental degradation. Consider Bayelsa State that has 40% of mangrove forests gone and there is a 1.5 barrels of crude oil spilled per capita. Imagine that about 14 million cubic meters of natural gas is flared every day at 17 facilities in Bayelsa State alone releasing toxic elements into the air and causing cancers, breathing illnesses and acid rain.

Oil related contaminants such as chromium are present in groundwater at a level 1000 times beyond the World Health Organization limit, and then shockingly, total petroleum hydrocarbons exceed safe levels by a factor of 1 million. Think about that.

Now our topic is on building a resilient future. What is resilience? Other words for resilience could be toughness, strength, tenacity, power, persistence. Now, when you are resilient, it doesn’t mean you are tough to receive any kind of beating. That’s not resiliency, just being helpless, but strong.

No, resilience is a situation where you overcome hazards, where your vulnerability is removed, and disasters are not the norm. It’s a situation where what you lost is restored and what was damaged is paid for. To build an excellent future, we have to map that future. We have to change our imaginaries.We have to determine what the future would look like and then we build towards attaining that future. We need to be passionate about this. We need to be conscious of where we are, and act to get to where we want to be.

We are considering building a resilient future by integrating climate action and community empowerment. Now, what are the key climate actions that are being taken globally today. One is adaptation, and second is mitigation.

Simply put, adaptation means adapting to changing situations, making accommodation with what is coming at you, while mitigation means taking action to stop the change from happening or to reduce the change that is occurring. When we speak about climate change, sometimes our focus is on the carbon in the atmosphere, but we must also speak about the carbon in the ground that is being extracted and burnt to put that carbon in the atmosphere. If we keep looking only into the skies and forget to look at the ground, then of course, we will not really tackle the problem that affects our people on a daily basis. And so we have to look at where the rain started beating us.

That deluge drenched us when the first oil well was drilled and exports began in the late 1950s at Otuabagi in the Oloibiri oil field. Now those early oil wells have since been abandoned. They were abandoned in 1970s but they’ve never been decommissioned. The area has never been cleaned up, and as we speak, they are still contaminating the environment, and this happens because of lax regulation. Lax regulation is not accidental, just like ecocide is not happenstance. It’s all about profit for international oil companies and their Nigerian counterparts.

The Niger Delta is a sacrifice zone where anything goes and the people just manage and struggle to survive. Those of us who live in the area don’t have to be told about the level of pollution here. The reports are there, the Ogoni report, the Bayelsa report, even the Niger Delta Environment Survey that Shell commissioned in the 90s, but never released, and many others including the one by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, which studied blood samples of women from Otuabagi area, and found them all loaded with hydrocarbons. people are literally the walking dead.

In November to December 2021 over a period of six weeks, there was an oil blowout on the Santa Barbara river, a well run by Aiteo. That spill all happened in public view. The polluters and NOSDRA claimed that a mere 3,000 barrels of crude oil was spilled. Imagine a spill from a well head at high pressure for six weeks. Experts estimate that about 500,000 barrels of crude oil was spilled in that incident. And how about Ororo-1 oil well off the coast of Awoye in Ondo State? That oil well blew up 5 years ago and is still burning and spilling as we speak – a clear indication of systemic neglect.

How can we be serious about climate action when we have an oil well burning and spilling crude for 5 years? It’s an open sore, burning, spilling in broad daylight, destroying livelihoods of communities along the coastline of the Niger Delta, especially at the Awoye area. In sum, the Niger Delta is not just a sacrifice zone, it’s a zone that holds the history of colonial exploitation, extractivism, expropriation and extermination of the people on a daily and continuous basis.

How can we speak of community empowerment in this sort of environment? What would community empowerment look like? What is community empowerment when perpetrators of environmental degradation are abandoning their responsibilities in the so called divestment moves? What kind of transition would that be? If a polluter leaves the pollution, hands it over to his allies or other companies that they set up, and moves deeper offshore to pollute from offshore and maybe turn the offshore into a situation that is akin to what they’ve left in our onshore the Niger Delta is not only suffering from loss and damage. It is a lost and damaged territory. It is almost a lost and damaged, totally damaged, irreversibly damaged territory.

And our work in community. If we want to do real community empowerment, we must take real climate action to avert a continuation of the sacrifice of the zone. And there are things we must do. Number one, there has to be a clear environmental audit across the entire Niger Delta, what has gone wrong? Who is responsible, and how can people live in that kind of society? Environment number two, health audit. What has been killing our people?

How come we don’t have adults? Children have become adults and we don’t have elderly people. Number three, remediation, we’re not only going to audit the environment, or did the health. There must be a cleanup of the entire Niger Delta. There must be reparations. There must be payment for the damage that has been done to lives and to the environment.

Gas flaring must be stopped and halted. It’s an illegal activity. It’s a crime against humanity. It’s crime against the environment, against Mother Earth. It must be stopped. The so called divestment must be started and reversed, it is time to empower the communities and take real climate action by bringing into play community control, renewable energy provision, supporting food sovereignty, building resilient infrastructure.

Still speaking about building resilience through climate reparations, it’s a time to right the wrongs in terms of energy provision, United States a very challenged environment, and electricity penetration is very low, and so to reach hard to reach communities, there must be community controlled renewable energy.

In other words, we have to bring energy democracy to the Niger Delta, so that the people who only see glimpses of light from gas flares would now have electricity with which to engage in productive activities and to light up the territory. Now, the land, the water and the air has been so contaminated, if gas flaring is stopped, pollution is cleaned up, then the people have a chance to engage in agriculture in a way that is resilient and a way that helps tackle global warming, and that would be having food sovereignty with a key focus on agroecology, cultivating crops according in line and in harmony with nature.

And then finally, one clear action that must be taken to build resilience is to encourage community democracy and have community development agencies that are truly driven by the people and not manipulated through divide and rule and rule system by either the oil corporations or the governments at various levels. And so we’re speaking about community agency the people must be on the driving seat to build a resilient future, to take real climate action and to empower themselves the people are going to empower themselves when the conditions are right, and this starts by building social cohesion and resilience through inclusive approaches to resource management, accountability and ownership, communities must be in a position  say this cannot happen in our territory.

This can happen in our territory. They must be in charge of what resources are extracted in their territories and how these are extracted. And finally, we have to work to promote restorative justice. In other words, community in Agile data can only be empowered and build resilient future when there is environmental justice.

Those who do the harm the most harm must do the most to write those harms, to correct those harms. They have to pay for the harms done.

We need ecological justice. We need species justice where we understand that we are not alone on this planet. We’re not alone in Niger, there are other beings that we share the environment with, and they must be intergenerational justice. We have to keep in mind that the future we’re talking about belongs to the children yet unborn, and so what we do now must be such as would ensure that they can they’ll have a repaired resilience, strong ecosystems, ecology, systems, a week to thrive. These are some of the, these are the thoughts.

Let us take a pause here.

From ridges to reefs, small island states lead with big environmental moves

Michael Simire
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From ridges to reefs, small island states lead with big environmental moves

From rising seas to disappearing forests, the world’s small island developing states are facing some of the fiercest fallout from the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.   

UNEP
Shallow reef in Papua New Guinea. Photo credit: Amanda Cotton / Ocean Image Bank

But many of these countries are fighting back. In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) more than 30 island nations are launching ambitious efforts to save ecosystems, rein in pollution and adapt to a fast-changing climate, all while jumpstarting their economies.  

“At UNEP, we are not just supporting small island developing states – we are standing shoulder to shoulder with them to chart a bold path where economic development is inseparable from ecological resilience,” said Sinikinesh Jimma, acting head of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch. 

“Together, we are building futures that honour the needs of today while protecting biodiversity and its vital ecosystem services generations to come.”   

The relationship is a two-way street; 20 small island developing states contribute to UNEP’s Environment Fund, the organization’s core source of funding. Last year, the world adopted the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States, which charts a course towards sustainable, resilient development. Here are five ways UNEP is helping to translate the agenda’s global targets into action on the ground.   

1. Restoring vibrant ecosystems 

From tropical rainforests and labyrinthian mangroves to white-sand beaches and rainbow-colored reefs, small island developing states are home to some of nature’s most stunning natural spaces. Yet, across island states, the accelerating loss of biodiversity is unraveling ecosystems, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable to climate change, economic instability and pandemics. 

But several projects, driven by UNEP and partners, are underway to reverse this.   

In the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, communities are working with partners to revive seabird colonies. The birds produce nutrients that support the health of indigenous vegetation, which helps shield islands from sea-level rise.

Meanwhile, across Saint Lucia, 5,000 hectares of forest and coastal ecosystems and 2,000 hectares of marine ecosystems are being brought under sustainable management, with similar efforts in the Bahamas, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.   

The UNEP/FAO-led SIDS Restoration Flagship in Comoros, Saint Lucia and Vanuatu is expected to restore marine and coastal ecosystems while spurring sustainable blue economic growth. As part of the SIDS Flagship, the Restoration Factory, will soon help young local entrepreneurs grow businesses rooted in ecological restoration. 

2. Saving coral reefs 

Coral reefs, the backbone of many marine ecosystems, are disappearing at an alarming rate; climate change could kill 90 per cent of these ecosystems by 2050. Though small island developing states account for less than 1 per cent of the Earth’s land area, they are home to nearly 30 per cent of the world’s coral reefs, making their protection vital to global biodiversity.

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs, which supports reef-friendly businesses and financial mechanisms, has deployed more than US$100 million to help protect and reduce stressors on 1.3 million hectares of coral reefs globally, including in countries such as the Bahamas, the Federated States of Micronesia Fiji, Maldives, Seychelles, Palau and Papua New Guinea. The Seychelles and Solomon Islands are expected to soon receive support from the fund, which finances everything from barramundi farming in Sri Lanka to accelerating ecotourism in the Federated States of Micronesia. 

3. Advancing early warning systems 

When major storms approach the island nation of Timor-Leste, a network of radars and ocean sensors forecast their path, while warnings are sent to citizens through megaphones, signboards, social media, radio and mobile alerts. This initiative is one of several early-warning systems for natural disasters developed with support from UNEP in small island developing states. The push is part of the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warning for All Initiative – an effort to cover everyone on Earth with early warning systems by 2027. A core part of UNEP’s work is building public trust in the warning systems. In Vanuatu, for example, communities are helping to improve forecasts by adding traditional knowledge and real-time observations to scientific measurements.

4. Curbing pollution 

With limited land and some of the highest waste management costs anywhere on Earth, small island developing states already face steep challenges in handling their own waste. But they are also forced to manage waste from the rest of the world. Ocean currents and trade winds bring vast amounts of marine litter – mostly plastic pollution – onto their shores. To combat this, UNEP is working closely with island states to tackle pollution on a multitude of fronts. That includes restricting single-use plastic products in tourism through the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, transforming municipal waste management through circular economy models, improving the management of waste and chemicals, and supporting the creation of robust national waste management plans. 

5. Prospering with nature 

Many small island developing states have the foundation for strong, sustainable economies, from tourism to fisheries to agriculture. But these industries rely on clean, healthy and resilient ecosystems. With support from UNEP, small island developing states are prioritizing the reduction of super pollutants, including methane and black carbon, to improve local air quality.  

In Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, UNEP has secured US$4.4 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility to scale up electric public transport and develop sustainable urban mobility plans. Meanwhile, the UNEP-developed Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Framework is channeling US$75.6 million across small island developing states into ocean-friendly economic growth.   

UNEP is also working to strengthen the ocean governance capacity of countries, including by supporting the ratification of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. This agreement fosters the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in international waters, which benefits small island state economies. “We are working together to make sure small island developing states – the world’s big oceanic states – have the science, tools, partnerships and policy support they need to continue rising as leaders of environmental action,” said Jimma.  

German govt. to accelerate expansion of hydrogen network

Michael Simire
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German govt. to accelerate expansion of hydrogen network

The German Economy Ministry said on Tuesday that it aims to accelerate the expansion of the country’s hydrogen sector.

Green Hydrogen
Green Hydrogen

Numerous simplifications are indispensable for the rapid supply of hydrogen, according to a draft bill seen by dpa on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

The bill was sent to the federal states and business associations for consultation, according to the ministry.

Climate-neutral hydrogen is intended to play a key role in transforming industries such as steel and chemicals, replacing fossil fuels.

From the perspective of the energy sector, however, hydrogen is currently insufficiently available and is too expensive.

The draft bill aims to facilitate various planning, approval and procurement procedures for building an efficient hydrogen infrastructure.

In addition to electrolyzes and import facilities for hydrogen, hydrogen pipelines and storage are also an issue.

These facilities and pipelines are to be considered of “overriding public interest,’’ which is intended to speed up procedures.

The German government plans to establish a “core network.’’

Currently, procedures are lengthy and associated with a lot of red tape, the draft states.

This prevents groundbreaking investments and the implementation of projects, it adds.

Bill to establish oil and gas hospital in Delta passes 2nd reading in Senate

Michael Simire
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0
Bill to establish oil and gas hospital in Delta passes 2nd reading in Senate

The Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking an act to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State.

The Nigerian Senate
The Nigerian Senate

This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Joel Thomas (APC-Delta) at the plenary on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Thomas said the bill sought to provide comprehensive and  specialised medical services for workers in oil and gas industry and host communities affected by explorations activities.

He said the bill would ensure that workers in the oil and gas industry and their host communities have unhindered access to adequate and quality healthcare services.

This, Thomas said, would reduce health risks associated with oil and gas, stating that siting the hospital in the Niger Delta would also help the communities access other emergency medical services.

Thomas said that the location of the hospital would to a large extent, tame the agitations and restlessness of the Niger Delta and provide a wide range of treatment for oil and gas-related illness.

According to him, the siting of the hospital would improve exploration activities in the region for the socio-economic development of the country.

“It will interest you to know that the Delta South Senatorial District has the highest offshore oil production in Delta and second in the country.

“More specifically, the location indicated for this project is in the heart of offshore oil exploration in the Niger Delta.

“This project will benefit oil companies and communities in Delta, noting that this location is home to many oil exploration activities of Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, Total among other oil companies,” he said.

He said  that the proposed hospital would be funded by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, adding that the project would not pose additional financial burden on the Federal Government.

Sen. Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), said that the siting of the medical facility was the right thing to do, stating that there was need for such project in the area.

Sen. Ede Dafinone (APC-Delta) said that the facility would provide support to people who sustained oil and gas-related injuries in particular, saying that there is no alternative nearby remedy for such cases in the oil and gas industry.

He said that it was good that the establishment of the facility would not result to additional pressure on the funding of the Federal Government.

Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jibrin, (APC-Kano), who presided at plenary referred the bill to the Committee on Health for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks.

Barau said that the bill, when passed would help improve the well-being and health related needs of the people.

By Kingsley Okoye

Group renews commitment to environmental protection in Yobe

Michael Simire
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Group renews commitment to environmental protection in Yobe

The Petroleum Environmental Solid Minerals Degradation Awareness Association (PESMDAA) has pledged to deepen advocacy for sustainable environmental practices in Yobe State.

Yobe
Members of the Petroleum Environmental Solid Minerals Degradation Awareness Association (PESMDAA)

It also commits to combating illegal mining and exploitation activities.

The National Chairman of the association, Dr Robert Adah, made the pledge at the inauguration of the association’s new executive leadership in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Adah, represented by Mr. Muhammad Mustapha, an engineer, described the occasion as reaffirmation of the association’s dedication to service, unity and national development.

He said “this moment marks, not just a ceremonial milestone, but renewed commitment to addressing environmental challenges affecting our communities.”

He highlighted key achievements by the association in the past year to include successful negotiation with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

According to him, the negotiation aims to introduce special identification stamp and stipend for members across the 774 local government areas in the country.

He said the association had carried out diplomatic engagements with embassies to foster partnerships in security, capacity building and community outreach, as well as proposed a nationwide tree planting campaign to promote environmental sustainability.

He added that “in our contribution to national revenue, we have enhanced compliance support and transparency, while also prioritising training for taskforce members to ensure professionalism and effectiveness.”

The Yobe Commissioner for PESMDAA, Mr. Abdullahi Guda, said that the newly inaugurated executive has a critical role in mobilising the taskforce to confront environmental exploitation, illegal mining and degradation.

Guda said such activities posed significant threats to public health, biodiversity, the economy and climate stability.

He stressed that PESMDAA remained committed to raising awareness and amplifying the voices of affected communities.

He said “we must fight for transparency, accountability and the right of every citizen to safe and healthy environment.”

In a goodwill message, the Yobe Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emanuel Ado, underscored the importance of information sharing and security collaboration.

Ado, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Saleh, noted that illegal mining and environmental degradation were contributing to economic hardship, displacement, and even conflict in affected areas.

He said “the challenges facing our environment are linked to broader issues such as desert encroachment, food insecurity and communal tensions.”

He called for closer cooperation among researchers, local authorities and security agencies to ensure safe and coordinated environmental interventions.

The commissioner urged the association to support grassroots sensitisation, tree planting initiatives and school-based environmental programmes to reclaim degraded landscapes and promote sustainable practices.

By Ahmed Abba

Charting climate ambition: Ghana prepares to update her NDCs

Michael Simire
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0
Charting climate ambition: Ghana prepares to update her NDCs

In 2016, Ghana was one of seven African countries that submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), after the coming into force of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change also known as the Paris Climate Accords or L’Accord de Paris. It is an international instrument on climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance.

Ghana
The NDC 2.0 Stocktaking Lead Consultant, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong

The Agreement mandates the 195 members to review and enhance their NDCs every five years with more ambitious climate actions for the next five-year cycle, for submission to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). So, the review of the initially submitted NDCs resulted in the development of what is now referred to as NDC 2.0.

Ghana’s commitment under NDC 2.0

Under her 2021 NDC 2.0, Ghana committed to implementing 47 climate actions with 34 focused on mitigation and 13 on adaptation across key sectors such as energy, agriculture, transport, forestry, water, health, waste management, and infrastructure. These actions are expected to result in emissions reductions of about 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) between 2021 and 2030.

Beyond emissions reductions, the country’s NDCs also highlight significant co-benefits, including the prevention of approximately 2,900 premature deaths annually due to air pollution and the creation of over one million green jobs, especially targeting women and youth. It is estimated that full execution of Ghana’s NDCs will require between USD 9.3 billion and USD 15.5 billion by 2030. Mobilizing this support domestically and internationally remains a critical challenge.

Stocktaking towards NDC 3.0

In accordance with the NDCs review process, Ghana has since May 2025 commenced a comprehensive stocktaking process to review the implementation of her NDCs 2.0 submitted in 2021. The process is led by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) and the Climate Change Unit of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The Lead Consultant for the NDC 2.0 Stocktaking, Ebenezer Appah-Sampong says the process is evaluating progress made since the adoption of NDC 2.0 in 2021 and identify implementation challenges and propose corrective measures. The process, which is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will further assess alignment with national priorities and international commitments.

Additionally, exercise will pave the way for the formulation of a new five-year climate action plan, NDC 3.0, which will guide national climate targets and efforts up to 2035 in line with the common time frame under the Paris Agreement Decision 1/cp.21 paragraph 24. This, sets out the modalities for progress reporting as well as commends countries for their initiatives and progress made in implementing actions.

Engagement with the non-state actors’ group

Ebenezer made this known at a recent non-state actors’ engagement in Accra that brought together civil society organizations (CSOs), gender and youth groups, private sector actors, and climate experts to solicit inputs into the ongoing assessment. It was jointly facilitated by the Kasa Platform and the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) through the CSOs SDG 13 Platform.

The gathering on the last day of June, was underscored by the significant contribution of this group of stakeholders to the overall attainment of Ghana’s national climate goals. Thus, the engagement served as part of the broader participatory approach designed to ensure that Ghana’s climate commitments are inclusive, responsive, and aligned with both national development priorities and global climate goals.

Ebenezer summarized key areas of the stocktaking as including a comprehensive review of progress across all the 47 climate actions; an evaluation of institutional arrangements and policy coherence; and alignment checks with national development strategies, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), REDD+ frameworks, and biodiversity commitments. Others are an analysis of how gender and just transition considerations have been integrated; and use of the SDG–Climate Action Nexus (SCAN) tool to assess linkages between climate actions and SDG targets.

He outlined the main expected outputs of the exercise as the NDC Implementation Diagnostic Report to track sectoral progress and implementation bottlenecks; a Stakeholder Consultation Report documenting inclusive engagement efforts; and the NDC Implementation Tracker to provide a detailed matrix of progress, challenges and responsible institutions. The others outputs are a Policy and Institutional Assessment Report highlighting systemic gaps and offering strategic recommendations; and a set of Integrated Recommendations for NDC 3.0, shaped by stakeholder inputs ad technical analysis.

With climate change already affecting rainfall patterns, agricultural productivity, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events in Ghana, stakeholders at the workshop emphasized the urgency of a more robust and inclusive climate agenda.

In an interview after the event, the West Africa Coordinator of the African Climate Reality Project, Salomey Adjei stated: “The review process must not be just a technical exercise, but a political and social commitment to securing our present and common future.

The Lead Consultant’s next schedule is to hold a two-day assessment workshop to validate the implementation progress. This would be followed by a National Validation Workshop to finalise the draft reports expected to be ready by the 19th of July, 2025.

Looking ahead

Ghana’s efforts come at a time when countries globally are being urged to raise their climate ambition ahead of the 2025 UN climate conference (COP30) in Brazil. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Ghana is expected to submit its new climate plan in line with the decision adopted at COP24 mandating that all future NDCs should cover a common five-year timeframe.

As Ghana moves toward developing and finalizing its NDC 3.0, there are strong calls for deepened stakeholder engagement, strategic investment in green jobs, stronger regional alliances and increased national budgetary support for implementation of actions.

Civil society actors are also looking forward to seeing NDC 3.0 incorporating the mining sector, due to its massive impacts on prioritized mitigation and adaptation actions sectors such as forest, agriculture, water and ultimately, land – the major cross cutting sector.

Does this mean that Ghana has to choose between climate action and mineral wealth? That might be required. This is because with smart policy, responsible investment, and inclusive planning, the nation can handle both climate action and mineral wealth, and become a model for green development in Africa.

Therefore, the coming months will be critical as the government, in collaboration with UNDP and other stakeholders, consolidates the diagnostic findings into actionable priorities for the next five-year climate action framework.

The successful implementation of NDC 3.0 actions will depend to a large extent on improved institutional coordination, better financing mechanisms, increased transparency, and stronger stakeholder ownership – particularly among civil society, local governments, and communities at the frontline of climate impacts and exploiting for mineral wealth.

By Ama Kudom-Agyemang

TotalEnergies’ Ubeta project to boost Nigeria’s gas ambitions – Bouyer

Michael Simire
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0
TotalEnergies’ Ubeta project to boost Nigeria’s gas ambitions – Bouyer

TotalEnergies says it is taking a bold step in supporting Nigeria’s energy goals with the Ubeta gas field project in the OML 58 onshore license in Nigeria, now in its execution phase.

Matthieu Bouyer
Matthieu Bouyer

The project is set to deliver a plateau of around 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensates, a significant contribution to Nigeria’s gas development ambitions.

“The 70,000 bpd from Ubeta is a major milestone, and first gas/commissioning is expected by 2027,” noted Matthieu Bouyer, Country Chair of TotalEnergies in Nigeria, during a high-level panel session titled “Pragmatically Achieving Energy Abundance” at the NOG Energy Week 2025.

The session took place on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja.

Bouyer expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and NNPC Limited for their continued support, which he said has positioned TotalEnergies ahead.

The Country Chair informed the participants of TotalEnergies IMA field, located within the OML112 and 117 under the AMNI/TEPNG Joint Venture 15km off the southeast coast of Nigeria. He said the project is currently at Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Phase and the gas field, which has a plateau of around 70,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day similarly to Ubeta, is expected to get its Final Investment Decision, FID in 2026.

Bouyer highlighted the company’s recent achievements, including a discovery in Ntokon two years ago, which is now progressing toward development, and the acquisition of additional new oil blocks in the past year.

On innovation and sustainability, Bouyer emphasised TotalEnergies’ commitment to cleaner operations:

“We’re deploying more advanced technology than ever to extract more oil and gas with fewer emissions. For instance, we use drone-based AUSEA (Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Application) technology on our upstream operations to detect methane leaks. We are also in partnership with NNPC Limited on this initiative. We’re here to support Nigeria, and we’re doing it sustainably.”

Bouyer also spoke on the company’s integrated approach to energy, from exploration to retail, and its active role in the domestic gas market, particularly through its stake in NLNG Train 7. He noted that while TotalEnergies’ renewable energy footprint in Nigeria is still modest, it remains a growing area of focus.

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