The Global Champions of Adequate Housing have issued a strong Call to Action on Adequate and Affordable Housing, urging countries and partners to prioritise housing as a foundation for sustainable development.
The Call was announced during the High-Level Roundtable of Global Champions on Adequate and Affordable Housing, held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) at the UN Headquarters in New York. The roundtable was convened under the leadership of the Government of Kenya and President William Samoei Ruto and co-hosted with UN-Habitat.
“Adequate and affordable housing is not a privilege – it is a human right and the foundation for equality, resilience, and sustainable development,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “We invite more Member States to join this commitment … and to work together to ensure every person has a safe and decent place to call home.”
80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80)
Responding to a global crisis
Almost 3 billion people lack access to adequate housing, including 1.1 billion living in informal settlements and over 300 million who are homeless. The Call to Action urges countries to strengthen housing strategies, integrate housing with climate resilience and social protection, and scale up investment to address this urgent challenge.
The roundtable brought together heads of state, ministers and senior representatives from across regions to reaffirm political commitment, share experiences, and mobilize partnerships. It also reinforced the work of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, co-chaired by Kenya and France.
Key commitments of the Call to Action
Through the Call to Action, the Global Champions committed to:
Strengthen a global coalition to champion housing as a development priority.
Mobilize financing and partnerships to accelerate delivery of affordable, resilient housing.
Advance UN-Habitat Resolution 2/7 with measurable progress and accountability.
Promote innovation and inclusion through sustainable technologies and locally driven solutions.
Elevate housing on the global agenda at major international fora.
Inspire collective action from governments, communities, civil society and the private sector.
Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API) and Connected Advocacy, with support from the INCLUDE Knowledge Platform and in collaboration with the House Committee on Renewable Energy, convened on Friday, October 17, 2025, the “Merged-Zonal Africa Policy Dialogue (APD) Legislative Engagement and Green Jobs Fair”, in Benin City, Edo State.
The South West and South-South “Merged-Zonal APD Legislative Engagement, and Green Jobs Fair” showcased the zones as champions in renewable energy, green skills innovation, youth capacity to drive the nation’s green economic growth, and investment opportunities.
Participants at the Legislative Engagement and Green Jobs Fair in Benin City, Edo State
The event, which brought together key stakeholders from across the South-West and South-South zones, combined a focused legislative workshop in the session and a Green Jobs Fair matching employees/interns with the green sector players. The dialogue aimed to receive citizens’ recommendations into the National Inclusive Green Jobs Act (NIGJA) Bill, and the National Green Skills Employment Alliance (NGSEA), ensuring subnational contributions, ownership, and alignment between policy priorities, employment opportunities, and market-driven green skills.
The dialogue was declared open by Afam Victor Ogene, Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, and his deputy, Iliyasu Aliyu Abubakar, Abra Dangnan, Deputy Chair of the CoP/APD Co-Lead, provided the Overview of the APD project and objectives for the merged-zonal conference and job fair.
Mr. Aniebiet Obot’s APD Co-lead gave a progress report on the APD methodology. Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, the organizing partner for the South-South South West Zonal Legislative Engagement and Green Job Fairs in Edo State.
Other dignitaries included Mr. Kenneth Iwoghiren, Director for Climate, representing the Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Edo State; and Dr. Emeribe Chukwudi Nnaemeka,Chief Research Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria,
Osakwe Ize-Iyamu (Representative, NDDC Edo State); traditional ruler, Chief Kelvin Edegie, the Edegin N’ Useh; religious leader, Rev Ogakwu Abaros Simeon; the Immediate Past Vice Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, led the goodwillmessages and shared insight into their various sectors’ recommendations, ensuring the National Inclusive Green Jobs Act Bills become a reality, looking at the various gaps that are required to cover to ensure inclusive implementation
The Green Jobs Fair Panel session was facilitated by Carl Oshodi-Isibor, and Mrs. Adesuwa James Jang, panelists were Prof. (Mrs.) Georgina Erifeta. Prof of Ecotoxicology and Ecological Biochemistry, Igbinedion University, Okada; Dr Ogiemwonyi Brightence, CEO of Brightence Electricals; Mrs. Edith Iyalomhe, CEO of Best-Cruse; Mrs. Irene Ipogah from NABTEB; Mr. Kenneth Iwoghiren, President Aigbokhan ED FOI, were other renewable energy companies present.
Their presence, according to the organisers, underscored the strong government, institutional, and community backing for Nigeria’s low-carbon transition toward a green and inclusive economy.
“The South Dialogue provided a bridge between legislative discourse and practical employment outcomes, reinforcing Nigeria’s national agenda for inclusive green growth. By linking policymakers, employers, and young talent, the dialogue demonstrated how subnational engagement can drive tangible progress toward a low-carbon, job-rich economy.
“With sustained collaboration, financing, and monitoring, the APD South Dialogue’s momentum will continue to shape policy implementation and deliver real impact in communities across Nigeria.,” they added.
Nigeria needs sustained actions to attract and retain investments in the gas sector to ensure economic growth and industrialization, senior leaders of the Shell Energy Nigeria organisation said at the 3rd edition of the Gas Investment Forum which held in Lagos recently.
Investments in key infrastructure, consistency in policy and regulations and partnerships were highlighted as enablers for the development of the nation’s huge gas resources.
General Manager Shell Energy Nigeria, Markus Hector, and Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Ralph Gbobo, made the remarks at separate sessions at the conference.
L-R: Head , Portfolio, Regulation and Supply, Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi, Shell Nigeria Energy (SEN); President, Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) , Akachukwu Nwokedi ; Manager, Commercial Sales and Customer Service , Ehizogie Olotu, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG); Executive Commissioner, Development and Production, Eronse Amadasun , Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC);President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, Uche Johnbosco; Regional Representative United Nations General Protocol( UNGP) for Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), Dr Douglas Jombo…at the Gas Investment Forum in Lagos
In remarks delivered on his behalf by Head, Portfolio, Regulation and Supply Chuka Amos-Ejesi, at a panel session on “Nigeria’s Decade of Gas Imperative: Driving Investments through IOC–Independent Partnerships”, Markus said: “There is a clear strategic case for collaboration. IOCs bring international experience, deep capital reserves, and strong technical and risk management frameworks while independents bring local insight, agility, and operational flexibility in the Nigerian context.”
He said such “partnerships must also build domestic capacity – in engineering, supply chain, operations, and maintenance.”
Earlier in his own remarks at the opening ceremony, Gbobo said SNG was developing infrastructure by building gas hubs in Port Harcourt, Aba, Ota, and, recently Yenagoa, and hopes to extend to other cities.
He described infrastructure “as the backbone of Nigeria’s gas industrialisation journey, saying investments in this area “will not only improve access but also reduce costs and emissions, making gas a more viable option for industries and communities.”
Gbobo said policy clarity and consistency is essential for attracting long-term capital while “effective collaboration is the catalyst for scale and innovation.”
He added: “The opportunities are immense, gas will continue to support Nigeria’s energy transition, providing reliable power while displacing more carbon-intensive fuels, enhance job creation, industrial diversification, and regional trade. The success of these levers will be a collaborative effort from both the public and private sectors.”
The Gas Investment Forum brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders on investment opportunities across the gas value chain – upstream, midstream and downstream.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has commended the Federal Government for ensuring that workers’ voices are reflected in Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 on climate action.
Ms. Inviolata Chinyangarara, ILO Senior Specialist, on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Abuja said the inclusion of workers’ concerns in the NDCs 3.0 demonstrated the success of social dialogue and inclusiveness led by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
“The fact that workers’ issues are now at the centre of Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 shows that social dialogue still works,” she said.
Inviolata Chinyangarara, ILO Senior Specialist
According to her, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) played a vital role in shaping the document by contributing ideas on how a just transition should guide Nigeria’s climate policy.
“The NLC brought their membership, their structures across the 36 states and their views on how just transition should inform the NDC reviews,” she added.
Chinyangarara said that the ILO provided technical and capacity-building support to the NLC to strengthen its participation in the NDC process and promote evidence-based advocacy.
“We empowered the trade unions to come to the discussion table with evidence on why workers’ issues should be integrated into national climate plans,” she said.
She noted that the collaboration among government, ILO and trade unions ensured a balanced and inclusive process where “no one is left behind” in the transition to a green economy.
Chinyangarara, however, cautioned that while Nigeria had developed strong and inclusive policies, implementation remained the greatest challenge.
“We are optimistic, but with a big caution. Nigeria, like many countries in Africa, has good policies, but the issue of implementation is the real challenge,” she said.
She said that there was need for sustained collaboration among labour, government and development partners to ensure that climate commitments translate into real results for workers.
According to her, the NLC’s charter of demands highlights key areas such as occupational safety, gender equality, youth re-skilling and social protection for workers affected by the energy transition.
Chinyangarara further urged Nigeria to mobilise domestic resources to finance its climate goals, adding that, with local resources, you can plan, you can own and you can commit to the work areas.
She assured that the ILO will continue to support Nigeria through training, technical assistance and partnerships to ensure workers’ welfare remain central to climate action.
The story of food waste doesn’t end in the trash can – it’s a starting point for climate change, economic challenges and the empty plates of hundreds of millions. According to the Food Waste Index Report 2024, recent years have seen 19 per cent of food available to consumers wasted, which in turn is responsible for five times the total emissions from the aviation sector – and this comes while a third of humanity faces food insecurity.
However, as much as food loss and waste is a systemic issue of global scale, it’s also an area where individuals, families and communities can readily take action – and in creative ways that celebrate culture and tradition.
One foremost fighter of food loss and waste is United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador and globally renowned chef Massmio Bottura, whose Food for Soul initiative runs community kitchens – “Refettorios,” now in nine countries – that rely on surplus food for ingredients. Here, Bottura shares how turning attention to food waste is not only an environmentally responsible thing to do, but also an act of memory and beauty.
Massimo Bottura
Why should we worry about food waste?
The greatest amount of food waste happens quite innocently in home kitchens around the world. When we throw away food, we are collectively wasting resources, wasting opportunity and wasting dignity. Reducing food waste is a win for the planet – it can cut up to 10 per cent of global emissions. It is also a win for people, turning surplus into billions of meals a day to fight hunger, and a win for the economy, saving nearly US$1 trillion a year. Fighting food waste is one of the simplest, most powerful actions people can take to create a better future for everyone.
Memory shapes taste. How can family traditions and childhood flavors help fight food waste? Memory is the foundation of taste, and taste is a foundation of culture. I often say that my mother was my first teacher in the kitchen. She respected every crumb. Leftover bread became passatelli in broth, vegetable scraps became minestrone and nothing ended up in the bin. These traditions are not nostalgia; they are lessons in sustainability. When we cook with memory, we are reminded that every ingredient carries history, labor, and love. Reviving those flavors teaches us to honor food not as a disposable commodity, but as a story to be carried forward.
This is the spirit behind my work with Food for Soul, where we transform surplus food into meals that restore dignity and nourish the community. And it is the same spirit behind the UNEP Food Waste Breakthrough, which I support as a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and UN SDG Advocate – reminding the world that reducing food waste is not a side issue. It is central to fighting climate change, hunger and inequality.
How can chefs turn overlooked foods into something extraordinary?
Chefs have the privilege to transform what is overlooked into something extraordinary, and in doing so, they change perceptions. What was once seen as waste becomes culture on a plate. Some of the most renowned recipes all over the world came from the kitchens where people had to make do with what was in the pantry – humble, seasonal, local ingredients. Ribollita, paella, feijoada – these dishes are monuments to resourcefulness. A bruised peach becomes a granita. Carrot tops become pesto. Stale bread becomes cake.
This is what we practice every day in the Refettorios: we take surplus food destined for landfill and turn it into delicious meals full of dignity and beauty. As a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, I see it as my duty to inspire others to recognize that the future of gastronomy is not about excess, but about creating beauty through respect.
You’ve worked on projects from Modena to Rio. In places like Brazil, resourceful cooking is cultural. What lessons can the world learn from that approach?
Brazil taught me resilience in the kitchen. In the favelas of Rio, I saw families doing with little what many of us fail to do with abundance. Cassava peels are dried and fried, fish bones flavor broths, banana skins become sweets. This is not “poor cuisine” – it is an ingenious cuisine.
Waste is not inevitable – it is the result of privilege and disconnection from nature. Communities with fewer resources remind us that true abundance is not endless supply; it is creativity, solidarity, and the transformation of every ingredient into a communal meal.
In their role as influencers, how can chefs spark a movement to bring back zero-waste traditions?
Chefs today hold enormous cultural influence. If we use it only to create luxury, we are missing the point. Zero-waste traditions like fermenting, pickling and curing are not just techniques but are also acts of preservation and wisdom passed from generation to generation. By putting them back on the table, we remind people that they are not old-fashioned; they are the future. At Osteria Francescana, if I celebrate potato skins or bread crusts on a Michelin-starred plate, I give dignity back to what many saw as disposable. At the Refettorios, we do the same for communities in need, proving that scraps can nourish both body and soul. This visibility sparks curiosity, then imitation, then systemic change.
Why did you become a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador?
I carry this role because chefs have a responsibility beyond cooking. Food is culture, memory and care. Through Food for Soul, I’ve seen how surplus can restore dignity. Becoming a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, and later an SDG Advocate, allows me to bring this message to the world: Food is never just food, it is our common future.
The World Bank says AgriConnect, its flagship initiative to boost agriculture, will assist smallholder farmers move from subsistence to surplus.
President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, said this on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Washington, during the plenary of the annual meetings of the group.
Banga noted that the initiative was building an ecosystem around cooperatives that would integrate financing for farmers and SMEs, link producers to markets and harnesses digital tools, like small AI.
Ajay Banga, World Bank President
According to him, this is underpinned by a pledge to double financing to $9 billion a year and mobilise an additional $5 billion.
He said that the group was also finalising a minerals and mining strategy to help countries move beyond raw extraction into processing and regional manufacturing.
The president further stated that this would enable more value and more jobs to “stay local”.
“We expect to share this strategy in the coming months.
“So, how do we make this real?
“We begin with a single Country Partnership Framework across the World Bank Group, that is developed with the country’s leadership and our subject matter experts,” he said.
He noted that each framework was a long-term strategic plan that united the full capacity of relevant institutions within the World Bank Group around a focused set of priorities.
Banga added that the priorities would be tailored to a country’s unique needs and ambitions.
“In one country, that might mean end-to-end mineral value chains.
“In another, tourism rooted in nature and culture, perhaps stronger health systems that heal and employ or agribusiness ecosystems that lift smallholder farmers.
“The path is tailored, but the fundamentals are shared,” Banga said.
He listed the fundamentals to include building infrastructure, setting clear, predictable rules and supporting private investment.
According to him, to reach scale and free up the balance sheet for the toughest challenges, the group must unlock the full power of the private sector.
“That is why we are breaking down barriers to investment and creating conditions where private capital can deliver development impact.
“We are advancing the roadmap the Private Sector Investment Lab provided, deploying tools and practical solutions across the institution,” he said.
France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, says his country is deepening collaboration with Nigeria in technology, innovation, and the creative industries.
Barrot said the partnership aims to drive sustainable development and cultural exchange across Africa.
He disclosed this on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Lagos during the second edition of the Forum Création Africa, which promotes creative and cultural industries across the continent.
Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
The minister said the forum showcased exceptional talents from 42 African countries in video games, extended reality, webtoons, and digital design.
He said: “We are seeing strong participation of creative talent across Africa.
“I am happy that France contributes to this success. France leads in creative industries in Europe, while Nigeria leads in Africa.”
Barrot said both countries could achieve more by connecting creative talents and entrepreneurs to co-develop industries that strengthen their economies.
He stressed that technology remains a key area of partnership, underscoring shared commitment to innovation and multilateralism.
Barrot said both nations aim to create regulatory frameworks that promote creativity while preventing misuse of technology.
“Technology is one field where France and Nigeria have much to achieve together.
“We share a common vision of development, multilateralism, international law, and technology. We want to build strategic digital economies,” he said.
He explained that effective regulation should encourage creativity while preventing misuse that threatens collective interests.
Barrot reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative and technological ecosystems.
On bilateral ties, he described France–Nigeria relations as long-standing and mutually beneficial, citing increased visits, partnerships, and collaborations.
He recalled that President Emmanuel Macron visited Nigeria in 2018, while President Bola Tinubu visited France last year, deepening ties further.
“There has been strong interaction between administrations, companies, and civil societies from both countries,” he said.
Highlighting a key outcome, Barrot recalled the recent inauguration of the ‘Omi Eko’ Project, promoting sustainable water transport in Lagos.
“We have inaugurated the ‘Omi Eko’ Project to deliver decarbonised water transportation in Lagos,” he said.
The project, he noted, would deploy 78 electric boats and open 15 new waterways spanning 140 kilometres.
He said it would help Lagos cut carbon emissions and adapt to rising sea levels.
Barrot said the initiative, supported by the European Union, involves a total investment of 410 million euros.
Residents and shop owners at the Oja Retail Market, Oke-Afa, Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos, have kicked against the planned demolition of the market by the Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Taoreed Taiwo.
The protesters appealed to the council chairman, councilors, council manager, and other officials to stop the planned demolition.
They lamented that their shops were their only source of livelihood.
The protesting residents
One of the traders, Mrs. Temitope Olufowokan, urged the LCDA chairman to suspend the planned demolition, especially with the festive period around the corner.
Olufowokan said the traders had hoped to enjoy the benefits of democracy, not the pains of losing their shops.
She also called for transparency and accountability in any redevelopment plans for the market.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Estate Youth Parliament, Mr. Adeyemi Yusuf, advised the council chairman to focus on developmental projects that would not bring hardship to the residents.
Yusuf said selling rebuilt shops at N5 million would make them unaffordable for most traders, defeating the purpose of its redevelopment.
He said: “We have told him what the community needs. If he doesn’t want to attend to those issues, he should not force what we didn’t ask for.”
Responding, the chairman said the plan to rebuild the market was part of his administration’s campaign promises and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Taiwo said the market leaders had earlier requested for improvements, including solar lights, a new fence, gate, and concrete floors.
He noted that the existing structures were over 40 years old and dilapidated.
“The market was built during the administration of the late Gov. Lateef Jakande, and the structures are too weak to be renovated,” he said.
Taiwo said several meetings had been held with market executives, shop owners, and other stakeholders to discuss the project before plans were made public.
He added that the redevelopment was part of broader infrastructure renewal efforts across Ejigbo LCDA, including roads, schools, and health centres.
The chairman appealed to the traders to cooperate with the council, assuring them that the original shop owners would be given priority when the new modern market is completed.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) failed to adopt the world’s first-ever global, legally binding carbon price – postponing for a year a vote on the measure at a meeting on Friday, October 17, 2025, in London.
The agreement would have dictated that all large ships operating globally, including cruise ships, are required to slash emissions 17% by 2028 – with increasing emission reduction targets thereafter – or pay a fee.
Currently, the global shipping sector runs on some of the dirtiest fossil fuels and accounts for 3% of global carbon emissions – polluting the ocean and imperling the health of people in coastal areas.
Maritime shipping is a major consumer of energy and polluter
In a reaction to the development, Delaine McCullough, Ocean Conservancy’s shipping programme director, stated: “The failure of IMO member states to clinch this agreement is a major setback for people and the planet. It’s disgraceful that climate action has been delayed when we see the devastating impacts every day, and when shipping fuels have been tied to 250,000 premature deaths and 6 million cases of childhood asthma every year.
“The agreement would have required ships across the globe to slash their greenhouse gas emissions, driving a sector-wide switch from dirty fossil fuels to zero-emission options, including harnessing the power of wind to traverse the ocean and running on new fuels produced from 100% renewable energy. The agreement would have slashed carbon emissions and saved lives. A world without this agreement is dirtier and more dangerous for people, wildlife and the ocean.
“While the agreement was not perfect, it was an important step to deliver on the IMO’s commitment and send clear signals to an industry that was not only asking for a global framework but actively supported this deal. While this delay is a serious setback, there is still a major opportunity to put the sector on a zero-emission pathway.
“In April 2026, the IMO will continue the revision of its main energy efficiency measure, the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), which would reduce fuel burn through technical and operational measures like simply slowing ships down. Strengthening the CII is absolutely critical to immediate emission reductions, necessary to meet the IMO’s 2030 goals.”
In the 2018 Greenhouse Gas Strategy, the IMO’s goal was to halve emissions by 2050; thanks in part to Ocean Conservancy’s advocacy, their aim is now to reach net-zero at the same time.
The Bauchi State-based Yisin Consulting Services (YCS) has congratulated the governments and people of Osun and Kano states on their remarkable performance in the 2nd Edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking Report, an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
In a statement made available to EnviroNews on Friday, October 17, 2025, YCS commended Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State for “their visionary leadership in championing climate action, environmental governance, and sustainable development at the subnational level”.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal (middle), congratulates Dr. Dahir M. Hashim, the Kano State Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change (left)
“In the 2025 ranking, Osun State made an extraordinary leap from 30th position in 2024 to 6th position, while Kano State achieved an unprecedented rise from 35th to 4th position, demonstrating what strategic governance, institutional reforms, and evidence -based policies can achieve in driving resilience and sustainability across Nigeria’s states,” noted the organisatin.
Mannir Musa, Lead Consultant and Principal Partner of Yisin Consulting Services, submitted: “The achievements of Osun and Kano states reflect a new wave of climate leadership emerging at the subnational level in Nigeria. These states have shown that, with political will, strong institutions, and community -driven innovation, resilience can be built from the ground up. YCS celebrates this milestone as a sign of Nigeria’s growing commitment to measurable and inclusive climate governance.”
Yisin Consulting Services, a private sustainability and adaptation consultancy, has developed the Sustainable Adaptation Audit Protocol (SAAP) and the Sustainable Climate Adaptation System (SCAS) – proprietary frameworks that help governments, organisations, and institutions assess, plan, and improve their climate adaptation performance.
In recognition of these recent milestones, YCS expresses its readiness to collaborate with subnational governments, including Osun and Kano, to deepen institutional adaptation systems and build a verifiable Climate Adaptation Index (CAI) for Nigeria’s states – in alignment with the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the newly launched Nigerian Climate Investment Platform (NCIP).
YCS reaffirms its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s transition toward a climate -smart and resilient economy through innovation, capacity building, and professionalization of adaptation management systems under its flagship Integrated Climate Services and Adaptation Management Programme (ICSAMP).
