The Chairman, Agatu Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Mr. Melvin Ejeh, has imposed an immediate and comprehensive ban on all forest logging activities in Agatu West.
Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State
Ejeh, in a statement on Sunday, June 15, 2025, said that the declaration was another resolute effort to address the escalating security concerns that have beset the LGA.
The chairman said that the directive takes immediate effect and it was imperative that all stakeholders and residents adhere to the policy with utmost seriousness.
“The decision to impose this ban is informed by the alarming rate of insecurity that has plagued our area, largely exacerbated by the unregulated activities of loggers.
“The incessant logging has not only led to severe environmental degradation but has also created avenues for criminal elements to operate with impunity.
“The resultant effect is a heightened sense of insecurity, which has become a source of grave concern for us all.
“In light of this, it has become imperative for us to take decisive action to safeguard the well-being and safety of our residents.
“The ban on logging activities is a proactive measure aimed at mitigating the security risks associated with unregulated logging,” he said.
Ejeh stated that the ban would also contribute to the preservation of the environment and the protection of natural resources for future generations.
The chairman emphasised that the ban was non-negotiable, and any individual or group found engaging in logging activities without proper authorisation would face the full weight of the law.
According to him, all logging activities henceforth requires clearance from the local government chairman himself.
Ejeh urged all residents to comply with this directive and report any logging activities to the council authorities.
“Your cooperation and vigilance are crucial in our collective efforts to create a safer and more secure environment for all.
“I assure you that Agatu Local Government Council remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to address the security challenges facing our area and implement measures that promote peace and stability,” Ejeh added.
The UNFCCC secretariat has released a new synthesis report consolidating experiences, progress, best practices and remaining challenges faced by Parties in preparing their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and implementing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. Photo credit: Phil Dera Photography
The report draws on views shared by Parties and on the first BTR submissions by developing countries and will inform the upcoming Facilitative Dialogue taking place during the June Climate Meetings in Bonn.
The Facilitative Dialogue will provide a platform for Parties and stakeholders to reflect on the content of the synthesis report and enable an exchange on successes, lessons learned and challenges faced during BTR preparation. The dialogue will inform future capacity-building and support efforts and strengthen national systems for climate reporting.
“Transparency is not just about reporting – it’s about enabling national transformation and ensuring the Paris Agreement delivers results,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary. Simon Stiell. “This Facilitative Dialogue will be a key moment to share, learn and move forward together.”
Key findings from the synthesis report
The synthesis report captures the growing momentum among developing country Parties in climate reporting, while acknowledging challenges that require sustained international support and cooperation. Key observations include:
Transparency drives ambition: BTRs are helping countries not only comply with reporting requirements but also inform national planning, policymaking and investment.
Support received is delivering results: Many developing countries highlighted the critical role of technical assistance received from the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), UN bodies and partners in preparing their first BTRs.
Peer learning accelerates progress: Regional cooperation and peer exchanges have proven valuable in addressing technical challenges and enhancing national reporting systems.
Challenges persist: Data gaps, coordination issues and limited institutional capacity remain common hurdles. Continued, tailored financial and technical support is needed.
Rate of progress is diverse, but with meaningful outcomes: Despite differing starting points, all countries are building solid foundations for stronger reporting and continuous improvement.
Ongoing support provided by the secretariat
To support developing countries in implementing the ETF, UN Climate Change scaled up technical support activities between January and May 2025, including:
17 country-specific supportevents(online and in-person),reaching 319 national experts.
11 regional workshops, involving 373 experts from 112 developing countries.
Certification of1,700 review experts through the BTR Technical Expert Review training programme.
Register for the Facilitative Dialogue
The event will take place on June 18, 2025, and is open to all delegates, with particular encouragement for national focal points and transparency experts to attend. You can register for the event here.
It will feature remarks by the COP29 Presidency (Azerbaijan) and the incoming COP30 Presidency (Brazil) and conclude with closing remarks by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell.
What’s Next?
Insights from the synthesis report and outcomes of the Facilitative Dialogue will inform the Dubai–Baku Transparency Workplan and guide ongoing transparency support activities in the lead-up to COP30.
The first half of 2025 is said to have made major strides forward in advancing global climate transparency, with the UNFCCC secretariat completing 29 technical reviews of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
The UNFCCC secretariat will host a side event during the June Climate Meetings in Bonn
This milestone included 25 in-country reviews and four centralised reviews, engaging 225 technical experts. Review teams worked closely with national authorities to assess greenhouse gas inventories, progress in implementing and achieving nationally determined contributions, and support provided.
Additionally, three Parties underwent voluntary reviews of information on climate change impacts and adaptation, while one Party completed a technical analysis of the annex to its BTR submitted on a voluntary basis, in the context of results-based payments from implementing activities to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).
Beyond meeting the reporting requirements of the Paris Agreement, BTR reviews serve as a catalyst for deeper engagement among the UNFCCC secretariat, national experts and technical review teams. The process not only tracks progress and identifies capacity-building needs, but also fosters trust, strengthens institutional relationships, and reinforces confidence in the technical competence of expert review teams. By submitting BTRs and undergoing technical reviews, countries highlight the crucial role of robust climate data and information in driving effective climate action.
Building on lessons learned from the measurement, reporting and verification systems under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, ETF reviews are implemented through a structured and iterative approach. As more reviews are conducted, the secretariat will continue to enhance efficiency while ensuring that reviews remain facilitative, non-intrusive, non-punitive, respectful of national sovereignty, and avoid placing undue burden on Parties.
To share insights from these early BTR reviews, the secretariat will host a side event during the June Climate Meetings: “Reviewing Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs): Achievements, Challenges and Lessons Learned.” Taking place on June 20,2025, the session will explore experiences from the first two rounds of reviews, highlighting key takeaways, challenges and opportunities for refinement in future review cycles.
As the Enhanced Transparency Framework continues to evolve, the first half of 2025 has underscored the importance of expert collaboration, open dialogue and institutional learning. The UNFCCC secretariat says it remains committed to continuously strengthening the review process and deepening engagement in the months ahead.
There is need for major bottling companies in Nigeria to accept responsibility for the full life cycle impacts of their products in order to curb the number of plastic containers constituting an environmental hazard in the country.
Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), speaking at the media session to mark the 2025 World Environment Day
This is the position of Dr. Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), during the official launch of the Plastic Brand Audit Report (2019-2024), a five-year exercise undertaken in alignment with the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Movement globally to document corporate accountability in plastic pollution.
In his remarks at a media event on Friday, June 13, in Lagos, as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day, Dr. Adogame noted that Plastic Brand Audit Report (2019-2024) is aimed at raising awareness about the threats posed by plastic pollution to human health and the environment. It also aims to support national and global efforts to end plastic pollution in line with this year’s World Environment Day themed “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
He said: “Globally, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while microplastics accumulate in the soil from sewage and landfills, due to the use of plastics in agricultural products. The annual social and environmental cost of plastic pollution ranges between $300 billion and $600 billion.
“Since 2019, SRADev Nigeria through the Plastic Brand Audit empowered volunteers and waste pickers to identify, sort, and track plastic waste in various communities. This initiative helps pinpoint the companies most responsible for plastic pollution and strengthens advocacy efforts.”
He said the Plastic Brand Audit Report (2019-2024) is conducted in partnership with local and international organisations under the Break Free From Plastic movement and contributes data to a global database used to demand corporate and policy accountability.
The report lists the top 10 global polluters, brands cutting across soft drinks, sachet water, alcoholic drinks and packaging materials, to include Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Rite Foods (Bigi), CWAY Group, Mr. V Water, Viju Industries, La Casera Company, Nirvana Table Water, Adbuk (sachet water), and Seaman’s Schnapps (Intercontinental Distillers Ltd).
“On a five-year average of the waste characterisation PET bottles covers 55%, 25% of the bottles are unbranded while Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is 10%. On the other hand, Food Packaging accounted for 89%–99% of total plastic pollutants audited in 2023 and 2024.”
The Executive Director thereby called on the top polluters highlighted in the Plastic Brand Audit Report (2019-2024) to lead the way in revealing how much single-use plastic they use, setting clear, public, measurable targets on how they will reduce the quantity of single-use plastic items they produce, and finally to completely reinvent their product delivery systems to avoid creating more plastic pollution.
Adogame stressed: “People all over the world are rejecting single-use plastic and consumer goods companies are feeling the pressure. So much so that many of them have made commitments that they claim will make their products more sustainable but largely protect the outdated throwaway business model that got us into this mess in the first place.
“Efforts by some top three polluters underscore how far the consumer goods sector must go. Nestlé for example has committed to making all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025 but has no clear plans for reducing the total amount of single-use plastic (SUP) it puts into the world, and the company sells over a billion products a day in single-use packaging.
“Coca Cola has recently unveiled a single-use plastic bottle using plastic collected from the oceans, and in 2009 they promoted a plastic bottle made from plants. None of these products will stop or reduce Coke’s growing plastic pollution and reinforce the myth that single-use plastic can be sustainable.
“And finally, PepsiCo joined the Alliance to End Plastic Waste that brings together plastic producers, oil companies and other consumer goods companies to promote beach cleanups and improve recycling as a way to ensure future demand for petrochemicals to make more plastic. Efforts like these, and others focused on making packaging recyclable or compostable, do not get to the heart of the problem and all but guarantee the plastic pollution crisis will grow worse. In Nigeria today, existing companies’ commitments are simply not enough.”
While commending the efforts of the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Environment on the plan to fully enforce the ban on single-use plastics (Styrofoam food packs, disposable polystyrene cups, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, and nylon bags thinner than 40 microns) from July 1, 2025, the Executive Director of SRADev further called for the inclusion of PET bottles, water sachets, or nylon bags thicker than 40 microns, which cannot be managed through an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.
In his submission, Victor Fabunmi, SRADev Nigeria’s Project Manager, noted that the main essence of Plastic Brand Audit Report is to raise awareness about the health effects of plastic pollution, provide data on pollutants by identifying and hold corporations accountable for plastic pollution as well as urging further action to eliminate single-use plastics in Nigeria.
He, however, urged government to enforce EPR legislation by strengthening and strictly enforcing EPR laws to hold brands accountable for their plastic waste, phasing out the most polluting and non-recyclable plastics identified in the audit and implement clear and standardising recycling labels to educate consumers and facilitate sorting, providing tax breaks or subsidies for sustainable packaging, recycling innovations, and zero-waste business models and also recognising and formalising the role of waste pickers in national waste management plans.
Dr. Essien Nsuabia, Head, Waste Management Research and Policy of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in his remarks commend SRADev-Nigeria for playing an active role in sustainable waste management in the country,
He noted that, with proper plastic waste management, lots of revenue can be generated considering the amount of plastic being generated on a daily basis.
“There will be so much value derived from it. And there will be so much job creation, and the environment will be better taken care of. If you look at the waste characterisation for the economy within the Lagos ecosystem, marine ecosystem, you see so much floating plastic wastes everywhere,” added Nsuabia.
The GreenHubAfrica Foundation, an NGO, has unveiled a Climate Action SuperHeroes (CASH) Youth Network, a digital-first platform, to train and empower 50,000 young change makers on climate-smart innovation and circular-economy enterprises.
Unveiling of GreenHubAfrica Climate Action SuperHeroes (CASH) Youth Network
GreenHubAfrica, which promotes environmental sustainability, inaugurated the network on Saturday, June 14, in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day and Exhibition popularly known as WEDex.
Mr. Henry Bassey, Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, identified the vision and mission of the foundation as a greener and more sustainable continent.
Bassey said waste management value chain had huge employment and empowerment opportunities adding that youth engagement in the sector had huge economic benefits.
He said the organisation’s 2024 CASH school outreach topped performers list as participants continued to demonstrate the knowledge they acquired through the programme.
Bassey said WEDex, which started as a virtual event in 2020 due to restrictions of COVID-19 lockdown, had become a movement.
He identified 2025 edition of WEDex as another milestone after five years of COVID-19 devastation.
Bassey said WEDex had grown to become a highly sought after platform with annual events on the platforms including webinars, podcasts and outcome capture sessions resulting in documented blueprint to climate action from the young and old.
“In 1972, the United Nations designated June 5 as World Environment Day, marking the start of a global movement to raise awareness and accelerate action for the protection of our environment.
“WEDex 2025 stands not merely as an event, but a movement—a bold expression of action and accountability.
“What once began as a webinar series during lockdown has matured into a one-day, high-level engagement that merges conversation with consequence.
“The platform will focus on unpacking thought leadership Ideas to deliver solutions that overcome complex environmental challenges, through practical reforms,” Bassey said.
Dr Efegbidiki Okobia, President, Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), identified plastic pollution as the second municipal solid waste challenge regarding waste management in the country.
Okobia said that waste management was a crisis that required the concerted efforts of all and sundry to put a stop to plastic waste.
The president, who identified the private sector as key in ending plastic waste in the country, urged the government to give the sector the opportunity and enabling environment to thrive.
“So, if we must put a stop to plastic pollution, we must look at where the gaps are; if you separate your waste, you separate your recycled waste from your biodegradable, who evacuates them?
“Where are they evacuating them to? Is it the recycling facility? Or is there a landfill site? That is the challenge; so, we should not just go on to speak about plastic pollution.
“We should look at how we can cover those gaps, and make it work; those in the government, private sector and civil society groups, we must come together,” he said.
The World Environment Day is commemorated annually on June 5.
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) and EnviroNews Nigeria have strengthened the capabilities of media professionals and civil society organisations (CSOs) as part of their initiative to garner support for Nigeria’s swift transition from ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs) to eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives.
Participants at the capacity-building exercise for media and civil society organisations (CSOs) hosted by EnviroNews Nigeria and Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria)
The virtual session, which was co-hosted by both organisations, was held on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The event, themed “The Role of the Media and CSOs/NGOs in Advancing Nigeria’s Transition from ODS to Climate-Friendly Refrigerants and Cooling Technologies”, emphasised the critical need to raise public awareness and foster collaboration among stakeholders in accordance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria, stressed the critical role of communication in demystifying technical climate issues.
“While Nigeria is making progress on phasing out ODS, a significant knowledge gap persists, especially among the media, CSOs, and even within government institutions,” he stated.
In light of this, the head of SRADev Nigeria went on to say that stakeholders’ roles are to accelerate capacity building and awareness-raising in order to help the Nigerian government eventually satisfy its international obligations.
The workshop builds on the findings of the inception meeting, which took place on April 10, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where stakeholders identified the importance of CSOs and the media in raising awareness of the urgency of the refrigerant transition and bridging the knowledge gap on ozone and climate-safe technology.
A thorough discussion on the effects of ODS on the environment and human health as well as the evolution of climate-friendly alternatives was led by Mr. Jeremiah Ato of SRADeV Nigeria, who also alluded to the phase-out of widely used ODS in Nigeria, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Ato went on to say that the government’s current efforts, led by the National Ozone Office (NOO) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, have advanced phase-out efforts significantly to Stage 3 of its Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phaseout Management Plan (HPMP III) in an attempt to meet Nigeria’s 67.5% target phase-out of HCFCs by 2025 and a 100% phase-out by 2030.
He asserts that while global efforts to phase out ODS have resulted in the development of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants as ODS substitutes, which are presently being phased out internationally, these refrigerants, despite being ozone-friendly, have a substantial potential to cause global warming.
Mr. Michael Simire, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of EnviroNewsNigeria, discussed the intersection between environmental science and storytelling, emphasising the media’s role in simplifying climate jargon, correcting misconceptions, and fostering policy dialogue.
“Environmental journalism must humanise complex issues, contextualise data, and encourage behavioural change,” he said, because the media, he believes, is more than just a mirror but also a tool for shaping narratives and ensuring accountability.
The webinar featured foreign speakers from Brazil and Kenya who shared lessons learnt from their nations’ adoption of the Montreal Protocol, highlighting the universality of media issues in communicating technical climate information and the global scope of the refrigerant shift.
During a breakout session, participants were separated into media and civil society groups to create tailored advocacy messages. One group aimed to reach Nigerian women and youth with messages encouraging the use of sustainable cooling technology, while journalists crafted headlines appropriate for the general circulation of the Montreal Protocol’s objectives to the public.
The webinar closed with a call to action for the media to promote accurate public knowledge and track Nigeria’s climate pledges, as well as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It also entrusted CSOs with developing localised campaigns to promote and adopt certified technicians and green-labelled appliances.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a revenue of N5.89 billion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N748 billion for the month of April.
Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, New GCEO, NNPC Ltd
The NNPC Ltd. disclosed this in its Monthly Report Summary for April, released on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The report highlights key statistics, including crude oil and condensate production, natural gas output, revenue, profit after tax and strategic initiatives during the period.
The report said that NNPC Ltd made statutory payments of N4.22 billion between January and March.
According to the report, crude oil and gas figures are provisional and reflect only NNPC Limited’s data.
It said that It excluded volumes of independent operators reported by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
“Crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.606 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, while natural gas production was 7.354 million standard cubic feet daily.
“Petrol availability at the NNPC Ltd. retail stations recorded 54 per cent during the month under review, while upstream pipeline reliability was 97 per cent,” it said.
On its strategic efforts, it said that the company was collaborating with Venture Partners to accelerate Sustainable Production Enhancement.
It said that it completed the implementation of relevant presidential directives and Executive Orders for its upstream operations.
The report listed some Technical Interventions on Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipelin to resolve challenges of River Niger crossings.
It said that the OB3 gas pipeline project was 95 per cent completed in the month, while the AKK pipeline was 70 per cent completed.
The report said that Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) was completed in several Oil Mining Leases (OML), including OML 18, OML 58, OML 118, and OML 133.
On Refineries Status, it said that the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), as well as the Warri and Kaduna refineries were currently under review.
According to the report, all financial figures are provisional and unaudited, and all operational and financial data are for April unless indicated otherwise.
To stem this pollution crisis, countries agreed in 2022 to establish a new body that would provide policymakers with robust, independent information on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention.
Negotiators are finetuning the details of this new science-policy panel, with the latest round of discussions set for June 15-18, 2025, in Uruguay. Once operational, the panel will complete a trifecta of similar scientificbodies designed to counter climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
“What we’ve been missing is a strong and comprehensive science-policy interface to tackle the pollution pillar of the triple planetary crisis,” says Tessa Goverse, a Principal Officer with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) supporting the intergovernmental working group that is preparing the foundational elements of the panel. “Now the global community is constructively working towards a panel that can deliver policy impacts that save lives and protect the environment for decades to come.”
Ahead of the Uruguay discussions, here’s a closer look at the science-policy panel and why experts say it could play a major role in reducing pollution.
What is the aim of the new science-policy panel?
It seeks to equip policymakers with the best available science and knowledge, enabling them to make well-informed decisions and develop policies to lessen the toll of toxic chemicals, waste and pollution on human health and the environment.
“There’s a lot of information out there, but the landscape is quite fragmented because of a tendency to look at issues chemical by chemical,” said Goverse. “The panel has the potential to look at chemicals, waste and pollution in a more integrated way and offer the knowledge for more holistic solutions.”
Why is the new panel necessary?
Chemicals bring many benefits to society. But their unsafe and unsustainable management means hazardous and long-lived chemicals are polluting air, land and water. This threatens human health and ecosystems. For example, pesticides used to kill insect pests leak into rivers and lakes. Discarded medicines end up in wastewater. Contaminated liquids from waste dumps seep into soil.
Those problems are expected to mount. By 2050, the world’s municipalities are projected to generate nearly 4 billion tonnes of solid waste – a 56 per cent increase from what was generated in 2021, according to UNEPs Global Waste Management Outlook. The size of the global chemical industry is also projected to double by 2030.
“We need urgent action because worldwide the issues are growing and the risks are wide-ranging,” Goverse said.
What are the science-policy panel’s key functions?
The panel is expected to conduct assessments of current issues and identify potential solutions, in particular those relevant to developing countries. It will also identify key gaps in scientific research, support communication between scientists and policymakers, and raise awareness. The panel will also assist information-sharing and build capacity to strengthen the science-policy interface.
Will the panel be looking for emerging areas of concern?
Yes. It will also undertake “horizon scanning” to identify trends and emerging issues that could be relevant to policy makers in the future.
“In these fast-changing times, it is imperative to better understand how the chemicals, waste and pollution crisis could evolve,” said Goverse. “To secure a pollution-free world and achieve sustainability while recognising the differences in contexts, we need to be ahead of the curve.”
Are any of the emerging types of pollution and waste especially worrying?
Yes. A 2020 UNEP report highlighted several of them, including endocrine disrupting chemicals, microplastics, persistent pharmaceutical pollutants, including antibiotics that can promote antimicrobial resistance and nanomaterials.
When will the panel be up and running?
In 2022, an ad hoc open-ended working group was established to prepare proposals for the panel. The working group aims to complete this task this year and convenes from June 15 to 18, 2025, in Punta del Este, Uruguay, back-to-back with an intergovernmental meeting scheduled for June 19 and 20 where countries would consider the panel’s establishment.
Who will be on the panel?
The panel will be an independent intergovernmental body which governments will be invited to join. Member governments will make up the panel’s governing body that takes decision and approves its programme of work.
Who else will be involved in the panel?
To produce policy-relevant deliverables, the panel will depend on the contributions of thousands of scientists and experts around the world. It will also need to engage with local communities, workers and Indigenous Peoples, since they are often the ones on the receiving end of pollution. Engagement with the private sector is also relevant for addressing the source of pollution and waste, and for coming up with solutions grounded in reality. But careful attention must be paid to potential conflicts of interest.
How will the science-policy panel contribute to Multilateral Environmental Agreements?
These accords can both contribute to and benefit from the findings of the panel. They could invite the panel to look into specific scientific and technical matters that require global attention. Examples include the use of chemicals in products and the reduction of the footprint of high-impact sectors. Relevant agreements include the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which set out measures for handling chemicals and waste, and the Minamata Convention to manage the use of mercury.
Could the panel help counter the other two prongs of the triple planetary crisis, climate change and nature loss?
Yes. The sound management of chemicals and waste, and the prevention of pollution can boost the fight against climate change by reducing pollutants that are greenhouse gases. It can also help to achieve the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for a reduction in the negative impacts of pollution on biodiversity and ecosystems.
The first Climate Week of 2025, held in Panama, served as a springboard for real-world solutions that support countries’ climate actions. Policymakers, experts and practitioners came together to turn climate ambition into tangible results – across three critical pillars: finance, technology and carbon markets.
AICA Launch. Photo credit: UN Climate Change
The Technology Lab, held under the theme “Climate Technologies and Innovation: Understanding Needs and Gaps for Moving from NDC Ambition to Action,” raised awareness about proven climate technology solutions that can help accelerate adaptation and mitigation across regions, identifying the steps needed for implementation.
Structured as a series of interactive roundtables, the Lab tackled challenges and opportunities in four key areas: the water-energy-food nexus, energy systems, industrial decarbonization, and artificial intelligence (AI) for climate action.
It opened with the launch of the AI for Climate Action Award 2025, a global competition spearheaded by the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The award seeks open-source, AI-powered solutions tailored to the needs of least-developed countries and small island developing states. Submissions are open until July 31, 2025, with the winning innovation to be showcased at COP30 in Belém this November.
Participants from government, the private sector and civil society explored sector-specific barriers, shared good practices, and identified steps to accelerate climate technology deployment. They agreed that while innovation – from AI to renewables and industrial decarbonisation – is abundant, scaling it requires sustained, inclusive investment and improved finance flows.
A roundtable discussion on the water-energy-food nexus and agrifood systems revealed a disconnect between community-driven technological solutions and national strategies. Despite a wealth of innovations already in use, uptake remains limited due to insufficient financing, weak coordination across agencies, and low public awareness. Participants called for climate finance mechanisms that not only support technology deployment but also invest in education and capacity-building, aligning national planning with community-level needs for long-term impact.
Discussions on energy systems and industrial decarbonisation echoed similar challenges. While renewable energy momentum is growing, deployment is slowed by skilled labour shortages and restricted access to capital. Industrial decarbonisation faces high upfront costs and continued fossil fuels competitiveness.
Experts stressed the need for blended finance, risk-sharing models, investment incentives and clear regulatory frameworks to accelerate the adoption of green technology solutions. Across these sectors, coordinated efforts between policymakers, financial institutions and the private sector – supported by clear national targets and regulatory frameworks – were seen as essential to driving both energy transformation and industrial emissions reduction.
A roundtable session on AI for climate action highlighted its potential across both mitigation and adaptation. However, participants raised concerns about the risks of AI: energy intensity, high costs, and regulatory uncertainty. Without robust governance, ethical standards, and sustainable funding, the potential of AI as an enabler for climate action could fall short.
Looking Ahead
The Technology Lab outcomes will inform the TEC’s workplan by clarifying technology needs, gaps and scalable solutions, and by strengthening technology development and transfer through better links to finance, carbon markets and capacity-building.
The Lab reaffirmed a central message: turning climate ambition into reality requires coordinated, well-funded and inclusive implementation. The tools are emerging, but efforts need to accelerate to deploy them at scale.
Eleven activists arrested on April 23, 2025, while attempting to deliver a letter to KCB Uganda, expressing their opposition to the bank’s involvement in the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), have remained in jail for close to two months since their arrest.
StopEACOP campaign
The 1,443-kilometre pipeline, if completed, would transport crude oil from Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s coast, passing through sensitive ecosystems, and has already displaced thousands of community members.
The activists were attempting to deliver a letter expressing their disappointment and opposition to KCB Uganda’s decision to fund EACOP when they were led into the basement of the bank’s offices – reportedly by the head of marketing – under the pretense of meeting with the general manager. Instead, they were met by police and security personnel and arrested on the spot.
“It is an outrageous injustice that peaceful people, simply trying to deliver a letter to a bank, are spending months in a maximum-security prison. These activists were exercising their democratic right to be heard and to assert themselves as legitimate stakeholders in the future of their country and environment. Instead, they were deceived, arrested, and thrown behind bars in appalling conditions – all with the complicity of KCB.”Said Zaki Mamdoo, coordinator of the StopEACOP campaign.
The activists – now known as #TheKCB11 – have appeared before the court a record three times, including yesterday’s hearing, and have been denied the opportunity for bail at each occurrence.
On each occasion that the 11 activists have appeared in court, the prosecution has not been able to provide any witnesses. Yesterday, the lawyers of the 11 activists requested the court to dismiss the matter for lack of witnesses, and while the state attorney had no objection, the magistrate, Justice Frank Namanya, refused the request, stating that the alleged offense of criminal trespass was a serious offense, which is inaccurate as it is considered minor under Ugandan law.
“From the start, this case has been handled in a way that raises serious legal and ethical concerns. Bail was denied to the detained on a technicality at the first hearing, and at the second hearing, proceedings were stalled because both the magistrate and state prosecutor were absent due to a prosecutors’ symposium. Yesterday, the case file was mysteriously taken from court by an unknown lawyer, and despite our request for time to retrieve it and proceed with a bail application, the magistrate refused and adjourned the case. The continued failure to produce prosecution witnesses only deepens concerns around the weaponisation of the judicial system to keep peaceful activists behind bars, completely undermining the pursuit of justice.” Said Advocate Tumusiime Kato, a Legal representative of the #KCB11.
According to StopEACOP, all the cases against the StopEACOP activists opposing the project have unnecessarily dragged on for months, sometimes years, only to be dismissed for lack of prosecution witnesses.
In fact, early in April, Ugandan MPs from the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee warned the Judiciary about the dwindling public trust and dire consequences, referencing Kenya’s anti finance bill protest when the judiciary officers appeared before the committee to defend their ministerial policy statement
“As communities directly affected by the EACOP project, we stand in full solidarity with the KCB11. Those arrested were not acting for themselves alone; they were courageously amplifying the very real fears and injustices communities face on the ground. We thank them for championing our concerns, for speaking truth to power, and for taking up this struggle for justice. Their arrest is not only unjust, it is an attack on all of us who dare to demand a future where our voices are heard and our rights respected,” said Balach Bakundane, Team Leader at the EACOP Host Communities organisation.
The activists’ detention also highlights growing concerns about the shrinking space for civil society and environmental advocacy in Uganda, where critics of the EACOP project have faced increasing restrictions and legal challenges.
The StopEACOP coalition takes issue with the magistrate’s refusal to grant bail and incorrect legal interpretation of criminal trespass as a serious offence that contradicts established Ugandan legal precedent.
“We therefore call on the Uganda Law Society to take a keen interest in its officers,” declared the group.
