Director-General (D-G), National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr Agnes Asagbra, has reassured Nigerians on the safety of consuming Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General, NBMA
Asagbra stated this at a press briefing on Friday, November 22, 2024, in Abuja, allaying fears that GMOs are harmful.
“Our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment and we will not compromise on these because this is an agency of integrity.
“It is important for the public to understand that without NBMA, Nigeria could become a dumping ground for unregulated potentially harmful GMOs and the products of biotechnology.
“Our agency is a shield against such dangers ensuring that only safe biotechnological products enter our markets,” she said.
Asagbra frowned at the fact that, in recent times, the agency had been the target of attacks by some NGOs.
“It is therefore crucial as a DG to address this unfounded allegations and reassure the public of the agency’s commitment to the unwavering safety of Nigerians and all those who live in Nigeria.
“NBMA was established with safety as it’s top priority in 2015 and every GMO approved by NBMA undergoes rigorous scientific scrutiny and strict regulatory procedures to ensure it meets the highest safety standards.
“Our regulatory framework is designed to protect us as Nigerians, other citizens, environment and our biodiversity from every harm,” she noted.
Asagbra said that the negative statements circulating are not only misleading but lack credible scientific backing.
“We ask these organisations to provide verifiable scientific evidence for their claims.
“Our agency relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognised protocols to make informed decisions and also belong to the Cartagena Protocol,” Asagbra explained.
Former member of the House of Representatives, Chief Sam Onuigbo, says state and local governments should produce their climate change mitigation frameworks to complement the efforts of the Federal Government.
Rep. Sam Onuigbo
Onuigbo, who is participating in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
He said with the signing into law the Climate Change Act, the Federal Government had demonstrated commitment to legal instruments for climate change.
He said the setting up of the National Council on Climate; the Federal Government moved a notch higher to provide the bureaucratic structure to implement climate change policies and actions.
Onuigbo said that, unfortunately, most state governments had not taken stake to contribute more meaningfully towards efforts to protect the environment and mitigate climate change.
“The law provided for a representative of the chairman of Governors Forum to be on the national council meeting whenever Mr president is presiding.
“Similarly, the law provides for a representation of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). That is 774 of them. What this has is that it does not stop there.
“It also provided for the inclusion of youths, women in their own right, apart from women who are coming from the Ministry of Women Affairs, even people with disabilities and the private sector.
“So, if you look at it generally you will see that the law has a wide range of provisions, it is ambitious in nature.”
Onuigbo called for more support from the National Council on Climate Change, which is all encompassing, adding that climate change efforts do not start and end with any ministry.
As the Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change in 8th National Assembly, Onuigbo sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Bill.
The bill was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but rejected by President Mohammadu Buhari.
Onuigbo re-sponsored the bill during the 9th Assembly, addressing all the areas of conflict and expanding its scope in line with current needs.
It was eventually signed by Buhari in November 2021.
He said there is a link between climate change and insecurity.
“If what you planted over some time is destroyed by flood or desertification it has the potential to create problems for you.
“So, these things are intertwined, they are interrelated so, we have to look at the Act, follow its provisions and work together to achieve our aims,” he said.
As Africa engages with the global ambition to green her marine and blue economy sectors, University College London’s LEAP Project Principal Investigator, Dr. Dola Oluteye, in collaboration with Dr. Oma Ofodile, Head of Climate Change at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Climate Champions Team (CCT), draws global attention to three key project indicators: green capacity building, green economic empowerment, and inclusive advocacy.
A cross section of the speakers at the side event organised by the LEAP Project. Photo credit: Climagraphy / Adebote Mayowa_COP29
During Session Two on “Catalysing an Evidence-Based Just Transition for Africa” at COP29, discussions focused on building capacity within the region as it leverages its abundant renewable energy resources for developing green infrastructure and technologies. African nations must take a leadership role in green maritime practices. Panel discussions took a holistic approach and explored the nexus between zero-emission ambitions and the creation of economic opportunities.
Collaborative initiatives among governments, private sector stakeholders, and international organisations are essential for driving the much-needed transformation, ensuring that Africa’s maritime sector contributes meaningfully to global climate goals without hindering regional development and prosperity.
At the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Dr. Oma Ofodile opened the expert panel session by setting the scene for the discourse. She highlighted Africa’s abundant resources necessary for leading global zero-emission efforts in the maritime sector. However, she emphasised the existing gaps in financial resources and skills, both of which are essential for transforming the continent.
“Africa has the land, labour, and raw renewable resources and materials – including sun, wind, a youthful demographic, land, and hydrogen – that are needed to drive zero-emission shipping and the blue economy. We have everything required to be a global leader; what we need is to attract sufficient investment through partnerships that will enable us to harness these resources and develop our people,” she explained.
This UCL-NIMASA LEAP Project side event, organised by Dr. Dola Oluteye, Principal Investigator, was hosted at the Nigerian Pavilion with the support of the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. The event focused on attracting financial resources to promote Africa’s transition to a green maritime sector. The panel featured speakers including Winfrida Shonde from TEEMO Africa, representing the office of the Vice President of Tanzania; Amna Munawwar Awan, President of the Centre for Climate Advocacy and Policy Research Institute; and Maritime Associates from the Climate Champions Team (CCT).
Winfrida Shonde emphasised the necessity of partnerships with international organisations and public-private collaborations to drive economic development. She noted that such partnerships are vital for mobilising resources and building the infrastructure needed for capacity development across the continent.
The Climate Champions Team elaborated on how the Just Transition principles for African seafarers can align with local economic needs.
“Climate diplomacy can play a crucial role through capacity building, research and development, financial inclusion, and adaptation to change. However, for this transition to succeed, coordinated efforts from individuals, journalists, civil society, government, and the private sector are essential,” stated a member of the team.
The team also highlighted the importance of promoting gender equity in the maritime industry, advocating for increased opportunities for women, and calling for investments in training programs designed to address the unique challenges faced in Africa.
Furthermore, the panel discussed the role of technology in facilitating the green maritime transformation. “This transition provides a level playing field for Africa and empowers our seafarers. Unfortunately, many African countries have not fully capitalized on this opportunity due to a lack of technological advancement, among other factors,” stated a Climate Champions Maritime Associate.
In her concluding remarks, the moderator, Dr. Ofodile, a Technical Expert on Climate Change and Decarbonisation of the maritime sector and international shipping, urged stakeholders to actively engage with initiatives and platforms that promote sustainable economic development within the maritime sector.
“By focusing on capacity building and economic empowerment, Africa can meet the challenges of climate change and emerge as a frontrunner in the green maritime economy. For this to happen, we need significant investments in education, infrastructure, and community engagement to leapfrog into the next industrial revolution already underway,” stated Ofodile.
By Seyifunmi Adebote, seyi@climatetalkpodcast.com (Environmental Communicator and Host, Climate Talk Podcast) and Dr. Dola Oluteye, ucftolu@ucl.ac.uk (Senior Research Fellow at University College London)
Remote workers can have a 54% lower carbon footprint when compared to onsite workers, highlights a study by Cornell and Microsoft. The Cornell Chronicle article goes on to point out that lifestyle choices and work arrangements play “an essential role in determining the environmental benefits of remote and hybrid work.”
Adejoke Lasisi has turned “pure water” sachets into items such as bags, purses, slippers, mats, and more
For Nigerian businesses and their workers, green business practices can extend well beyond the value of a remote work schedule. Recycled materials and paperless initiatives are just two environmentally beneficial practices that remote workers can implement, each with surprising benefits.
Recycled materials
Waste and waste management is a significant concern, not just in Nigeria but throughout the world. In fact, Al Jazeera notes the 2019 Global Material Footprint, which amounted to 85.9 billion tonnes (up from 73.2 billion tonnes 10 years before), according to the United Nations. The Global Material Footprint involves the amount of raw material, which includes fossil fuels, biomass, metal and non-metal ore that is extracted to meet total consumption demand.
Al Jazeera goes on to highlight “wastepreneurs” in Nigeria, who take waste straight from the dump in order to transform it and redefine its purpose. While some upcycle material such as car tyres and scrap metal into art, others take advantage of waste materials in order to create functional items – Adejoke Lasisi is just one individual highlighted by Al Jazeera, who turned “pure water” sachets into items such as bags, purses, slippers, mats, and more.
An at-home work environment that incorporates recycled materials can save workers money while preventing waste from ending up in the landfills. A desk made from reclaimed wood, a reupholstered chair, or a repurposed shelving unit can all serve as smart ways to create a more sustainable home office. Beyond recycled materials, the design of a sustainable home office may include eco-friendly lighting solutions, or the introduction of plant life. A focus on natural lighting, for instance, can not only benefit a remote employee’s health and wellbeing (as it helps reduce eye strain), but can be a proactive way to save energy. Natural lighting can also benefit plant life in a home office setting and help the environment flourish as one that is conducive to productivity.
Paperless practices redefine remote work
A ThisDay article describes Nigeria’s federal government plans to digitalise 80% of its activities by 2025. The ambitious change highlights a step towards modernisation, and a step in an eco-friendly direction. According to the article, the project is part of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s “drive towards modernising Nigeria’s public sector.” Additional benefits mentioned include enhanced efficiency, a reduction in corruption, and improved transparency.
Those who work remotely can adopt a like-minded approach to the digitalisation of work practices, which can cut down greatly on unnecessary paper waste. The workplace productivity platform known as Formstack highlights the significance behind paper waste – for example, it’s cited that the average office worker uses around four dozen sheets of paper each day – half of which is considered waste. Regardless of the industry or location, a move towards digital practices can make a difference. In many cases, this can mean simple changes, such as the routine use of a notes app rather than using a fresh sheet of paper.
Green practices may appear to be reserved for the traditional office setting, though there are a number of ways that remote workers can contribute as well. Paperless practices and the integration of recycled materials are just a few initiatives worth consideration, from the simple use of digital tools to stay organised to the value of sustainably sourced furniture.
A new streamlined draft text was published on Friday, November 22, 2024, at COP29 for the new climate finance goal. For the first time, the text includes a proposal for a provision of climate finance: $250 billion per year in climate finance by 2035.
COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev, speaking at the official opening of COP29
Assessed against climate finance needs and demands from civil society and countries of the Global South, the number provided falls significantly short. Furthermore, provision in grant-equivalent was dropped.
The decisions made now will determine whether the Global South will have the resources to adapt, recover, and transition to a sustainable future – or will be left behind. Today’s text is not expected to be the final text, so it is now up to wealthy countries’ governments to put their money on the table and provide a higher support quantum.
Reactions have however trailed the publication, with activists describing the text as “a joke” as, according to them, the proposed $250 billion falls short of expectations.
Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International, said: “This latest draft text on the New Collective Quantified Goal is not just a joke – it’s an insult to the billions of people in the Global South living on the frontline of the climate crisis. The $250 billion per year in public finance is peanuts, doubling a failed $100 billion goal instead of addressing real needs.
“The Global South must not carry the burden of historic emitters’ failure to act. No deal is better than a bad deal – but we are not done yet. To essentially shift the responsibility to developing countries and the private banks with the $1.3 trillion by 2035 mobilisation goal just adds insult to injury. In the meantime, millions of people’s lives are at risk. We are angry, but we will keep fighting until the end.”
Namrata Chowdhary, Chief of Public Engagement at 350.org, said: “The Global North must stop playing poker with people’s lives and pay their overdue debt. We need real leadership – from wealthy nations and the Presidency – to land this deal. If they can’t deliver, they must step aside, because we will not accept a bad deal that fails to meet the moment.
“As the world watches what should be the final day of this year’s climate talks, the agreement we came here for remains elusive. This new climate finance goal is three years in the making, and the global majority remains leaps and bounds ahead of the governments who are continuing to stall and let progress slip away in the name of profits. But we will not be silenced. At COP29, we hold the line in our demand for more climate finance, not this bare minimum offer.”
Dr Sindra Sharma, Senior Policy Advisor, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said: “This draft text reflects the backroom secrecy that was used to concoct it. As it stands, the text fails to honour the spirit of the Paris Agreement, shirks the responsibility of historical emitters to pay for the harm they’ve caused and falls far short of the ambition needed to protect our people and planet. $250 billion mobilised per year by 2035 is both inadequate and shameful. If finance is the realisation of ambition, then we are still asleep. There’s still time to wake up and push – negotiations must continue!”
Dr. Wafa Misrar, Campaigns and Policy Lead, CAN Africa, said: The new NCQG text is a profound disrespect to the people on the frontlines of the climate crisis – those losing their lives, homes, and livelihoods every day. It is disheartening to witness the lack of commitment from Global North countries, who seem willing to disregard our realities. Our demands were clear, and let it be known: the proposed $250 billion is not just inadequate – it’s unacceptable. This is our message to developed countries: go back to your homes, revisit your priorities, and come back with real solutions that reflect the urgency of this crisis and the dignity of those most affected.
Shailendra Yashwant, Senior Advisor, Climate Action Network South Asia, said: “The NCQG number of $250 billion in the latest ministerial text is not a joke, it’s an insult to the people of the global south salvaging their belongings and trying to rebuild their lives from floods, heatwaves, cyclones, landslides or forest fires and other climate change induced disasters. We wanted to see minimum of $1.3 trillion in public finance but what we have instead is a measly $250 billion that is being pushed as a hybrid of loans and private sector investment. This is unacceptable and will not only fail to deliver climate ambition but also completely undermine the principals of Paris Agreement.”
Fidelis Stehle, President FIMCAP Europe, FIMCAP (Youth), said: “We have to achieve the 1.5 degrees of Paris to save human lives, therefore this multilateral process is crucial. The EU has trillions dollar climate debt to pay. The current texts and the NCQG are unacceptable and far from what we need to save the planet and human lives. From a youth perspective, it is unacceptable to have a bad deal for a decade that leaves the most vulnerable on a burning planet.”
Pegah Moulana, Secretary General, Youth and Environment Europe, said: “We cannot believe it: the new NCQG text fails us all. The $1.3 trillion target by 2035 puts all actors into the same box, when developed countries – those we, civil society, urge to pay are only called to mobilise $250 billion annually. Still nowhere near addressing the urgent needs of the Global South. Moreover, where is the funding for loss and damage? Where is any consideration of human rights, workers, gender and youth? This text is injustice in slow motion. Keep negotiating. We demand and deserve better!”
Camila Mercure, Climate Policy Officer, FARN, said: “There is no room for ambiguities and unclear responsibilities at this point: developing countries are already facing the impacts of the climate crisis and are in no position to address loss and damage not adaptation measures without good quality finance in adequate amounts. Many countries from the Global South are already indebted and are in no position to finance the adaptation to a climate crisis they themselves have not caused. Rich countries have to commit to a good quality and quantum for this NCQG in order for developing countries to be able to implement their NDCs.”
Marlene Achoki, Global Climate Policy Lead, CARE International, said: “The new quantum proposed by developed countries is unbelievable! It is wholly inadequate, to say the least. It does not show any care to the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, fighting against the escalating climate crisis. It’s alarmingly insufficient, with proposed funding falling far short of climate needs. The quality is also faulty, as it leans on loans and private investments – approaches that have consistently failed to deliver for those most in need. A bad deal that sets the bar too low.”
Bertha Argueta, Senior Advisor for Climate Finance and Development, Germanwatch, said: “This proposal is a complete abdication of the responsibility of the Global North, as the largest historical polluters, to ensure a liveable planet for all, particularly those most affected by the climate crisis, largely in the Global South. That Global North countries are willing to put their political priorities and self-interest above the survival of millions of people in the Global South is shameful. We need developed countries to come back to the table with a deal that is truly ambitious and just, and to live up to their obligations to the Global South and the world.”
Claudio Angelo, head of International Policy at Observatório do Clima, said: “At least the NCQG text put forward by the Azeri presidency on Friday afternoon answers an important question formulated this week by developing country diplomats: ‘Is this a joke?’, they asked. It is, indeed.”
Mariana Paoli, Global Advocacy Lead, Christian Aid, said: “It is baffling that despite everyone knowing all year that this was the ‘finance COP’, rich countries are still refusing to put substantial enough funding pledges on the table. This is irresponsible, immoral and risks condemning both people and planet. Developing countries would be better walking away from the table than signing up to this garbage.
“With hours to go, unless significant changes are made to the text, especially the amount of finance to be provided, developing countries will be left behind. The funding that the global south is fighting for here is a lifeline and will lay the groundwork for climate action over the next decade.”
Kelly Dent, Global Director of External Engagement and Media, World Animal Protection, said: “The current NCQG text is a disgrace and must be rejected – it fails utterly in both quantity and quality, abandoning small farmers, ecosystems and wildlife to their fate. In these final hours, we need a massive surge in grant-based financing, or we face an irreversible ecological collapse. The world doesn’t need empty promises; it demands bold action. Those who feed the world deserve justice, yet billions of animals remain condemned to profit-driven factory farms, and the devastation of our biodiversity only accelerates. Enough with the shallow excuses – it’s time to act.”
Marjorie Pamintuan, Finance Campaigner, Recourse, said: “There is still no new real money on the table. Instead of paying the climate finance they owe, developed countries are sanctioning the multilateral development banks’ abandonment of their development mandate, enabling private sector profit-making out of the climate crisis and continued support for fossil fuels. It is crucial that the new climate finance goal is not handed over to the multilateral development banks, which are not set up to deliver grant-based, public finance for those who need it most: women, workers, young people and vulnerable communities.”
Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist, Greenpeace Africa, said: “While developed nations continue to dodge their responsibilities, our communities are drowning, starving, and losing their homes to a crisis they didn’t create. We refuse to accept a hollow finance deal that betrays climate justice and mocks the polluter pays principle. To my African colleagues – this is our moment to stand united. No deal is better than a deal that condemns our continent to further climate devastation. Developed nations must pay their fair share now.”
Felix Finkbeiner, Founder of Plant-for-the-Planet, said: “Nobody is paying up for the rainforest. At the beginning of 2024, the US pledged $500 million for the Amazon Fund. Since the US election we know, at most $100 million will actually be paid. We desperately need other countries to step in to fill this essential gap.The 2022 IPCC Report laid out that it is impossible to limit temperature rise to 1.5°, without vastly improving forest conservation.
“Despite holding out hope until the last minute of this Finance COP, we have not heard any meaningful commitments from global north countries to fund the preservation of the world’s rainforests.”
Soomin Han, Climate Finance Policy Analyst, Climate Action Network Canada, said: “This latest text is a limp, disappointing word salad with zero nutritional value or seasoning. It contains no commitment for public, grant-based non-debt-inducing finance, or for scaling up efforts on adaptation and loss and damage. Contrary to the spirit of the Paris Agreement, the new text shifts responsibility to the Global South and shows no real effort to restore the trust that had been broken by the failures of the $100 billion goal. This mess of a text isn’t what we ordered, and Parties here need to send it back to the kitchen.”
Dr. Rachel Cleetus, Policy Director for the Climate and Energy Programme, Union of Concerned Scientists, said: “With a paltry climate finance offer of $250 billion annually, and a deadline to deliver as late as 2035, richer nations including E.U. countries and the United States are dangerously close to betraying the Paris Agreement. This is nowhere near the robust and desperately needed funding lower income nations deserve to combat climate change. The central demand coming into COP29 was for a strong, science-aligned climate finance commitment, which this appalling text utterly fails to provide.
“Wealthier nations seem content to shamefully renege on their responsibility and cave in to fossil fuel interests while unjustly foisting the costs of deadly climate extremes on countries that have contributed the least to the climate crisis. Instead of actions to undermine trust and thwart progress, it’s urgent for developed countries to agree to a meaningful scale of funding that treats people on the frontlines of climate change with humanity and respect.”
Hari Krishna Nibanupudi, Global Climate Change and Agieng Adviser, Help Age International, said: “The latest text, New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, falls short of the spirit and will of the Paris Agreement. Specifically, Section 8 and its clauses allow for alternative sources, creating potential escape routes for developed countries to avoid the real cash guarantee of $250 billion. Additionally, the recall of transparency commitments in Sections 27 and 28 undermines the principles of transparency and accountability critical to ensuring the equitable implementation of climate finance goals.”
Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of CAN-UK, said: “Developed countries have once again failed their maths homework. The $250bn on the table from them makes no sense in the context of the actual and escalating costs of the climate crisis and fails any test of fairness. It is completely unacceptable and an insult to countries and communities on the frontline of the climate crisis not of their making. How can this proposal be considered an ambitious ramping up of action to match the scale of the crisis? Must do better.”
Salomé Lehtman, Project and Advocacy Advisor, Mercy Corps, said: “The latest text on the NCQG is unacceptable. Agreeing a figure of $250 billion mobilised per year by 2035 would not only be inadequate but shameful. Adjusted for inflation, it represents virtually no increase in public finance from developed countries beyond the $100 billion commitment made 15 years ago.
“Worse still, the proposal shifts responsibility to the private sector to mobilise trillions, despite overwhelming evidence that private finance cannot be relied upon to deliver equitable climate solutions. This text is a betrayal of trust, a betrayal of science, and a betrayal of rich countries’ legal obligations.
“The failure to put loss and damage on par with mitigation and adaptation is a glaring omission. Communities on the frontlines of climate change need reliable, accessible finance to recover from climate-induced disasters – not vague mentions in a text.
“This text would lock in insufficient climate action for the next decade at a time when incremental measures are no longer enough. It is time for rich countries to step up and pay up.”
Laurie van der Burg, Global Public Finance Campaign co-Manager, Oil Change International, said: “This text is an absolute embarrassment. It’s the equivalent of governments handing the keys to the firetruck to the arsonists. The vague $1.3 trillion investment target is not to be relied on and the $250 billion goal is not debt-free. Previous suggestions to end fossil fuel handouts and make polluters pay have all been axed. This amounts to a cop-out for polluters and allows rich countries to dodge their responsibilities by relying on the private sector and even developing countries to cover the bill, creating a debt-trap for countries most vulnerable to the climate crisis.
“We know rich countries can pay up the trillions they owe to the Global South by ending fossil fuel handouts, taxing the super-rich, and changing unfair global financial rules. We need a dramatic change in direction if we want a fighting chance to leave Baku with a finance deal that can support the fair fossil fuel phaseout that we need to avoid breaching 1.5°C.”
Teresa Anderson, the Global Lead on Climate Justice at ActionAid International, said: “This new text is absolutely heartless.
“The developed countries most responsible for causing climate destruction have turned their backs on climate-hit nations. The document offers no guarantees of real grant-based finance to those on the front lines. Instead of holding the developed countries that caused the climate crisis accountable, it shifts the burden onto developing countries and the private sector. Essentially, this draft text says ‘sorry, you’re on your own,’ to those on the frontlines.
“The Global South needs to keep up the fight. The whole planet needs them to stand up for the trillions of dollars in grants each year needed to keep the planet safe.”
Safa’ Al Jayoussi, Climate Justice Lead, Oxfam International, said: “This is a shameful failure of leadership. The COP29 Presidency’s top-down ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ approach has sidelined progressive voices. All the while rich countries boycott climate justice by refusing to pay up and putting only false solutions on the table. No deal would be better than a bad deal, but let’s be clear – there is only one option for those grappling with the harshest impacts of climate collapse: trillions, not billions, in public and grants-based finance.”
Alun McDonald, Islamic Relief Worldwide, said: “This new draft is an insult to people all over the world. We need a bold new finance deal, but instead rich countries are offering pocket change. The gap between the daily reality for people on the frontlines of the climate emergency and the negotiation rooms here at COP has never been so wide.
“Given inflation, this proposed new goal isn’t even an increase on old deals. Commitments to phasing out fossil fuels and keeping global heating below 1.5 degrees are being watered down. There’s far too much emphasis on profit-driven private finance. Overall, this latest draft is still a million miles away from what is needed.”
Dr. Maria Ron Balsera, Executive Director at the Centre for Economic and Social Rights, said: “After three years and two weeks of negotiations, the derisory $250 billion financial commitment offered is a profound betrayal, particularly for developing countries, which are bearing the brunt of a crisis they did not create. This was the Finance COP – the moment for developed countries to to rise to their moral and historical responsibility and fulfil their obligations. Instead, we’ve seen empty promises, lame excuses and infuriating delays. Let’s get a decent NCQG deal done!”
Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “It is a disgrace that despite full awareness of the devastating climate crises affecting developing nations and the staggering costs of climate action – amounting to trillions – developed nations have only proposed a meagre $250 billion per year. To add insult to injury, this paltry sum includes loans and lacks the crucial commitment to grant-based finance, which is essential for developing nations to both address climate impacts and transition away from fossil fuels. The trust has been shattered; developing countries must stand firm. Rejecting this is a stand for dignity – no deal is better than a bad deal, especially when it disrespects those bearing the brunt of a crisis they did not create.”
Erin Ryan, Senior International Campaigner, Climate Action Network Australia, said: “Pacific Island negotiators have spines made of steel. Any developed countries who accept this finance deal have hearts made of the same stuff. $250 billion annually, with a 2035 deadline to deliver, is a pittance compared to the costs of actioning the transition from fossil fuels, funding adaptation and recovering from incalculable loss and damage in our region – let alone the wider Global South. Any acquiescence to this deal is a betrayal of the frontline negotiators here fighting in good faith, a betrayal of the world’s existing agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, and most importantly a betrayal of the people.”
Ann Harrison, Climate Justice Adviser, Amnesty International, said: “This is a shameful proposal that is torching the human rights of those on the front line of climate harms. High income states that are the most responsible for the mess we are in are failing to meet their legal obligations to provide adequate international cooperation and assistance to states in need of support. The money is there – eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, taxing polluters and the very rich is the way to provide the much higher levels of grants based public finance that lower income states have shown they need for mitigation and adaptation to protect the planet for us all, and to respond to ever increasing loss and damage.”
Bridget Burns, Executive Director, Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO), said: “The NCQG text reeks of cowardice – a monument to the hypocrisy of the COP process. In 2024, global military spending exceeds $2.4 trillion, yet climate action receives a pittance. Feminist organisations, Indigenous Peoples, and women and girls in all their diversity hold communities together, driving solutions systematically starved of resources. The current system doesn’t fail them – it sabotages them. Justice demands public finance – massive, unrestricted, and immediate – flowing directly to frontline communities, free from red tape. Anything less is complicity in humanity’s destruction. Redirect trillions from destruction to survival, or admit you’ve chosen profit over life.”
Liane Schalatek, Associate Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation Washington, said: “With this proposal, the Paris Agreement is essentially dead and the great bargain from Paris, that the ratcheting up of ambition for collective climate action requires a commensurate raising of the ambition of finance provided for developing countries, cancelled by heartless Global North countries abdicating their historical responsibility. Not polluters are being made to pay, but the people in developing countries.
“The proposed structure of the goal would ask the Global South instead to contribute in several ways, while only vaguely promising that developed countries take the lead in mobilising finance at an amount, which is stuck at the inadequate ambition level of 2009 when the 100 bn goal was set. With no reference to human rights and gender equality, the proposal continues the march backwards away from climate justice and will make it even harder for the most affected communities to get access to finance. No climate justice without human rights.”
Mohamed Adow, Director, Power Shift Africa, said: “Our expectations were low, but this is a slap in the face. No developing country will fall for this. What trick is the presidency trying to pull? They’ve already disappointed everyone, but they have now angered and offended the developing world. It seems that building an ambitious climate finance outcome in Baku is not the ballgame this presidency is playing. The figure of $250 billion is about 20% of what developing countries have asked for. Are we really settling for a fifth of the ambition that is needed to tackle the climate crises? We need developed countries to grab the bull by the horns and put forward a number that reflects the actual needs of developing countries. Rich countries need to bypass this president and negotiate eye to eye with developing countries.”
Gerry Arances, Executive Director, Centre for Energy, Ecology, and Development, said: “We started COP29 with alarm that the outcome of the US presidential elections would deter global climate action – apparently, the halls of COP29 are already flooded with many Trumps. The $250 billion a year is a cruel condemnation to death for the world’s vulnerable peoples – it barely begins to cover what developing nations need to adapt to worsening climate impacts, account for decades of loss and damage, and mitigate more catastrophic climate chaos. We wonder how governments of historically polluting nations still dare show their faces with claims of climate leadership and commitment. Communities of the Global South will not allow our survival to be dictated by this text. We will not allow this atrocity to trump climate action while perpetuating the many injustices done to our people by developed nations.”
Chiara Martinelli, Director, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, said: “This is not even breadcrumbs. A $250 billion annual target by 2035, spread across all actors, is not even breadcrumbs. With no guarantee for new grants and minimal accountability for historic polluters – it’s just putting the burden on those most vulnerable.
“At the beginning of COP29, the EU said we can count on them. Since then, we have seen only words and no action. Rich countries must return to the negotiation room to step up, pay up, and deliver real climate finance. This text is unacceptable. We will fight until the last minute for an ambitious deal.”
Gaïa Febvre, international policy coordinator, RAC France, said: “This text is disrespectful! 2024 was the hottest year on record and climate disasters continue to intensify. Climate change is killing people, rendering entire territories uninhabitable, and after three years of technical negotiations, the countries of the North dare to give us a ridiculous figure? We refuse to believe it!
“Northern countries must assume their responsibilities and pay; developing countries must stand firm and demand fairness.
“The agreement must make polluters pay to stop their emissions and make them accountable, instead of passing the burden on to the most vulnerable, who pay with their lives. The “polluter pays” principle must be brought back into the text.
“An honest agreement is still possible, developed countries: you can still leave this COP with your heads held high: just know that we, the NGOs, will be fighting right up to the last minute, alongside the most vulnerable populations!”
Maria Hammer, Campaigner, Südwind (Austria), said: “The text presented just now is an absolute disaster. $250 billion until 2035 cannot be taken seriously, it represents, if anything, an inflation adjustment of the previous inadequate financing. To only implement the figure of 1,3 trillion by 2035 seems to postpone the upscaling of climate finance for more than ten years. We call on the EU and other Global North parties to urgently step up and come up with a serious proposal reflecting their historical climate debt and responsibility for climate finance for mitigation, adaptation and loss & damage.
Martin Krenn, Spokesperson for the Austrian Alliance for Climate Justice, said: “This fist number by developed countries of only $250 billion comes at the last day of the COP and it’s a slap in the face for the poorest countries and for the development of ambitious nationally determined contributions. It doesn’t represent an increase to the current goal and would exacerbate the debt crisis in the poorest countries. Furthermore, the 1,3 trillion number is meaningless as it includes every kind of finance flow and cannot be accounted for. Parties need to return to the negotiating rooms immediately and come up with a result that will actually save lives and enable the transition to climate neutrality in the Global South.”
Sinéad Loughran, Climate Justice Policy & Advocacy Advisor, Trócaire, said: “This proposal would further entrench the triple-edged injustice for climate vulnerable countries; the intensifying impacts, the bill they are left to foot in the absence of needs-based, adequate climate finance, and the diversion of money from basic services such as healthcare and education to pay for climate impacts and loan repayments. It is an insult, and reflects a step backwards in ambition, and a complete disregard for the impacts being felt by those who have done nothing to cause this crisis. It flies in the face of climate justice and the responsibilities of rich countries.”
Nadia Cornejo, Vice-présidente, Climate Coalition Belgium, said: “We thought the fog was finally going to lift over Baku but it’s the sky that’s falling. Neither the quality nor the quantity is there. The $250 billion proposed between now and 2035 is peanuts when you consider that the countries of the South will need more than twice that amount to recover from floods, heat waves and other climatic disasters. Without another string to the bow of the countries of the North, COP29 will well and truly end in failure.
Lien Vandamme, Senior Campaigner, Centre for International Environmental Law, said: “This new text is the definition of a bad deal. The peanuts committed to will deny any form of justice for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and push developing countries deeper into debt. The vague language on sources isn’t fooling anyone – wealthy countries do not want to pay and are shifting the burden even more onto climate-vulnerable countries.
“The new text entirely denies wealthy countries’ obligations to remedy the massive harm that the climate crisis is causing, providing grants-based finance for loss and damage and full reparation. The removal of all references to human rights is ugly and demonstrates how they are too often used as a bargaining chip in this process, rather than upheld as the obligations they are. Without human rights safeguards, a climate finance goal – especially one that encompasses private finance and opens the door to carbon markets – risks compounding harms to communities and ecosystems. Countries should reject this text.”
Marie Cosquer, Advocacy analyst- food systems and climate, Action against Hunger, said: “Global North countries should be ashamed. They have forgotten the very real weight of their climate debt. The human face of this debt is the many lives lost on climate change impacts and the rise of hunger. The finance goal cannot cynically ignore the needs and must clearly prioritise additional public finance that will be accessible by the communities, such as small-scale food producers, who, while bearing the brunt of climate change, are the ones nourishing the planet.”
Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group: “We are deeply concerned with the text released this afternoon on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. It dilutes the existing commitments of the developed countries and does not reflect the ambition needed for global climate action. Our Group is alarmed to note that our three years of hard work is not reflected in the proposed draft text.
“The text is weak on many issues: it does not take into account the issues of most vulnerable countries, particularly LDCs and SIDS, the quantum is far less than needed, it offers no guarantee of minimum allocation for our groups. Support for Loss and Damage remains conspicuously absent in the new goal. There is also no minimum share of the goal flowing through operating entities and the funds established under the Convention and serving the Paris Agreement.
“The language on access is weak and lacks concrete commitments to improve access by the most vulnerable. Similarly, the definition of climate finance is missing, leaving ambiguity in accounting.
“The text on implementation of the Global Stocktake outcome, that we all collectively agreed in Dubai last year, requires more work. We must ensure there is a clear follow-up on implementation of all the Global Stocktake outcomes, which now includes just as an option in the text. We must implement what we all collectively agreed and ensure there is provision for the means of implementation.
“We need to ensure that our ambition to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C remains front and centre, otherwise our survival is threatened. That means a strong call for raising ambition through updated NDCs, and to ensure support for the NDC implementation. Right now, all of these features are missing from the text.”
As COP29 draws to a close in Baku, artists, scientists, faith leaders and climate advocates have come together in a last push to call for greater commitment in the delivery of climate finance and an actionable plan for a just transition away from fossil fuels.
Fossil fuel pollution from a coal power station
During a press conference on Friday, November 22, 2024, civil society experts expressed disappointment with what was termed a “lack of commitment” by developed nations, and launched an open letter signed by over 100 climate champions from all walks of life calling on world leaders to chart a plan for a truly just transition to a cleaner, fairer and safer future.
The analysis follows the release of a revised text on Thursday, that was hailed for recognising the need to prioritise grants but criticised for a host of reasons among them failing to include the scale of the new finance goal the lack of clear financial sub-goals for mitigation, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage for developing nations.
Given the bumpy COP negotiations, the open letter calls for further international cooperation towards a complementary global plan for the transition in the form of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty – a new binding framework that will help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement without rich, polluting nations calling the shots in the negotiating rooms.
Signed by over 100 individuals, including actors, writers, influencers, youth and faith leaders, scientists, health professionals, activists and civil society leaders, the letter proposes a stop to the expansion of fossil fuels, a fair and equitable phase out of existing fossil fuel production and a financed transition to clean energy.
Scientist David Suzuki, a signatory of the letter, said: “The science has been in for decades and now we have surpassed so many planetary boundaries that civilisation itself is at grave risk. We must act as one species and stop using economic, political, legal and religious excuses to block action.”
Actress Alysia Reiner said: “There are solutions. Look for them. Invent them. Imagine them. Invest in them and support them. The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is one of them. It needs all our support. Now.”
Writer and activist, Rebecca Solnit, said: “We know what we need to do. We know what the stakes are-everything for everyone for centuries to come. We know who is trying to stop us from doing it. The true purpose of COP is to orchestrate doing it-lead a swift transition away from fossil fuels and protect the earth, which no country or oil company has the right to destroy. So do it.”
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, climate justice activist, said: “With a climate denier as President-elect of one of the biggest nations in the world, we need other governments to step up for the people and planet. As with previous international treaties like the Land Mines treaty, we need governments who are dedicated to climate action, equality, and a living planet to support the call for a fossil fuel treaty. Our lives depend on this generation of leaders ending the fossil fuel era.”
Around the COP29 negotiations, Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “On this last official day of COP29, we are frustrated, angry, and exhausted by decades of games played by developed countries. While this was supposed to be the ‘Finance COP’ – a moment to agree on new climate finance goals critical for our planet’s survival, we’re trapped in deadlock and deep divisions. Developing nations are demanding $1.3 trillion annually to confront the climate crisis, and even the latest draft acknowledges the need for trillions.
“Yet, after three years and countless high-level meetings, developed countries have offered nothing – not a single figure. Their priority remains profits at the expense of global equity and justice. This bad faith negotiating by wealthy nations is not just a dangerous waste of precious time; it is a grave betrayal. We’re going into overtime yet again, because justice and fairness have been kicked down the road for far too long. The world is watching, and history will not forget.”
Just hours before the conclusion of COP29 on climate change, more than 80 countries vulnerable to climate change and that urgently need the finance are calling for an additional effort to provide and mobilise $1.3 trillion per year, moving beyond the $100 billion agreed upon in 2009.
Chairs of the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group note that a clear mandate is demanded to comprehensively transform the global financial system and apply measures to bridge the finance gap and meet the urgent needs of developing countries suffering the worst effects of climate change
Ali Mohamed, Chair, African Group of Negotiators (AGN)
After a week and a half of intense negotiations, the Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group propose a path to the presidency of COP29 to definitively resolve discussions regarding the New Collective Quantified Goal on Finance and achieve the $1.3 trillion needed to enable developing countries to undertake climate action and face its adverse effects.
The proposal, presented by more than 80 countries vulnerable to climate change, is based on making an additional effort to increase from the insufficient $100 billion agreed upon in 2009 to $1.3 trillion per year. These funds would cover the needs in the regions and develop necessary actions to counteract and adapt to the effects of climate change, and address loss and damage, which have exacerbated its impacts and the number of affected people on the planet.
The Call from the Countries
For their part, developing countries demand greater political will, reiterating that the New Goal should be delivered through grants and highly concessional finance to avoid worsening the debt crisis. Regarding resources, we emphasise that they must be additional, accessible, affordable, predictable, sustainable, transformative, and tangible, considering the high cost of capital, limited fiscal space, and unsustainable debt; we cannot afford empty promises. It is necessary and possible to provide and mobilise real financing to developing.
This would enable achieving of the $1.3 trillion per year target. There are innovative strategies to breach the finance gap, including fiscal measures by developed countries such as redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, to raise new public resources and re-orient current existing public expending to as much $1.3 trillion per year. We jointly request to work together on a roadmap to make it happen.
The Lagos State Government has advocated early warning system as a necessary environmental protection strategy against climate change effects.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
Dr Babatunde Ajayi, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), made this known in a statement made available on agency’s X handle on Thursday.
It was also stated on the X handle that he made the call at the close of the International Climate Change Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan popularly called COP 29.
Ajayi, who delivered a compelling presentation at the International Climate Change Conference, emphasised the critical role of integrating green skills and proactive measures for a sustainable future.
He spoke on the topic: “Climate Mobility Discourse: Early Warning Systems as a Worthy Investment in Environmental Protection against Climate Displacement.”
Ajayi highlighted the importance of early warning systems in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Ajayi noted that climate change triggers a range of environmental and public health challenges.
“This includes coastal erosion, flooding, cyclical disease patterns, and vector migration,” he said.
He noted that early warning systems through data gathering would help to protect lives and property from adverse climate change and other environmental disasters.
He cited LASEPA’s weekly air quality monitoring initiatives as a prime example of using data to predict, detect and prevent environmental hazards through urgent action plans.
He said the state government, through LASEPA and other relevant agencies, was committed to deploying more early warning systems to prepare for and respond swiftly to climate change-related disasters for human safety.
“If we anticipate floods or droughts, the early warning systems would help people to migrate early, thereby, reducing the risk of lives and minimising the impact of such disasters,” he stated.
Ajayi further explained that the understanding cyclical vector migration patterns through the use of data could help the government to strengthen health systems and implement structures to mitigate risks, such as flooding.
He stated that LASEPA’s focus on climate mobility, ensuring that communities are relocated with dignity and provided with sustainable options for a better living.
He reiterated the need for strategic planning, public awareness, and robust policy frameworks to address the growing challenges posed by climate change.
Ajayi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing resilience through proactive measures, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration with local and international stakeholders.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated commitment to promote hydrogen as a clean energy source, with vast potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and boost economic growth.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo
Amb. Nicholas Ella, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, stated this in a statement on Thursday, November 21, 2024, to highlight the importance President Bola Tinubu’s administration placed on the development of clean energy in the country.
Ella said that the country would host the inaugural international hydrogen conference at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja, to expand investment opportunities on hydrogen.
“The conference will unlock the potential of hydrogen to power and build a resilient energy future for Nigeria,” Ella said.
The permanent secretary said that the conference, with the theme “Building a Hydrogen Economy for Nigeria”, would hold from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28, 2024.
“The conference is being organised in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA).
“It is aimed at promoting hydrogen as a clean energy source, reducing emissions, creating jobs and above all boosting economic growth.
“The conference will convene over 1,000 attendees, including public and private sector investors from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S.A. It will foster partnerships towards shaping and securing Nigeria’s energy future.
“Highlights of the Conference will include – Cutting-edge research and innovative technologies, expert insights on investment opportunities, exhibitions of latest trends and innovations and networking sessions with decision-makers, industry leaders and policymakers.
“Discussions will focus on blue and green hydrogen production, investment opportunities, supply chain development, policy frameworks, technology transfer, infrastructure development and unlocking Nigeria’s hydrogen potential.
“The conference promises to be a remarkable turning point in Nigeria ‘s energy landscape and every stakeholder is therefore warmly invited to participate effectively in the conference,” he said.
According to Ella, the conference will have the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, as the chief host, while the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Investment are expected to be in attendance.
“Top policy makers, Directors in the Ministry, as well as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Directors from the Agencies under the supervision of the Ministry are expected to attend.”
Despite acknowledging the widening financial gaps and barriers faced by developing nations, the NCQG text, says the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) in a reaction to the document, points out that it lacks meaningful commitments from developed countries
Dr Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
In less than 48 hours, COP29 climate negotiations will come to a close. In the wee hours of the night, a new text on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) was released and it is profoundly disappointing.
We are outraged by this latest iteration, which utterly fails to meet the expectations of many. Despite acknowledging the widening financial gaps and barriers faced by developing nations, the text lacks meaningful commitments from developed countries.
It is the AGN which christened COP29 as the “COP of climate finance”. There was a reason for this – it raised the expectations of the vulnerable communities particularly from Africa, and it was seen as beacon of hope especially on the ever-elusive climate finance agenda.
Africa and its allies within the G77 and China negotiating block are clear on their demand for $1.3 trillion quantum of climate finance that is new, additional, predictable, grant-based, and non-debtinducing to address the existential threats of climate change. This quantum is informed by needs of vulnerable communities in developing countries.
It is disheartening that just a few hours before the curtains fall on COP29, Parties have not agreed on the most-awaited quantum as essential element for NCQG. Paragraph 6 of the text estimates the costed needs in Nationally Determined Contributions of developing countries at $5.036 – 6.876 trillion up until 2030.
We are greatly concerned that paragraph 39 of the draft text allegedly driven by developed countries proposes at least $220 billion for LDCs and at least $39 billion for SIDS. In addition to this being ridiculously low and undoubtful on the format with which the figures were reached, we find this throwing of figures as veiled attempt to use money to fragment poor countries based on their vulnerabilities.
The text also cynically prioritises concessional loans and mixed sources (public private and innovative sources), shifting the burden onto the very countries least responsible for the climate crisis and most impacted by its devastating effects.
Based on the foregoing, we thus demand the following:
1) The Parties to immediately revise the released text to address all the issues presented by the AGN, which they seem to blatantly ignore.
2) We reiterate that the goal must reflect the proposal by the AGN on provision of least $1.3 trillion from 2025-2035 to address adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage needs.
3) The quantum must be mobilised by developed countries and from public sources. We vehemently oppose inclusion of funds mobilised as loans, “Innovative and alternative sources” or private sector investments in reporting on delivery of the quantum.
