A group of eminent Nigerians, top business leaders, clerics, and civil society advocates, have cautioned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the organised labour movement against actions capable of undermining national economic interests, particularly concerning the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a joint statement signed by Atedo Peterside (CON), Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), Osita Chidoka, Opeyemi Adamolekun, and several other prominent Nigerians, the group described recent disruptions and threats of industrial action around the refinery as unfortunate and dangerous to Nigeria’s energy security and investment outlook.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah
They noted that while government mediation had helped de-escalate tensions, the episode underscored the need for restraint and dialogue in addressing labour grievances.
“The right to organise cannot become a licence to hold the economy hostage,” the statement warned. “Productive enterprises that lower costs and create jobs must be safeguarded. Industrial disputes, if not carefully managed, risk discouraging both domestic and foreign investment at a time when Nigeria most needs capital and innovation. A refinery of this scale is a national lifeline, with profound consequences for jobs, energy security, and inflation.”
The leaders lamented that for decades, Nigerians endured the collapse of government-owned refineries, the waste of trillions of naira in subsidies, and dependence on fuel imports. “These failures left citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity”.
Describing the Dangote Refinery as “a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve,” the leaders said Nigerians have already begun to feel its impact through the significant drop in fuel prices from about N1,500 per litre to around N820 in some areas, and the resulting reductions in transport fares and food costs.
“This impact on transport and food prices gives Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life,” they added. “It also sends a message to investors at home and abroad that genuine industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria.”
The group stressed that while workers’ rights must be protected, such rights must also be exercised responsibly and within the law.
They also dismissed allegations of monopoly, clarifying that the refinery operates in an open market where others are free to invest. Stakeholders with genuine competition concerns, they advised, should approach statutory regulators such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) rather than resort to strikes or blockades.
“There is no legal monopoly here,” the statement noted. “Others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise.”
Commending the Federal Government, labour unions, and the management of Dangote Refinery for stepping back from confrontation, the signatories urged all parties to embrace dialogue as a lasting framework for resolving disputes.
“This crisis is not about a refinery or any other business,” the statement noted. “It is about the direction of our economy: whether we will continue in a cycle of scarcity and rent-seeking or build a future anchored on productivity, fairness, and shared prosperity. The Dangote refinery represents an audacious step forward. It should not be undermined but strengthened – as a signal to other industrialists that investing in Nigeria’s future is worthwhile.”
The statement was also signed by Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Obonganwan Barbara Etim James, Senator Sola Akinyede, Dudu Mamman Manuga, Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Arunma Oteh, and Aisha Yesufu.
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has urged African nations to move beyond the role of raw material suppliers and take their place as key players in the global LNG market.
NLNG’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Olakunle Osobu, in a statement, made the remarks while addressing political and business leaders at the 2025 Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Olakunle Osobu, addressing participants during the 2025 Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa
The statement was issued by the company’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Speaking further, Osobu said Africa was no longer a bystander in global discussions on energy security, affordability, and sustainability, but a rising pillar of global supply, one which Nigeria had a duty to lead.
He stated that with more than 850 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, representing about six per cent of global reserves, Africa was critical to the ongoing global energy transition.
“Africa has the resources, positioning, and ambition to double its share of the global LNG market within the next decade,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s pioneering role in LNG development, Osobu pointed out the ongoing NLNG Train 7 expansion project which, he said, would increase the company’s production capacity.
“The Train 7 expansion project will increase our LNG production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA.
“Our investment in expansion shows that Nigeria is driving LNG growth not only for exports but also for domestic industries and energy access.
“We must prove that Africa can deliver LNG that is secure, competitive, and sustainable,” he added.
Osobu noted that the emerging LNG frontiers across the continent collectively represented more than 45 MTPA of potential new supply.
According to him, with these additions, Africa’s LNG output could rise from about 70 MTPA today to 120 MTPA by 2035, further consolidating the continent’s standing as a global LNG hub.
He pointed out Africa’s strategic advantage, including shorter shipping routes to both European and Asian markets, but said that competitiveness, financing, and domestic energy responsibility remained the continent’s biggest challenges.
Osobu observed that countries such as the United States and Qatar were rapidly expanding their LNG capacities, while global financiers increasingly demanded low-carbon and decarbonised LNG projects.
“Therefore, Africa’s LNG journey must strike a balance between reliably supplying the world, catalysing industrialisation across the continent, and demonstrating sustainability in line with global decarbonisation goals,” Osobu said.
The Africa Energy Week 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to shape Africa’s energy future.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, says the Federal Government is determined to ensure that every barrel of crude produced in Nigeria adds real value at home and abroad.
He said this while speaking at the 2025 Crude Oil Refinery-Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) Summit in Lagos on Tuesday, October 7.
Ndah Adaba
Lokpobiri, who was represented by his technical adviser, Ndah Adaba, said improving local refining capacity and energy security remains central to Nigeria’s development goals.
The theme of the summit is “Refinery – Key to Energy Security in Africa”.
It brought together engineers, policymakers, and energy professionals from across the continent.
According to the minister, as part of a deliberate policy and broader strategy, the “Naira for Crude” sales agreement will continue to play a vital role in reducing the cost of fuel production.
He added that it also helps in mitigating exchange rate volatility and supporting indigenous refining capacity.
Lokpobiri stated that, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the government had streamlined the licensing process, from the Licence to Establish, to Construct, and Operate.
This, he added, helps in ensuring that credible investors are supported rather than hindered by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The minister noted: “Beyond licensing, the government is also facilitating crude oil supply to domestic refiners through the effective implementation of the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation (DSCO).
“No nation can claim energy independence without the ability to refine its own crude.”
He stressed that the timing of the summit is critical, as Nigeria, and Africa at large, faces a pivotal moment requiring bold action to ensure energy security, promote indigenous refining, and position the continent as a net exporter of petroleum products.
He said that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, indigenous refining had been identified as a key driver of energy independence, job creation, and industrial revitalisation.
“Today, we have seen indigenous success stories such as Dangote Refinery & Petrochemical, Waltersmith Petroman Refinery, and Aradel Holdings, among others.
“These demonstrate that Nigerians possess both the capacity and the will to refine Nigeria’s crude oil locally.
“These projects are more than just facilities; they symbolize confidence in our policy direction. We are committed to replicating such success across all oil-producing states,” Lokpobiri said.
In a move to expand Nigeria’s refining influence beyond its border, he added that the government had launched the West African Fuel Reference Market, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for refining and petroleum product supply within the West African subregion.
“With increased domestic refining capacity, Nigeria will not only meet its internal demands but also become a reliable supplier to neighboring countries, reducing dependence on distant refineries and costly maritime imports.
“This aligns with the African Union’s vision for energy integration and intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he noted.
Looking ahead, Lokpobiri said the government would ensure feedstock security for all licensed refiners and deepen fiscal incentives to attract further investments.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration among the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NMDPRA, NUPRC, and security agencies to combat crude theft, pipeline vandalism, and improve relationships with host communities.
The minister further stressed the need for African nations to collaborate on product exchange, logistics, and shared energy infrastructure.
“The path to Africa’s energy security runs through the gates of our refineries and the institutions that support them.
“The Federal Government remains fully committed to supporting indigenous refiners, strengthening regulatory institutions, and creating an enabling environment for sustainable growth in the downstream sector.
“Let this CORAN Summit 2025 serves as a renewed call to industry players, regulators, investors, and policymakers – to unite in building an Africa that refines what it produces and powers its future through its own resources,” he said.
Meanwhile, CORAN has called for joint efforts to position Nigeria as a net exporter of crude oil within Africa and beyond.
The Chairman of CORAN, Mr Momoh Oyarekhua, said the association is working to ensure Nigeria’s crude oil production serves markets beyond its borders.
“This summit brings together visionaries, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders committed to shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s refining future,” he said.
According to him, CORAN’s vision is to transform Nigeria from a petroleum importer into a self-sufficient refining nation and eventually a net exporter across Africa.
“This summit provides a platform to advance this mission through dialogue, innovation, and collaboration among stakeholders.
“Africa’s energy security depends on refining more of its crude oil,” Oyarekhua said.
He said strengthening domestic refining capacity would stabilise fuel supply, cut import dependence, retain value locally, and create employment opportunities.
“The 2025 CORAN Summit offers a chance to explore policy reforms, financing strategies, and technological partnerships to achieve this goal.
“As we discuss refining integration, modular and large-scale projects, and regional cooperation under AfCFTA, I urge participants to share ideas for sustainable progress.
“Together, we must build a resilient and self-reliant energy future — one refinery, one partnership, and one innovation at a time,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Clement Isong, Chief Executive Officer of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), described the summit’s theme as timely and strategic.
He said it reflects a shared understanding that Africa’s energy independence depends on strengthening local refining capacities.
“As Africa faces market volatility and energy transition, refining remains vital for sustainable growth, industrial strength, and economic empowerment,” Isong noted.
He commended CORAN’s leadership for driving key discussions linking refining development to wider national and regional energy goals.
“MEMAN supports this vision. We continue to promote collaboration, efficiency, and innovation across the downstream petroleum value chain.
“We hope this summit delivers actionable insights and partnerships to achieve energy security — not just for Nigeria, but for all of Africa.
“MEMAN remains a committed partner on this shared journey toward a sustainable and self-reliant energy future,” he said.
The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) says Nigeria is charting a path towards an inclusive, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy through the Just Transition Guideline and Action Plan (JT-GAP).
Director-General of NCCC, Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, said this on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Abuja at the opening of a two-day validation workshop for the Just Transition Guideline and Action Plan.
Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, Director-General of the National Council for Climate Change (NCCC)
Majekodunmi, who was represented by Mrs. Jummai Vandu, Desk Officer for Just Transition, said the framework integrates equity and inclusiveness into national climate policies and aligns with Nigeria’s Net Zero target by 2060.
She said the JT-GAP complements the Energy Transition Plan and the National Climate Change Act (2021), addressing job displacement risks while promoting green job creation and sustainable livelihoods across sectors.
“We commend the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNIDO, UNDP and the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) for providing technical and research support in developing the draft framework.”
Also speaking, Ms. Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and ECOWAS, described the framework as vital for guiding Nigeria’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Phala, who was represented by Mr. Guite Diop, ILO Specialist on Climate Change, said the ILO’s Just Transition principles included equity, inclusion, stakeholders’ engagement and worker protection, which were embedded in Nigeria’s framework.
According to her, the integration of these principles demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, inclusivity and sustainability in implementing climate action policies that benefit workers, communities and enterprises.
She commended the NCCC, European Union (EU), GIZ SKYE Programme, French Government and partner UN agencies for their support and pledged ILO’s continued collaboration with the council.
Mr. Echezona Asuzu, NLC Focal Person on Climate Change, commended the NCCC for leading an inclusive process, ensuring workers’ voices were reflected throughout the development of the JT-GAP.
Asuzu appreciated partners such as ILO, UNDP and UNIDO for their support, urging continued collaboration during implementation to strengthen social protection and ensure fair labour outcomes.
He said although the draft reflected strong partnerships among government, labour and development partners, further refinements would make it more effective and representative of Nigeria’s workforce.
The informal summary report of the 2025 Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, released at the end of September, urges countries to step up ocean action in their new national climate plans (NDCs), scale up finance for ocean solutions, and strengthen synergies between climate, biodiversity and ocean health.
The annual Dialogue, mandated at COP26, took place during the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA62) in June, and was co-facilitated by Ambassador Carlos Cozendey of Brazil and Ulrik Lenaerts of Belgium.
Ulrik Lenaerts, Deputy Director for Environment and Climate Policy and Cooperation of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium
“This year’s ocean and climate dialogue demonstrated once more how critical ocean-based climate action is for reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and for following up on the global stocktake,” said Ulrik Lenaerts.
“While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, sustainable ocean climate action has a huge potential in contributing to the 1.5°C goal and in building resilience to climate change,” added Lenaerts. “We need to grasp these opportunities and make them an integral part of our NDC cycle and of our actions implementing the Global Goal on Adaptation. Synergetic actions on ocean, climate and biodiversity will make our response to these interlinked challenges better and more impactful.”
On the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), the report recommends integrating the ocean across all relevant GGA thematic targets, including disaggregated indicators that capture ecosystem integrity and connectivity. It also highlights the importance of aligning indicators with existing multilateral frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework to reduce duplication and maximize impact.
The Dialogue underscored the importance of international cooperation and welcomed momentum from initiatives such as the Blue NDC Challenge, launched by Brazil and France, and the 2025 UN Ocean Conference declaration “Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action.” It also stressed that the implementation of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) provides a critical opportunity to advance integrated ocean governance that supports climate ambition beyond national jurisdictions.
Finance emerged as a central issue.
“Ocean solutions cannot remain on the margins. We need finance that is predictable, accessible and targeted to those who need it most – developing countries,” said Ambassador Carlos Cozendey. “Blue finance must match the ambition we are asking Parties to deliver in their new NDCs.”
The report underscores that finance, technology and capacity-building are critical enablers for advancing ocean action.
At COP30, the co-facilitators will present the Dialogue’s outcomes and host a special event for Parties and observers to exchange on the report’s key messages.
For the first time, the International Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA) is being held in Africa, a continent that is home to one-third of the world’s livestock. The 9th edition of the conference is taking place from October 5 to 9, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a pivotal shift towards inclusive, globally representative dialogues on mitigating livestock emissions while bolstering food security and rural economies.
Co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), GGAA2025 convenes over 500 leading scientists, policymakers, industry experts, and civil society representatives to address one of agriculture’s most urgent challenges: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock while ensuring food security, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience.
L-R: Claudia Ardnt, Senior Scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI, and Team Leader of the Mazingira Centre and Vibeke Lind, a Research Scientist at Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, NIBIO, address delegates during the opening ceremony of the 9th Greenhouse Gas & Animal Agricultural Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo Credit: Saleef Nyambok/ILRI
Centring the Global South in the Climate-Livestock Dialogue
Hosting GGAA2025 in Nairobi underscores the continent’s central role in shaping a sustainable future for the sector. Africa is home to one-third of the world’s livestock, which contribute up to 80% of national GDP in some countries and account for nearly 0.8 gigatons of annual emissions. This move amplifies the voice of Low- and middle-income countries in global climate discussions and provides a critical platform to address the unique opportunities and constraints faced by the hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of livestock production in the region.
The conference agenda is built on the fundamental principle that “one size does not fit all.” Solutions effective for high-productivity systems in Europe or North America – such as feed additives for cows producing 40-50 litres of milk per day – are often not feasible for smallholder systems in Africa, where cows may produce only 5-6 litres. For these farmers, the most significant emissions reduction opportunities lie in improving animal health, enhancing feed quality, and genetic improvement to raise productivity and lower emissions intensity.
“Bringing GGAA to Nairobi is a deliberate and significant move. Low- and middle-income developing country livestock systems have been under-represented in global climate science. GGAA 2025 changes that. We are showcasing research from low- and middle-income countries, particularly Africa where we have 17 countries represented. This is where we can forge a sustainable future for the global livestock sector, one that is built on context-specific solutions,” said Claudia Arndt, Senior Scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI and Team Leader of the Mazingira Centre.
Showcasing Achievable, Climate-Smart Solutions
The conference underscores that climate-smart livestock is not a future aspiration but a present-day reality. Research shows that combined strategies in animal nutrition, health, genetics, and manure management can cut livestock greenhouse gas emissions by 20–50% while simultaneously boosting productivity and farmer incomes.
The event is unveiling scientific breakthroughs and showcasing scalable technologies, including:
Breeding low-methane livestock through genomic selection tools.
“Exhalomics” cow breath analysis to monitor methane emissions in real time.
Circular manure systems that reduce emissions by up to 90% while producing renewable energy and organic fertiliser.
Animal health interventions, with new modeling showing that reducing disease could cut emissions intensity by up to 12%.
Forage innovations that improve productivity and reduce methane emissions.
Digital farm tools and carbon accounting systems for tracking and managing emissions.
Academic and policy sessions will cover critical themes such as rumen microbial genomics, manure management, GHG measurement techniques, and policy frameworks for integrating livestock into national climate commitments.
“We want GGAA 2025 to be a springboard for lasting partnerships that ensure solutions are farmer-ready, affordable, and equitable and support resilient livelihoods. We don’t have to choose between food security and climate mitigation as the priority pathway for both is to improve livestock productivity. Farmer-ready solutions are proving it’s possible to do both. The goal is to cut emissions while raising yields – that’s the win-win of climate-smart livestock,” added Professor Appolinaire Djikeng, the Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) has announced a remarkable rebound in its operations, which has resulted in the facilitation of over ₦70 billion in commercial financing for agribusiness as at Q3 2025, its strongest annual performance since inception.
In operation since 2013, this result represents nearly a quarter of the organisation’s cumulative ₦270 billion facilitated for agriculture and agribusiness to date, an achievement that appears to underscore the impact of NIRSAL’s revamped strategy under its new Board and Executive Management.
NIRSAL
The timing of this turnaround has been described as critical: Bank lending to agriculture had been in steady decline, falling from 6.18% of aggregate lending in 2022 to 4.82% in 2024, while sectoral growth slowed from 2.5% to 1.7% within the same period. By applying its signature tools for value chain modelling to address identified issues, providing technical support to agribusinesses and financial institutions, all while deploying its risk-sharing frameworks, NIRSAL is said to have restored lender confidence thus channelling fresh funds into key value chains, including grains, cocoa, shea, and livestock.
In terms of impact, the organisation said that there has been an improvement in local production across key commodities and a positive balance of trade for agriculture, with over 32% of the facilitated sum directly supporting value-added commodity export. Most notably, agriculture’s share of bank lending has risen again to 5.33% as of May 2025, reflecting renewed interest from financiers. Two newly licensed banks have also entered the sector relying on NIRSAL’s frameworks, contributing to the ₦70 billion facilitated so far this year.
Commenting on the milestone, NIRSAL’s Managing Director/CEO, Sa’ad Hamidu, said: “₦70 billion may appear modest compared to the size of Nigeria’s agricultural financing needs, but the significance is profound. It proves that agriculture can be commercially and sustainably financed. With the right blend of capital, technical support, and risk mitigation, the sector can become more productive, resilient, and globally competitive.”
Hamidu added that NIRSAL remains confident of hitting its ₦150 billion target for 2025: “This is not yet the peak of the harvest season when merchants typically seek credit for offtake and storage, and when super agro-dealers stock up on fertilisers and inputs ahead of the next planting cycle. Therefore, the opportunities still to come give us every reason for optimism.”
Beyond headline figures, NIRSAL says it is working to reshape the lending landscape for agriculture. Its integrated model, spanning prospect identification, deal structuring, business advisory, and credit guarantees, handholds agribusinesses from loan origination to disbursement. Also, by providing tailored advisory and risk mitigation, the institution helps businesses once deemed unbankable to gain access to sustainable credit.
Through this approach NIRSAL aid the creation of a pipeline of emerging agribusinesses while supporting established firms to scale. Meanwhile, several borrowers who once engaged NIRSAL have since graduated into routine lending relationships with their bankers whose understanding of the dynamics of agribusiness has grown, leading to greater comfort in lending. This proves that the NIRSAL model is a pathway to long-term sustainability in the agriculture sector.
The ₦70 billion facilitated so far this year is a direct outcome of NIRSAL’s sustained capacity-building efforts for financial institutions. Through targeted training sessions for over 1,100 staff of banks, NIRSAL has deepened understanding of agricultural financing within its risk-sharing framework leading to an increase in loan request approvals. Similar training programs for agricultural value chain actors, including 450 participants trained on feedlot management, commodity export, and climate finance so far, will become increasingly evident over time, as capacity and confidence grow across these sub-sectors.
As part of its forward agenda, NIRSAL is developing a digital network it calls the NIRSAL LandBank portal – a connected ecosystem of agricultural stakeholders, from research and development to markets, to provide data-driven insights for investors, policy makers, and development partners for the identification of opportunities, risk reduction, and informed decision-making.
The LandBank portal would become an additional channel for project development, with climate finance another potential source of funding. NIRSAL continues to deepen its interest in and collaboration around climate finance, recently signing an understanding with the Rural Electrification Agency to provide off-grid power to production and processing clusters in rural locations. These efforts, the institution believes, will build resilience into the agricultural value chain and aid Nigeria’s push toward a $1 trillion economy.
The world’s first-ever global, legally binding carbon price – for any industry – is on the table for adoption at the upcoming International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meeting from October 14-17, 2025, in London. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, all large ships operating globally, including cruise ships, would be required to slash emissions by 17% by 2028 – with increasing emission reduction targets thereafter – or pay a fee.
Currently, the global shipping industry runs on some of the dirtiest fossil fuels and accounts for 3% of global carbon emissions – polluting the ocean and imperiling the health of people in coastal areas.
Carbon tax
Delaine McCullough, Ocean Conservancy’s shipping programme director, said in a statement: “This agreement provides a lesson for the world that legally binding climate action is possible now. It is a major win for our climate – and for human health, wildlife and the ocean. For too long, ships across the globe have run on crude, dirty oil, worsening the climate crisis and causing a whopping 250,000 premature deaths and 6 million cases of childhood asthma globally every year.
“It’s encouraging to see an industry rally around a real, binding commitment to drastically reduce these dangerous emissions. The technology to make ships greener has long existed. This includes measures like reducing vessel speed, adding sails to harness wind power, powering ships through rechargeable batteries and fuel cells where possible, and deploying new zero-emission fuels that are safer for people and the ocean. What has been missing – until now – is a plan that countries could agree on.
“More will need to be done to strengthen this agreement to ensure there are no loopholes for unsustainable fuels, incentivise the rapid uptake of clean alternative fuels, and distribute revenues fairly. But we applaud the IMO and the countries who have led this process for taking this important step and look forward to continuing our work to make this framework as ambitious as possible.”
In the 2018 Greenhouse Gas Strategy, the IMO’s goal was to halve emissions by 2050; thanks to Ocean Conservancy’s advocacy, their aim is now to reach net-zero at the same time. Ocean Conservancy said it played an important part in ensuring that the 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy includes interim targets to drive early emission cuts and was deeply involved in the negotiations on the Net-Zero Framework.
The recently concluded second Africa Climate Summit and the Addis Ababa declaration did more than restate ambition. They set out a practical agenda to finance and deliver resilience at scale, with agriculture at the centre. For governments, financiers and development partners, the signal is clear. Move rapidly from broad commitments to bankable projects that protect livelihoods, raise productivity and de-risk investment across rural economies, writes Tilahun Amede
Farming. Climate change has greatly affected farming in Africa
That signal took concrete form. The Africa Climate Innovation Compact was launched to mobilise $50 billion a year and deliver one thousand African climate solutions by 2030.
The facility behind it is built to crowd in blended finance and take homegrown ideas to scale in energy, water, transport, agriculture and community resilience. This is not a slogan.
It is an execution plan with pillars for innovation, financing, policy and public engagement.
Alongside it, African development banks and commercial lenders announced $100 billion in commitments to power a green industrialisation pathway.
The idea is straightforward. Use clean power to drive new industries, expand trade and create decent jobs while cutting emissions. It is a bet on Africa’s ingenuity and markets, not on its misery.
These financial signals matter for one reason above all others: adaptation. Our farmers and pastoral communities are on the front line of climate change. Droughts burn through savings. Crop yield has been reduced by up to 25 per cent. Floods sweep away topsoil and seeds.
Heat waves turn reliable planting calendars into guesses. Extreme climate-related fatalities increased threefold in the last 15 years.
The Addis Ababa declaration puts adaptation first and calls for predictable and accessible finance to build resilient food systems, climate-smart cities and early warning systems.
For agriculture, that means rainwater harvesting, afforestation, land reclamation and soil health at scale, drought-tolerant seeds in every district, and digital weather and market services that reach the last mile.
Africa has been investing in regenerating degraded lands and adapting to climate change, including through the African green belt, stretching 5000 miles from Senegal coast to Djibouti, spanning 11 countries and covered with billions of trees.
Only Ethiopia, through its green legacy program, claimed to plant 50 billion trees by 2026.
The declaration also stands for fairness. Leaders urged reform of multilateral development banks, lower borrowing costs and a stronger African voice in decisions that shape our future.
It capitalises on African-led initiatives such as the Great Green Wall and landscape restoration and recognises the role of traditional knowledge in keeping ecosystems and farms in balance.
For those of us who work with smallholders every day, that recognition is not abstract. It is how adaptation becomes yields, incomes and dignity.
Agriculture runs through the core of the Addis outcomes.
The declaration endorses joint work on agriculture and climate action that connects ministries and research bodies, supports the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) partnership to channel finance into food systems, and affirms commitments under the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) agenda.
Most importantly, it calls for direct grant-based support to national, regional and philanthropy funds that can reach smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, with inputs, credit and extension. This is where impact is fastest and most equitable.
Energy access is part of the action. We cannot transform rural economies if agriculture remains a shamba culture, cool storage facilities do not exist, clinics are dark, schools cannot power computers, and small processors cannot run.
The summit advanced the Mission 300 agenda to connect 300 million people to modern energy and a clean cooking initiative aiming to reach 900 million by 2030.
Besides being the cause of deforestation, clean cooking is a public health, gender and climate solution rolled into one, and Africa has already shown that targeted finance can unlock billions for it.
Sceptics will ask if this time is different. My answer is yes, for three reasons. First, politics are aligned.
Addis built on the momentum from Nairobi and set a common African position for COP30.
Leaders spoke with one voice about moving from aid to investment and about climate justice that is real, not rhetorical. Second, the architecture is taking shape.
The innovation compact, the facility behind it and the green industrialisation framework give financiers credible vehicles to back.
Third, urgency on the ground cannot be ignored, from failed rains in the Horn to floods in southern Africa.
So, what must we do next? As a continent, we should double down on four practical shifts.
First, make adaptation finance grants the default for smallholders and local governments.
New loans for adaptation add weight to shoulders already carrying heavy debt. Grants channelled through national or subnational windows can crowd in private co-investment without pushing countries toward distress.
That is the path to resilient food systems at speed.
Second, integrate the climate change agenda with agriculture, by adopting climate-smart practices that would enhance productivity, reduce risk, improve livelihood and ecosystem services
Third, scale what already works.
Across our programmes, we see farmers who beat drought with water harvesting and soil cover, cooperatives that raise incomes with climate-smart seed and regenerative practices, and districts that use digital advisories to cut risk.
With concessional capital from the compact and green industrialisation initiatives, these solutions can move from thousands to millions of households in a few seasons.
Fourth, put women and youth at the centre of design and delivery. When women get direct support, adoption rises, and nutrition improves.
When agripreneurs can access blended finance, we see rapid growth in local processing, storage and logistics that reduce losses and create jobs near the farm.
The Addis declaration reinforces that priority. Our task is to wire it into budgets, procurement and reporting.
There is also a narrative shift underway. In Addis Ababa, we talked less about what we lack and more about what we can build together.
Ethiopia showcased trees planted at record scale and new renewable energy sourcing through hydropower. Kenya pointed to progress since the Nairobi declaration in building green infrastructure.
Civil society pushed hard on accountability and on taxing pollution. That mix of ambition and scrutiny is healthy. It keeps attention on delivery.
The world should pay attention. Africa has a young population, vast renewable energy potential and the soils, crops and ingenuity to feed its people and supply global markets.
If we invest now in resilient agriculture, clean energy and local industries, we will slow emissions growth while lifting millions out of poverty. That is climate leadership. Not only because it is morally right, but because it is economically smart.
Addis was a turning point. It gave us tools, targets and a timetable. The next move is ours. As we head toward COP30, let us take this playbook to the farm, the cooperative, the district and the bank.
Let us bring back African ideas with African capital and global partnership. And let us measure success not by communiqués but by families who get through the next failed season with food on the table and money in the mobile wallet.
That is what success looks like. That is what Africa has just set in motion.
Prof Amede is Director, Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture and Resilience, AGRA
The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) has reaffirmed the country’s growing leadership in Africa’s space development efforts, highlighting the nation’s progress since the launch of its first satellite, GhanaSat-1, in 2017 and the launch of the Ghana Space Policy in 2024.
In a keynote address delivered during the ongoing Ghana Space Conference taking place at the University of Ghana in Accra, officials from the GSSTI underscored the country’s commitment to harnessing space science and technology for socio-economic transformation. The GSSTI is spearheading efforts to coordinate cross-sectoral collaboration, build local capacity, and create a thriving market for space-based applications.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, giving a keynote address at the ongoing Ghana Space Conference
“The establishment of the Ghana Space Agency will ensure national coordination and efficient resource use across sectors such as the environment, communications, and education. Our goal is to strengthen Ghana’s human resource and technological base to leverage space technology for the benefits of the ordinary Ghanaian,” said Dr. Joseph Tandoh, Director of the Ghana Space Science Institute.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, emphasised the need for Ghana to deepen its commitment to space science applications, particularly in the agriculture and mining sectors – two key pillars of the national economy increasingly affected by climate variability, land degradation, and unsustainable resource extraction.
Prof. Klutse noted that the integration of satellite data, remote sensing, and geospatial technologies holds immense potential to improve environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and sustainable mineral exploration. She further underscored that the global space economy, currently valued at around $600 billion, is projected to exceed $1.3 trillion within the next decade – a trajectory that presents both economic and strategic opportunities for Ghana.
She urged the country to invest in local capacity development in space technology production, data analytics, and innovation-led research, stressing that this will enable Ghana to harness emerging opportunities within the global space ecosystem.
Prof. Klutse’s remarks firmly position the EPA as a champion of cross-sectoral collaboration, calling on academia, government, and private industry to work together in leveraging space science as a catalyst for sustainable environmental management and resilient national development.
Professor Melvin Hoare of the University of Leeds, in his presentation, emphasised that astronomy and space science are key to inspiring youth in STEM and driving innovation in data science, remote sensing, and related industries. He noted that the conversion of a 32-metre telecom dish into a functional radio telescope has not only advanced research but also provided high-level technical training for Ghanaians.
Human Capital Development
According to Prof Hoare, Ghana continues to benefit from international partnerships that build technical expertise and research capacity.
He said the gains include the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) HCD Program, offering training in engineering and scientific skills, the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) Project, funded by the UK government, which has trained many young Ghanaians and theBig Data Project, focusing on data analytics for applications such as remote sensing and medical imaging.
These initiatives are strengthening Ghana’s human capital base and creating pathways for entrepreneurship and job creation in the space economy.
Strategic Milestones and Ongoing Initiatives
Ghana’s achievements in space development include the 2022 approval of the Ghana Space Policy, laying the foundation for institutional coordination and governance of the sector, the launch of GhanaSat-1 in 2017, a milestone marking Ghana’s entry into the global space community and active participation in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, an international collaboration involving eight African countries to build one of the world’s largest radio telescope networks.
Dr Tandoh outlined the items to accelerate national progress in space science and technology citing the finalisation of the draft Ghana Space Bill for presentation to Parliament by the end of the year, continued capacity building in radio astronomy and space-related disciplines through training and partnerships and leveraging synergies between radio astronomy, data science, and applications such as remote sensing and medical imaging.
Further, Dr Tandoh said the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute intends to expand astronomy education and research at Ghanaian universities, including the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and promote gender equality and diversity, targeting equal participation of women and men in space and astronomy programs.
“Our vision is to develop space sector hubs that stimulate economic growth while ensuring gender equity and equal opportunities for all trained professionals,” Dr Tandoh added.
The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute’s initiatives align with the broader African Union agenda to build indigenous space capabilities and strengthen Africa’s role in the global space economy.
