The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, has stressed the need for global support for youth-led solutions as a strategy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Guterres said that such support would also promote youth development and empowerment for peace and economic growth.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Guterres spoke at an event organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, in collaboration with Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E.).
The event was held in observance of the International Youth Day (IYD) 2025, on Saturday, August 9, in Lagos.
The event had the theme: “Youth Localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
Guterres was represented by Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, the National Information Officer at the UN Information Centre, Abuja.
According to Guterres, young people are bold innovators, resilient and essential partners in achieving the SDGs.
Guterres said that youth-led solutions must be supported for peace and sustainability.
He said the UN had recognised the impact of the younger generation on economic growth and development.
“We have come to the recognition that when young people lead, the society thrives,” he said.
He said the youth must be celebrated and supported to achieve the aims of the SGDs.
According to him, IYD is a declaration by the UN General Assembly and is celebrated annually on Aug. 12.
“We have the responsibility to promote it, to amplify the message of the IYD with our partner, S.M.I.L.E., and we have been doing it for over 10 years,” he said.
He also charged youths not to be involved in things that would affect Nigeria’s peace and unity.
“We will not have SDGs without young people driving it.
“Youths must get involved in local actions and support peace processes anywhere they find themselves,” he said.
He urged the youth to avoid being used to destroy the peace of the country.
The President of S.M.I.L.E., Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, said that the initiative was aimed to play a strategic role in the quest for building the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.
Bamgbose-Martins said that S.M.I.L.E. organised programmes to meet leadership needs of the youth.
She said that mentoring and leadership empowerment remained the most powerful tools to positively impact the next generation of leaders.
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on SDGs, Dr Oreoluwa Finnih, commended the UN and S.M.I.L.E. for the partnership aimed at creating the next generation of leaders.
Finnih was represented at the event by her Technical Special Assistant, Mr. Oluwasegun Ojo.
She urged the youth to be part of the SDGs achievement by contributing their quotas for economic growth and development.
She said the Lagos State Government would remain committed to youth empowerment and development in line with the SDGs mandate.
Finnih urged the youth to ensure proper waste disposal by ensuring sorting of wastes for environmental sustainability.
Mr. Tunde Mabawonku, the Executive Director, Retail and Digital Banking, Wema Bank Plc., one of the partners, commended the UN and S.M.I.L.E. for creating a platform for youth empowerment to commemorate IYD.
Mabawonku noted that S.M.I.L.E. had been involved in many “exciting things” through its initiatives.
He charged the youth to be part of the “phenomenal enterprise”.
He added that the youth must revolve in mindset, skills and character to remain relevant.
During a panel session, Mr. Aduragbemi Fasakin, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Advic Farms, called on the youth to embrace agriculture for food security.
Fasakin spoke on the topic: “Showcasing Innovators and Youth-led Solutions to Accelerate the SDGs”.
He said that people would need to move from agriculture to agribusiness for food security.
“Young people need to come onboard early enough.
“Farming has moved beyond soil to soiless agriculture; it is the new gold in Nigeria,” he said.
Governments of Oyo, Ogun, and Kwara states have put in place proactive measures to mitigate the impact of flooding following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) of possible heavy rainfall in parts of the country.
The state governments have said that public sensitisation, infrastructural interventions, and multi-agency coordination had been prioritised to reduce disaster risks in flood-prone areas.
Flooding in Ilorin, Kwara State
NiMet had forecasted increased rainfall and potential flooding in several states between July and August 2025, urging governments to implement preventive actions.
In response, state officials in Oyo, Ogun and Kwara said a series of preparatory efforts had commenced to safeguard lives and property.
Mr. Daniel Ajayi, Operations Officer of the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA), said the agency had collaborated with relevant stakeholders to ensure an effective response system.
“We have pre-positioned relief materials including foodstuffs, building materials, and household items in our warehouses to support affected residents if flooding occurs,” he said.
Ajayi noted that medical teams, in collaboration with the Red Cross, had been placed on alert. He added that continuous sensitisation campaigns were ongoing via radio, television, marketplaces, and public areas.
“We have also alerted residents in flood-prone communities to prepare for possible heavy rains,” he said.
According to him, the state government had cleared several river channels, particularly in high-risk zones, and warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of waste in drains.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) South-West, Mr. Kadiri Olanrewaju, said the agency had conducted stakeholder engagements across affected local government areas in Ibadan, including Lagelu, Ona-Ara, and Egbeda.
He said, “The initiative aims to promote early action and preparedness. We’ve met with council chairmen and community leaders to develop coordinated responses.”
Olanrewaju stressed the need for inter-agency and inter-governmental collaboration, calling on local and state governments to take proactive steps.
“There is an urgent need to dredge waterways and deploy waste management trucks across the state. Many flooding incidents are preventable,” he added.
Mr. Johnson Adekola, Technical Officer with the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), said the agency had intensified its flood preparedness response since NiMet’s alert.
He said major rivers such as Agodi, Ogunpa, Ogbere, Omin, and Onipepeye had been cleared to ensure smooth water flow.
“Our structural and non-structural interventions include early warning systems, improved drainage channels, and sensitisation of residents along riverbanks,” Adekola said.
In Ogun State, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the government had begun its annual flood preparedness campaign since March, following NiMet’s prediction.
He stated that rainfall in the state was expected to range between 965mm and 1805mm, with dry spells projected between April and July.
“Flooding is part of our seasonal cycle, and we must prepare adequately. Our flood alerts help residents anticipate periods of heavy rainfall,” Oresanya said.
According to him, the first rains peaked in July with over 360mm of rainfall, while the second phase is expected in mid-August through September.
Oresanya explained that ongoing infrastructural interventions include the de-silting of over 988.3km of waterways, construction of 698 metres of drainage channels, and the dredging of the Opa Aro River.
“These efforts have reduced flood duration in areas like Isheri from six weeks to three weeks. We are also working closely with community leaders and CDAs at the grassroots level,” he added.
He urged residents, especially in flood-prone areas, to heed relocation advice, noting: “We are committed not only to reducing flood impact but also to achieving zero fatalities.”
Mr. Saheed Akiode, Zonal Director for NEMA South-West, also issued a flood alert, warning of possible flooding in several communities over the next 28 days.
“We’ve mobilised all relevant agencies, including the Ministries of Water Resources, Environment, and Health, to scale up preparedness,” he said.
Akiode urged state governments to clear blocked canals, monitor vulnerable communities, and stockpile relief materials.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government has advised residents to stay alert in anticipation of heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms.
Mr. Agboola Olanrewaju, Director of Public Orientation in the Ministry of Communications, said the state had embarked on public sensitisation, particularly targeting those living near rivers.
“Relocation of residents in vulnerable areas is ongoing to prevent avoidable loss of life,” he said.
Olanrewaju also warned against movement during heavy rainfall and advised residents to unplug electrical appliances to avoid power surges.
He added that the state government was currently dredging the Asa River and clearing drainages within the metropolis to enhance flood control.
This week, delegates from around the world are gathered in Geneva to finalise what could be the most important environmental agreement of our time – the UN plastics treaty. The stakes could not be higher because plastics break down into micro- and nano-plastics that infiltrate the food chain, leach toxic chemicals into water and soil, harm wildlife, and accumulate in human bodies, posing escalating health, environmental, and climate threats that are already global in scale and effectively irreversible.
A powerful new report published in The Guardian warns that global chemical pollution is now “a threat to the thriving of humans and nature of a similar order as climate change.” The research, from Deep Science Ventures, estimates more than 100 million synthetic chemicals are in circulation, tens of thousands in everyday use, with mounting links to health issues such as infertility, cancer, and ADHD.
Tap water: A water fountain in Chicago. Photo credit: iStockphoto
The dangers aren’t theoretical. Over the past week, water safety crises have erupted in the headlines. In rural Alsace, France, an article from broadcaster franceinfo reported that residents have been told to boil tap water after bacteriological contamination was detected. And this week the BBC also published a story about how a joint investigation by Le Monde and Radio France revealed that at least one-third of bottled mineral water brands – including Perrier – have been allegedly treated illegally to remove bacteria, breaking EU rules and shaking public trust.
Founder and CEO of Bluewater, Bengt Rittri, an ecopreneur who earlier founded indoor air purification pioneer Blueair, has repeated his call for a robust, binding plastics treaty, warning that “microplastics, chemical leaching, and unsafe drinking water are interlinked threats demanding urgent, binding global action.”
At Bluewater, we see the connections every day. Microplastics don’t just litter oceans – they enter our drinking water. Toxic chemical additives can leach from plastics into food and beverages. And legacy pollutants such as PFAS (“forever chemicals”) continue to accumulate in the environment, with serious health consequences.
Bluewater believes no one should have to compromise on the safety of the water they drink.
The problems making headlines this week are global, urgent, and interconnected. The Geneva talks offer a rare chance to address them at their root. We urge negotiators to seize it – because clean, safe water should be a universal right, not a privilege.
Nigeria made history when Professor Ademola Adenle, one of the country’s foremost intellectuals and sustainability experts, was announced as the first-ever winner of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace.
Often referred to as a “mini Nobel Peace Prize,” the award was presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fifth left, is presenting The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace to Professor Ademola Adenle, fifth right, at the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi
The prestigious new global honour was established by TWAS in memory of the late Professor M.S. Swaminathan, the world-renowned agricultural scientist celebrated as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution”. His groundbreaking work transformed India’s food systems and inspired agricultural innovations around the world.
Professor Adenle, who serves as Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, was honoured for his outstanding contributions to food security, climate justice, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
His work spans agricultural innovation policy, biosciences, renewable energy, and public health, with a focus on providing solutions to rural and marginalised populations in Africa and beyond. It also promotes for policies that prioritise climate-resilient agriculture, equitable technology access, rural infrastructure development, and farmer-supportive financing methods, particularly for women and youth.
In response to his announcement as the pioneer winner, he said, receiving this award is an incredible honour.
“As the son of a smallholder farmer, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of low agricultural productivity and rural poverty. This recognition reaffirms my lifelong commitment to advancing science and innovation that can transform agriculture, improve livelihoods, and build a more sustainable future,” he stated.
Prof. Adenle’s upcoming projects will include launching a Women in Biosciences Initiative to enhance rural agricultural productivity through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The initiative will also address public health challenges such as malnutrition and waterborne diseases, while advancing renewable energy solutions – particularly solar power – to tackle energy poverty. This work will be carried out in collaboration with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in both Africa and Asia, continuing Professor Swaminathan’s broader mission of combining science with social equity.
“The Global South faces enormous challenges in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals,” Prof. Adenle hinted. “But with investment in science and innovation, strong partnerships, and inclusive policies, we can accelerate progress. I dedicate this award to smallholder farmers and rural communities whose resilience has never stopped inspiring me.”
Prof. Adenle’s recognition underscores the increasing role of African scientists in shaping global sustainability agendas. This milestone not only cements Prof. Adenle’s position as a global leader in sustainability science but also serves as a call to action for governments, development agencies, and researchers to work together in building a more food-secure, just, and sustainable world.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi praised the laureates as “beacons of hope” for their dedication to addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
The M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace recognises individuals from developing countries who have made transformative contributions to food security, sustainable agriculture, and peacebuilding.
Renowned environmental science journalist and urban planner, Michael Simire, has charged young journalists to expose “greenwashing” and make climate issues relatable to Nigerian audiences in order to spark real change.
Addressing students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA), Lagos, on Thursday, August 7, 2025, during a session organised by Career Development with Augustina Armstrong-Ogbonna (CDWAA) Cohort 2.0 in collaboration with the academy, Simire warned against superficial environmental coverage. He urged aspiring reporters to dig deeper into corporate and government claims of eco-friendliness, stressing the watchdog role of the press.
Students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA), Lagos, during the presentation
Drawing from his career, including his selection as a 2008 and 2009 Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP) Fellow of the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN), he encouraged students to localise global climate narratives to capture public interest and spur accountability.
Responding to questions on safety in covering sensitive environmental and renewable energy stories, Simire, who is Editor-in-Chief of EnviroNews, advised prioritising security and, where necessary, using pseudonyms to protect vulnerable sources.
He also identified critical thinking, curiosity, and thorough research as key skills for building a career in development and environmental journalism. He suggested story ideas such as investigating plastic pollution in local waters and assessing the role of tree planting in environmental health.
Michael Simire in a group photo with some students of the National Broadcast Academy (NBA)
On tackling “audience fatigue” in climate reporting, Simiire recommended blending global and local perspectives, using relatable language, and leveraging social media to highlight government inaction.
NBA management welcomed his visit and expressed readiness for further collaborations with the Augustina Armstrong-Ogbonna CDWAA Foundation to groom the next generation of environmental journalists.
Four days into the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva, civil society organisations (CSOs) are bothered that the world is not on track to deliver a treaty that will protect people and nature.
They are therefore demanding a change, even as they join the voices of waste pickers, frontline communities, scientists, healthcare professionals, children and youth, women, businesses, and non-governmental organisations around the world to call on governments to step up.
Campaigners seek a strong global plastic treaty. Photo credit: Samuel Schalch / Greenpeace
“Fix the process, keep your promise, and finalise a meaningful treaty to end plastic pollution,” they insist.
In a reaction to the current state of the Plastics Treaty negotiations, Break Free From Plastic Movement submitted: “People worldwide have made it clear: they support decisive action to cut plastic production, consumption, and pollution. A majority of governments have endorsed these demands, yet negotiations are stalling with a small group of petro- and plastic-producing states deploying delay tactics, with no sign that they intend to raise ambition.
“With just days remaining, the dynamic must change. Countries must keep their commitment to end plastic pollution. They must use every tool available to deliver a strong treaty – one that includes legally binding rules on production and chemicals, uplifts real solutions, safeguards human rights and protects frontline communities. There is no room left for compromise that weakens ambition. The world is watching.”
The Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty is bothered that, at the midpoint of INC-5.2, negotiations are running out of time, with no clear path to an agreement. It adds that the current approach is not delivering the progress needed to reach a meaningful outcome by the end of next week.
The group stated: “Governments committed to leaving Geneva with a strong treaty must act decisively. They must leverage all means available and support the INC Chair to establish an effective process. The time for incremental steps has passed.
”Governments must be bold, guided by the clear ask from the majority of countries, businesses, and civil society to deliver a robust agreement with harmonised regulations across the full lifecycle to address plastic pollution.The Business Coalition stands ready to support negotiators in achieving this outcome.”
“Plastic pollution is a global challenge, and global regulation is needed to effectively alleviate the situation. Harmonised regulations drive consistency across borders while supporting national ambitions and provide the lowest cost option to effectively address plastic pollution,” said Tove Andersen, CEO at TOMRA and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“At Borealis, we’ve long championed circularity. Through innovation and partnerships, we’ve shown that sustainable plastics solutions are possible. However, to scale these solutions globally, we need a level playing field,” said Stefan Doboczky, CEO at Borealis.
“We’re at a unique moment in time where business, civil society, and a majority of countries are calling for harmonised regulation on plastic pollution. The time to act is now,” stated Jodie Roussell, Global Public Affairs Lead, Packaging and Sustainability at Nestlé and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“Our economic analysis suggests that harmonised regulations could more than double global extended producer responsibility revenues to $576 billion, driving a scale up of collection and recycling,” noted Sabine Strnad, Global Lead Circular Economy and Packaging at Henkel and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“We want to scale solutions that tackle plastic pollution, and a treaty with harmonised regulations will make this easier for businesses to do,” said Ed Shepherd, Senior Global Sustainability Manager – Circular Economy at Unilever and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty.
“Our economic analysis shows that harmonised regulations can drive stable job creation, with 2.3 million more jobs being created, particularly in waste management,” stressed Ali Golden, Director of Strategic Relationships at TerraCycle and Spokesperson for a Business Coalition for Global Plastics Treaty
“Our economic analysis shows that harmonised regulations on product design alone can create $50 billion per year in additional economic value for materials in the plastics recycling value chain,” said Rob Opsomer, Executive Lead Plastics & Finance, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“Business supports a treaty with harmonised regulations because it drives regulatory consistency across borders while supporting national ambitions,” saidConrick Gallagher III, VP of Partnerships at Okeanos.
The Centre for International Environmental Law stated: “After three years of trying to work by consensus, the negotiations are now at a breaking point.
“What was meant to be a global effort to solve the plastics crisis has stalled. As in the climate space, it’s the countries least responsible for the problem that are fighting hardest for an ambitious treaty, we see some of the countries least responsible for the plastics crisis holding the line for ambition while producers are in a race to the bottom, with some even questioning whether the treaty is about plastic.
“This cannot continue. Member States must use every tool of multilateralism at their disposal and move forward with solutions that aren’t hostage to those defending the status quo.
“Anything less will fall short of the ambition promised in UNEA resolution 5/14 – and fail the people and planet this treaty was meant to protect.”
“The Global Plastics Treaty must enable a process for effective decision-making,” states Merrisa Naidoo, GAIA Africa Plastics Programme Manager. “To avoid earnest negotiations amounting to nothing, negotiators must demonstrate courage, not compromise by calling for a majority vote when consensus cannot be reached. If we continue to stall in consensus, we trade progress for paralysis.”
Rafael Eudes of Aliança Resíduo Zero Brasil states, “It is time to use decision-making tools that allow willing counties to move forward instead of letting a few run negotiations around in circles. A strong treaty with majority support beats a weak treaty that caters only to the few. Governments need to hear civil society’s urgent demand for ambition – the credibility of multilateralism and the planet’s future is on the line.”
Youth Plastic Action Network (YPAN) stated: “We are deeply concerned by the deadlock, the unwillingness to compromise, and the deliberate and malicious delays we are witnessing.
“Failing to reach an agreement at INC-5.2, failing to report back to UNEA, and failing to deliver on Resolution 5/14 is not just a procedural catastrophe. It is an acceptance that the deliberate actions to block a treaty today will have an intergenerational multiplier effect, undermining the health of present generations, degrading our shared ecosystems, and putting at risk the well-being of all future generations.
“Additionally, a failure at INC-5.2 would be yet another devastating blow to an already faltering multilateral order.
“We call upon all Member States to rise above individual interests, to demonstrate ambition, and to engage constructively in negotiations aimed at securing an outcome that advances the collective interest of all. For the sake of our futures, we need meaningful action now.”
Graham Forbes, Head of the Global Plastics Campaign for Greenpeace USA as well as the Greenpeace delegation for the treaty negotiations, commented: “In Busan and Nice, governments have shown ambition, which means reducing plastic production. A weak and effective treaty would be a betrayal that would further increase the burden on the countries of the Global South and encourage the world’s biggest polluters. All countries that have shown ambition must step up and adopt a treaty that reduces plastic production. They must have confidence because the public supports them and relies on their leadership and action.
“Multilateralism must work for those who need it most. The consensus failed because of the tyranny of a minority. Ambitious countries must deliver on their promises, or they will be remembered as those who let the world choke on plastic. Governments have promised to be ambitious. They must now deliver on their promises, without compromise.”
Erin Simon, Vice President, Plastic Waste & Business, World Wildlife Fund, said: “We’re nearly halfway through INC-5.2 and the same, tired tactics are still causing gridlock at the negotiating table. We’ve been here before, and we know the same old playbook doesn’t work.
“With so much at stake, the cost of inaction will have devastating consequences for generations to come. If we can’t turn this around, we risk leaving Geneva either empty-handed or with an empty treaty. It’s time for the majority to find their voice, choose a path and leave a legacy of progress not pollution.”
Margaret Spring, Chair, International Science Council Expert Group on Plastic Pollution, said: “Scientific evidence remains unchanged by negotiations, and provides an objective basis for sound decision-making now and in the future. This science is clear: impacts to human health and the environment from plastic pollution occur across the full life cycle of plastics.
“The International Science Council and our colleagues in the scientific community are ready to support the critical opportunity before delegates to demonstrate that multilateral cooperation informed by science can address the challenges of our time and protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution.”
The Asteven Energy Institute has made history by holding its maiden matriculation ceremony for 17 pioneer students of the 2024/2025 academic session.
The students are the first in the country to undertake a National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management.
Matriculating students at Asteven Energy Institute
Held on Friday, August 8, 2025, the event went beyond the traditional gowns and oaths, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity-building efforts.
For Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, President and Founder of the Asteven Group, the ceremony was the realisation of a long-held dream.
“To see this dream come true with a generation that will transform Nigeria’s energy revolution is deeply fulfilling,” Akpoyibo said.
He recalled Nigeria’s missed opportunities in the renewable energy sector – vast sums invested in energy access projects with little to show in terms of skilled manpower development.
“In Nigeria today, billions of dollars have come in for access to energy for underserved communities,” he said, citing examples of $550 million and $750 million investments in successive years.
“But we must ask ourselves: who utilised the money? Where was the professional labour force to execute these projects?” he asked rhetorically.
He lamented that, unlike the UK and Germany, which had certified solar technology professionals, Nigeria still lacked a trained and accredited workforce.
He stressed that the Asteven Energy Institute was created to fill that void.
“This is the first in Nigeria to be approved by the National Board for Technical Education and the Ministry of Education for a National Diploma in Solar Technology,” he declared.
“You are the future of the 2050 net-zero goals we talk about. The time will come when you won’t be looking for jobs – the jobs will look for you.”
The president revealed that the development of the curriculum took two and a half years and costs ₦35 million.
“The curriculum we developed here in Nigeria has now been adopted in India,” he noted, underscoring its quality and relevance.
“This journey is bigger than a certificate,” Akpoyibo said.
“It’s about setting standards, creating a legacy, and powering communities with clean energy.”
Akpoyibo commended the parents, guardians, and dignitaries in attendance for believing in the Institute’s vision.
He gave special recognition to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who inaugurated the Institute during his tenure.
The Rector of the Institute, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, described the matriculation as a milestone that moved the institute beyond the short certificate courses it had offered since 2018.
“With this programme, we are producing graduates for the renewable energy workforce,” he said.
“Our vision is clear – to raise a generation of green professionals who are globally competitive.”
Onuoha noted that since its inception, Asteven Energy Institute had trained over 3,000 individuals in solar technology solutions across its campuses in Lagos, Abuja, and Warri.
But the introduction of the diploma programme, the rector emphasised, represented a “bold step” in Nigeria’s quest for clean energy self-sufficiency.
Addressing the 17 matriculating students, Akpoyibo and Onuoha issued a joint charge: to be focused, disciplined, and relentless in their pursuit of excellence.
The graduates of its National Diploma in Solar Technology and Management will not only meet Nigeria’s renewable energy manpower needs but will also shape the country’s contribution to the global fight against climate change.
As the applause rang out and the new students donned their matriculation gowns, one thing was clear.
These 17 young men and women are not just students – they are the torchbearers of Nigeria’s clean energy future.
The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise investments in organic and agroecological farming as safer, sustainable alternatives to conventional agriculture.
The organisation made the call on Friday, August 8, 2025, in Abuja at a news conference themed “Stop the Spread of Highly Toxic Chemicals in Our Food: Save Our Families, Save Our Health and Future.”
Pesticides use
Mr. Victor Fabunmi, an Environmental Toxicologist and Policy Advocate with SRADev Nigeria, stressed the need to intensify awareness and advocacy for organic agriculture while de-emphasising conventional practices that rely heavily on chemical inputs.
He proposed integrating organic agriculture into the nation’s educational curriculum and providing financial support to specialised training institutions.
“Our passionate call is for the Nigerian government to facilitate access to certification services. There is currently no government-approved certifying body to standardise products and ensure compliance with organic production systems.
“Nigeria must end its dependence on globally banned pesticides for health and ecological safety. The time to invest in organic, agroecological alternatives is now, ” he said.
Prof. Simon Irtwange, co-founder of the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN), also warned about the dangers of highly toxic chemicals to human health and the environment.
He noted that government programmes, often facilitated by legislators, ministries, and development partners, routinely distribute chemical fertilisers and pesticides to farmers.
According to him, while these products contribute to agricultural productivity, they pose significant public health, trade, and environmental challenges.
“A critical concern is that a significant portion of these pesticides fall under the category of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs),” he said,
Irtwange added that viable alternatives and innovations were increasingly available both locally and globally.
SRADev also called for an immediate review and strict enforcement of national pesticide regulations to stop the importation, sale, and use of HHPs.
The group also urged the review of NAFDAC’s pesticide registration regulations to ensure environmentally sound management of these chemicals at the end of their lifecycle.
HHPs are pesticides recognised internationally, including by the World Health Organisation (WHO), as posing severe acute or chronic risks to human health and the environment.
The leadership of Indigenous Peoples is essential to a liveable, climate-resilient future. Their knowledge systems, rooted in stewardship, interdependence and care for all life, have guided – and continue to guide – communities through environmental change for millennia.
Across the world, Indigenous Peoples are responding to climate impacts with ingenuity and foresight. Grounded in lived experience and sustained through generations, Indigenous ways of living are diverse, adaptive, relational and deeply ecological, connected to land and culture. These are dynamic frameworks for resilience.
Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Programme of the UNFCCC secretariat
As ambition under the Paris Agreement accelerates – in particular through the Global Goal on Adaptation – Indigenous Peoples are increasingly recognized not just as participants in climate policymaking, but as pathfinders. Their distinct and diverse worldviews offer valuable insights into what it truly means to be adapted: living in harmony with ecosystems, upholding intergenerational responsibility, and restoring balance.
Indigenous Climate Leadership in Action
Across diverse geographies, Indigenous Peoples are leading the way:
Vancouver Island, Canada: The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation declared 100% of their territory under “Hishuk Ish Tsawaak” (ecosystem-based forest management), blending ancestral stewardship laws with modern conservation to protect salmon streams, old‐growth forests and watersheds – strengthening carbon sinks and food security.
Murray–Darling Basin, Australia: The Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations have reasserted customary governance over key river systems. Through inter-tribal cooperation, they negotiate water allocations, monitor river health, and restore wetlands to sustain ecosystems and downstream communities.
Highlands of Mongolia: Indigenous herder councils partnered with national meteorological services to co-design the Advanced Weather Information System, combining traditional forecasts with satellite data to issue drought and snow‐melt warnings, reducing livestock loss and economic shocks.
Mindanao, Philippines: Panlaoy, an Indigenous youth network, is reviving ancestral “kaingin” forestry practices, such as contour planting, sacred grove protection and community-based forest monitoring to slow erosion, recharge springs and regenerate degraded upland watersheds, securing downstream water for rice farming.
These are not isolated examples. They demonstrate that Indigenous-led climate action is happening, quietly and effectively, but is often under-recognised and under-supported. These examples reflect how place-based knowledge systems – whether managing forests, rivers, rains or soils – are being actively revitalised and scaled through partnerships with governments and research institutions. These systems are not only surviving; they are thriving and evolving.
In mitigation, too, Indigenous Peoples play a central role. Their stewardship of forests, wetlands and grasslands helps maintain vital carbon sinks and protects biodiversity. Studies show that Indigenous-managed lands have lower deforestation rates and greater ecological integrity than surrounding areas. Their contributions are not just environmental – they are critical to global sustainability.
“As UNFCCC works with countries and stakeholders to advance the Global Goal on Adaptation and long-term climate resilience, Indigenous Peoples must be at the centre, not just as stakeholders, but as partners and knowledge holders,” says Youssef Nassef, Director of Adaptation at UN Climate Change. “The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) continues to drive this forward, ensuring that Indigenous voices shape climate policy and action.”
Supporting and Amplifying Indigenous Climate Leadership
On this day, and every day, UN Climate Change calls on countries, institutions and climate actors to:
Partner meaningfully with Indigenous Peoples.
Incorporate Indigenous worldviews and knowledge into national climate strategies.
Invest in Indigenous-led climate solutions with accessible, long-term support.
A Body tasked with operationalising the UN carbon market under the Paris Agreement has adopted a new standard on “suppressed demand”, opening the door for more inclusive climate action in regions with limited access to basic services such as water and sanitation.
Formally known as the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, it is responsible for establishing the rules and infrastructure for the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism. This mechanism will allow countries and other actors to cooperate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by generating high-integrity carbon credits, while also supporting sustainable development.
Martin Hession, Chair of the Supervisory Body
Supressed demand standard
Suppressed demand refers to situations where people use very little energy or services, not because they don’t need them, but because they can’t afford them or the infrastructure doesn’t exist. The new standard allows climate projects that help meet these basic human needs to earn carbon credits, even if emissions would naturally rise as a result of improved access.
This approach helps ensure that people in low-income communities can benefit from climate finance, by recognising the emissions that would occur if their basic needs were met and supporting projects that meet those needs in the cleanest way possible.
The decision allows suppressed demand to be recognised in mechanism baselines to credit projects that provide essential services. These baselines reflect the expected emissions if communities had normal access to those services and enable fairer crediting for development-focused projects.
“We’ve recognised that baselines can be established with reference to basic human needs where they aren’t being met. This approach allows the mechanism to support real development benefits, particularly in communities where access is currently limited,” said Martin Hession, Chair of the Supervisory Body.
Upcoming work on non-permanence and reversals
Methodological Expert Panel (MEP) has produced recommendations on non-permanence and reversals, for which public comment has just closed. The Supervisory Body is looking forward to the MEP making formal recommendations to the Body, which will be subject to a further consultation period before it is considered by the Body.
“While there is significant work to do, we are committed to securing a non-permanence and reversals standard this year. We expect to adopt a standard at our next meeting in October once we receive the final recommendation from the MEP,” said Martin Hession, Chair of the Supervisory Body. “I know there is significant stakeholder interest in the initial drafts produced by the MEP last month, and there has been strong engagement during the MEP’s initial consultation. Of course, there will be another opportunity to comment on the final recommendation once it has been formulated by the MEP in September.”
Other matters
The Supervisory Body adopted its two-year business and resource allocation plan for 2026-2027, outlining the minimum capacity needed to fully operationalise the mechanism. While early implementation is progressing, revenue generation remains limited at this stage and a significant upfront investment is required to establish essential infrastructure.
To support this, the Body agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair will lead targeted fundraising efforts, with Parties to the Paris Agreement to be invited to contribute to resource mobilisation.
Next steps
The Supervisory Body will next meet from October 6 to 10, 2025, to continue developing other key elements of the mechanism, including a standard on reversal risk and additional tools and guidelines.
