Climate awareness, change and conservation organisation, The Green Connection, has expressed concern over the recent approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Shell’s proposed Northern Cape Ultra Deep (NCUD) oil and gas exploration project in South Africa. The approval, according to the organisation, comes despite repeated objections raised by coastal communities and civil society, including detailed submissions by The Green Connection and Natural Justice in August and December 2024.
Shell
Advocacy Officer at The Green Connection, Lisa Makaula, says: “This EIA authorisation is a slap in the face of the small-scale fishers and communities who have consistently raised concerns about the project and its potential impact on their livelihoods.”
Walter Steenkamp, a small-scale fisher from Port Nolloth, adds: “We’ve said before – these oceans are our life. We need a healthy ocean to survive. How can they approve something that could destroy our future? This is why we will not back down.”
Small-scale fisher from Doorn Bay, Deborah de Wee, says: “We are deeply disappointed by this decision. We believe that it’s a huge mistake that puts our ocean – and our future – at risk. We don’t want harmful activities like oil and gas drilling in our waters because we depend on the ocean for our daily bread. This is how we survive, and how our people have survived for generations.
“These projects don’t just threaten our food security – they potentially threaten our entire way of life. If this goes ahead, our children may never experience the ocean the way we did. With this decision, it feels like we are being robbed of our fishing culture. How will we teach the next generation to make a living from the sea when the risks are so high?”
As the climate crisis appears to intensify, and with mounting evidence of the potential harm oil and gas activities pose to marine biodiversity and small-scale fishers who rely on a healthy ocean, this decision by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) is said to be troubling. The targeted area, it was gathered, forms part of South Africa’s precious ocean heritage and sustains the livelihoods of numerous coastal communities – especially in the Northern Cape, where many already face social and economic vulnerability.
“Furthermore, despite industry claims, gas is not a transition fuel – it is a fossil fuel that contributes to the climate crisis. Climate scientists confirm that new oil and gas projects are incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C. Approving this kind of development now, actively undermines climate action and endangers the very communities it claims to benefit, especially since gas poses more climate risks – due to methane emissions that have 80 times the heating potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period,” adds Makaula.
The Green Connection says it is currently reviewing the decision and will consider appealing it within the stipulated timeframe.
UN Climate Change director, Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga, has reiterated the urgency of scaling up climate finance to support Africa’s adaptation and resilience efforts.
UN Climate Change director, Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga
Speaking on the margins of the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), she underscored that “Climate finance is not just a political choice – it is a matter of survival, of development, of dignity and of equity.”
At last year’s COP29 Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, all nations reached an agreement on a new climate finance goal of $300 billion annually by 2030 to flow to developing countries, to be scaled up to $1.3 trillion by 2035.
“The $300 billion must be a floor, not a ceiling – and it must translate into predictable, accessible finance for those who need it most,” stressed Kinuthia-Njenga.
According to her, the UNFCCC is working to strengthen institutional frameworks that can help African countries access sustainable climate finance.
“We are working to ensure that climate finance architecture responds to African priorities,” she said.
Africa is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, losing up to 9% of its GDP annually to climate impacts, while trillions of dollars are needed to meet energy, adaptation, and resilience goals. This challenge is compounded by a constrained fiscal environment where, in many countries, more is spent on debt servicing than on climate or health.
Leaders and stakeholders gathered at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, in Kenya, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a landmark accord that has shaped global climate policy for the past decade.
Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga, who is director at the UNFCCC Intergovernmental Support and Collective Progress Division, stressed that “the Paris Agreement is delivering real progress, even if it has not yet solved the climate crisis. But it has changed the course of human history. It has proved that climate cooperation can deliver when it matters most.”
Over the past decade, the Paris Agreement has guided unprecedented climate action, yet the world remains off track to limit warming to 1.5°C, but “without Paris, we’d still be heading for over 5 degrees of warming.”
The impacts of the rising temperature, extreme weather, droughts, floods, and loss of livelihoods are still a reality, particularly in Africa, the region most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing the least to the problem.
“Because African countries are not just on the frontlines of climate impacts: they are also on the frontlines of climate solutions,” Cecilia told the AMCEN Ministerial Dialogue.
The event concluded with a call to strengthen collaboration ahead of COP30, ensuring Africa’s priorities shape global climate action and the next Global Stocktake.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in collaboration with other stakeholders, has demonstrated commitment by providing evidence-informed policy advice to guide in developing regulatory framework for carbon market.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State
Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, Acting Vice-Chancellor, UNN, disclosed this on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Abuja, at a Dissemination and Stakeholders’ Workshop on Potential and Challenges of Voluntary Carbon Market in Nigeria.
Ujam said the university, through the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC-EfD) Nigeria, has demonstrated capacity in providing evidence-informed policy advice to guide policymakers in developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for carbon market.
He explained that the carbon markets were mechanisms that created financial incentives for reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.
He said the carbon markets were being recognised as key to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, particularly with article 6 of the Paris Agreement allowing countries to trade carbon credits to meet their emission reduction targets.
The acting V-C said that as part of the engagements, the centre held an inception workshop on Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) research project in January 2025.
He noted that globally, the VCM was valued at $2 billion in 2022.
“Meanwhile, analysts place Africa’s potential VCM value at up to 1.5 trillion dollars by 2050, provided integrity and equity are safeguarded.
“Nigeria is positioning itself to capture a sizeable share, the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy, yet to be approved, targets 2.5 billion dollars in high-integrity carbon-credit investment by 2030.
“Also, establishes a national registry aligned with article 6.
Ujam said that VCM can help reduce emissions and serve as a source of revenue to countries in the global South.
He added that in Nigeria especially, without proper analysis to support efficient implementation, there might be a risk of significant carbon leakages and severe impacts on marginalised members of society.
“Without a robust governance system, there could be substantial emission leakage, which can have negative distributional implications.
“Hence, to harness the potential benefit of carbon markets in Nigeria, it is critical to generate and advance knowledge among stakeholders, including government, businesses, and local actors, on these challenges and uncertainties.
“Thus, I consider today’s event very significant because it offers us an opportunity to present fresh empirical evidence on the potential and challenges of the VCM in Nigeria.
“It presents a platform for all stakeholders to interrogate the emerging issues and challenges in Nigeria’s emerging carbon-market architecture,” he said.
Ujam thanked all the stakeholders partnering and supporting the project, adding that their efforts would help in building a carbon market that would strongly work for Nigeria.
Speaking, Prof. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, Director, REPRC EfD, Nigeria, said that carbon markets could be used as a means of reducing carbon emissions and also reducing the rate of carbon emissions.
He said that scientists were using carbon markets for carbon storage to mitigate climate change, urging relevant stakeholders to support in ensuring effective implementation of the project to achieve climate goals.
Mr. Jamani Ejiro, Commissioner for Environment, Delta, noted challenges being associated with the carbon markets, adding that it was important to take cognisance of such challenges.
Ejiro said that such challenges which included the need for clear regulatory frameworks, establishment of carbon registry, robust monitoring, transparency, among others required effective collaborative.
Ejiro was represented by Mrs. Briggs Doye, Director, Climate Change Department, Ministry of Environment of the state.
UN under-secretary and Executive-Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Claver Gatete, has called for urgent reforms to energy financing in Africa.
Claver Gatete, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Gatete made the call in a statement on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, following his presentation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York.
He noted that Africa possesses 60 per cent of the world’s solar energy potential but received less than 3 per cent of global energy financing, experts say.
Gatete said over 600 million Africans still lack electricity, even as demand grows from rising populations, urbanisation, and industrial ambition.
Gatete added that while global leaders discuss energy transition, much of Africa remains trapped in chronic energy deprivation.
He said many rural children study by candlelight or kerosene lamps, breathing toxic fumes and limiting learning time.
Health clinics often lack reliable electricity, and local economies are hampered by irregular or non-existent power supply.
“We need a new deal on energy finance. One that supports innovation and strengthens grids for people and planet,” Gatete said.
He described Africa as a “paradox of potential and neglect”, with vast renewable resources but little international investment.
“Africa isn’t just asking for help, it’s offering answers,” he said, stressing energy’s role in job creation and transformation.
Gatete urged backing for regional power networks, local manufacturing, and policies that attract private investment.
ECA is supporting countries with integrated energy plans, cross-border trade, and improved energy infrastructure.
The session added to wider HLPF discussions on achieving SDG-7 and the Agenda 2063 energy goals.
Gatete emphasised that Africa’s energy future must be central to global climate and development strategies.
The HLPF remains the UN’s key platform for reviewing global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
What if I told you that one of the most powerful forces shaping Africa’s future isn’t a government, corporation, or billionaire, but a conference? For four decades, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) has helped steer the continent’s environmental destiny. As AMCEN turns 40, its legacy is not just one of diplomacy – it is one of transformation.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema
Africa stands at a crossroads. The continent is home to 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 17% of its forests, and the youngest population on Earth. Yet it also faces disproportionate climate impacts, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The question is not whether Africa will develop – but how. Will it follow a path of extractive growth, or will it lead the world in forging a new model of sustainable, inclusive prosperity?
This growth is closely intertwined with AMCEN’s achievements.
AMCEN, whose Secretariat is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), has been instrumental in forging Africa’s common positions in global negotiations – from the Paris Agreement to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Through the African Group of Negotiators, AMCEN has ensured that Africa speaks with one voice on climate, biodiversity, chemicals, and more amplifying its influence on the world stage.
The conference has also been at the forefront of science-driven policy and innovation. AMCEN’s Africa Environment Outlook reports, the Africa Atlas of Natural Capital, and the MATATU data-sharing platform have transformed how African leaders access and use environmental data. These tools are not just reports, they are roadmaps for action.
AMCEN has equally played a significant role as a catalyst for green finance and recovery. For instance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMCEN launched the Africa Green Stimulus Programme, mobilising over $1 billion for renewable energy, ecosystem restoration, and climate-smart agriculture. This is environmental policy as economic policy – smart, scalable, and inclusive.
The conference has also been a champion of circularity and clean energy. From the African Circular Economy Alliance to the African Women Energy Entrepreneurs Framework, AMCEN has championed solutions that are both green and just. It has helped embed sustainability into Africa’s mining, energy, and industrial strategies assuring that growth does not come at the cost of the environment.
In light of these achievements, AMCEN occupies a pride of place in the continent’s vision for 2063. The conference’s forward-looking agenda aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It envisions a continent where environmental sustainability is not a side note but a central pillar of prosperity – powered by digital innovation, green finance, and youth leadership.
As we celebrate AMCEN’s 40th anniversary, we must not only honour its past – but we must also invest in its future. The next chapter of AMCEN must be bolder, more inclusive, and more ambitious. It must scale up climate finance and ensure Africa’s fair share of global adaptation funds; it must strengthen science-policy interfaces to make data-driven decisions the norm; it need to empower youth and civil society as co-creators of environmental solutions, and it must continue to champion Africa’s voice, not just in reacting to global agendas, but increasingly in setting them.
AMCEN is more than a conference. It is Africa’s environmental conscience, compass, and catalyst. As UNEP, we are proud to stand with AMCEN – not just in celebration, but in solidarity for the journey ahead.
Because the AMCEN we want in 2063 begins with the choices we make today.
By Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
At a time when Ghana’s forests, wetlands, and grasslands are buckling under pressure from human activity and climate change, the 2nd Biennial Media Forum on Natural Resources, Environment, Climate Change and Science (BiM-NECS 2) served as a clarion call for integrated action.
Prof. Mercy Derkyi, Director, Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Sunyani, delivering her keynote address at BiM NECS 2 in Kumasi
With the theme “Ecosystem Restoration: The Politics, the Science, the Human, and the Economy,” the Forum gathered journalists, public officials, scientists, researchers, development workers, civil society actors and gender advocates in Kumasi on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, to reimagine the future of ecosystem restoration, through the lens of both policy and people.
Actualising Ghana’s vested interest in ecosystem restoration
In her keynote address, the Director, Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani, Professor Mercy Adutwumwaa Derkyi acknowledged Ghana’s vested interest in ecosystem restoration as seen in major initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge, the National Reforestation Programme, Green Ghana and Tree for Life, involving state and non-state actors.
However, she specified that the success and sustainability of such efforts are undermined by “the politics of power dynamics, social issues, governance lapses, corruption, and weak enforcement.”
Prof. Derkyi called for a strong political will and genuine grassroots involvement as critical to overcoming these structural challenges. “We must ask ourselves,” she said, “how do we move from declaratory commitments to concrete actions? Who decides which ecosystems matter most? And how do we meaningfully empower local communities in this process?
In answering these questions, the keynote speaker outlined several guiding principles for effective ecosystem restoration, including: a clear definition of restoration goals, assessment of ecosystem recoverability, making a choice between natural regeneration and assisted restoration, conservation prioritization for areas deemed beyond recovery and balancing scientific knowledge with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).
Prof. Derkyi underscored the importance of leveraging innovations in ecological science such as remote sensing, drone technology, geographic information systems (GIS) and emerging AI tools, to monitor ecosystem health and inform evidence-based interventions. She emphasised that “balancing scientific knowledge with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is vital for crafting sustainable and inclusive restoration strategies.”
Among the scientific and institutional initiatives, she highlighted were: the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana’s (CSIR-FORIG) work in high-quality forest tree seedling production and the promotion of lesser known species; and UENR’s Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre (EORIC), which provides real-time satellite and GIS solutions in areas such as climate, disasters, biodiversity, water, energy, agriculture, ecosystems and health. This includes the Carbon Tower Project under the Carbon Flux Monitoring Project in Bia Tano, which measures forest-level carbon dioxide flux and supports Ghana’s mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Prof. Derkyi cited another key project, the “EU-supported Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN)” initiative, which she commended for combining scientific research with traditional knowledge. Implemented by Tropenbos Ghana and EcoCare Ghana and their local partners, the LEAN project ensures community involvement and provides research grants to university students including those from UENR.
Prof. Derkyi further called for the establishment of a national Data Centre to track progress on Ghana’s ecological restoration targets, especially those under the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, and to support transparency and accountability. She advocated for the active involvement of key institutions like the Forestry Commission, academia, and the media to ensure inclusive partnerships that enhance communication and collaboration among researchers and journalists.
“Restoration is not just about nature – it is also about livelihoods,” Prof. Derkyi concluded, stating that “Healthy ecosystems can drive green jobs, eco-tourism, and sustainable local enterprises.” However, she cautioned that restoration must not rely solely on external donor funding, which is often unsustainable. She proposed long-term national commitment and investment in nature-based developments.
The human dimension of restoration
The Principal Project Manager at Proforest African Regional Office in Accra, Afua Serwaa Akoto Prempeh, who chaired the event, urged the media to translate the statistics of environmental degradation and climate change into stories that resonate with the realities of everyday Ghanaians.
To strengthen her point, she used the example of 17-year-old Aisha from Kundugu, in the Wa East District of Ghana’s Upper West Region, who having migrated down south, now works as a porter in the Madina market. Ms. Prempeh spotlighted the economic toll of climate change on rural livelihoods, warning that without urgent climate action, an additional one million people could fall into poverty, with household incomes projected to fall by as much as 40% by 2050.
“These are not just numbers,” she stressed. “They are lived experiences of countless young people like Aisha, whose families can no longer survive on farming due to climate variability.” Ms. Prempeh cited Aisha’s story to ascertain some fundamental issues.
First, it lends credence to research by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) proving that in northern Ghana, a high climate vulnerability hotspot, youth migration (both rural-urban and rural-rural), is a popular phenomenon, with nearly one in five Ghanaian youth born in the north residing in the south. Secondly, Aisha’s story turns the politics, facts, numbers, science, the abstract into reality, and “brings to light the intersectionality of people, nature and climate.”
The Chairperson noted that Ghana will need an estimated $2 billion annually to effectively respond to climate impacts. She explained that this daunting figure underscores the critical role of the media in making climate data more accessible and actionable for the public and policymakers alike.
Ms. Prempeh applauded the Forum’s founding vision, which recognizes that how the media communicates environmental issues is just as vital as what is communicated. “Media has a powerful role in disseminating public interest information such as those relating to natural resources, environment, climate change and science through relatable and actionable knowledge products.”
She also highlighted the importance of inclusivity, urging the media to ensure that marginalised voices are not left out of the conversation.
EPA’s new environmental face
The Ashanti Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Dr. Jackson Nyantakyi, presented highlights of the newly enacted Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124). It replaces the outdated Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Act 490) that established the Environmental Protection Agency. Act 1124 addresses gaps such as weak sanctions and poor inter-agency coordination on environmentally related matters as well as inadequate coverage of climate change issues.
Notably, Act 1124 empowers the Authority to block rezoning if it poses environmental risks and establishes a National Environment Fund to finance long-term sustainability initiatives.
Looking Ahead: The Media’s Pivotal Role
Instituted in 2023 by the Media Platform on Environment and Climate Change (MPEC) in partnership with the Afro-Sino Centre of International Relations (ASCIR) and The Steminist Foundation Ghana, BiM-NECS continues to affirm that the media is a force in environmental governance.
Touching on the importance of the BiM NECS Forum, the Chairperson stated: “This Forum exists because we believe informed conversations can drive change when they connect knowledge, practice, and policy in meaningful ways.”
This year’s Forum, organised with support from Proforest and Tropenbos Ghana, ended with the presentation of the BiM NECS 2 Kumasi Declaration. It outlined 12 action points including a resolve to elevate ecosystem restoration as a national and regional media priority through an annual media campaign aligned with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
As Ghana gears up to meet her 2030 ecosystem restoration targets, BiM-NECS 2 was a reminder that restoring nature means restoring connections: between science and society, politics and people, and economics and ecosystems.
Nigeria’s mining industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by targeted local content policies from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). These policies, showcased at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, are now being hailed as a blueprint for industrial growth across Africa.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe
At the heart of the reforms is the Board’s strategic intervention in the barite value chain – a mineral critical to oil and gas drilling. Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, outlined how the agency has spent more than a decade building domestic capacity, from certifying reserves in six states to mandating exclusive procurement from local processors through the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC).
“Today, barite importation for drilling is prohibited in Nigeria,” Ogbe said. “That didn’t happen by accident. It was made possible by deliberate policy instruments, stakeholder partnerships, and enforcement frameworks.”
Represented by NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, Ogbe said the interventions have boosted value retention, created jobs, and positioned Nigeria as a continental model for mineral-based industrialisation. Similar policies are being rolled out in the steel and pipe manufacturing sectors, including a 2022 directive requiring in-country sourcing of bare line pipes and oil tubular goods.
The reforms are reinforced by broader industrial support programmes such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industrial Parks (NOGAPS) and a $350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund managed in partnership with the Bank of Industry to scale up local manufacturing.
The clearest evidence of these reforms is visible in Nigeria’s expanding lithium and battery value chain, highlighted by the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Dele Alake. He revealed that over $800 million in mining investments were secured in 2024 alone, following a major policy shift requiring all mining licences to include local processing plans.
The Nasarawa lithium battery plant, valued at $100 million, is already up and running,” Alake said. “A $600 million lithium refinery near the Kaduna–Niger border is on the way. These facilities are anchored on one thing: local content.”
He added that government revenue from mining surged from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024 – a six-fold increase credited to tighter licensing, enforcement of value-addition rules, and new industrial investments.
This impact is not lost on Nigeria’s neighbours. Liberia’s Petroleum Regulatory Authority Chairman, Jake Kabakole, described Nigeria’s local content regime as a “continental model,” urging African nations to adapt its legal and institutional frameworks to unlock similar outcomes.
The shift is not just regulatory but economic. Indigenous Nigerian firms now contribute 15% of oil production and 60% of domestic gas supply. Engineering and fabrication companies such as Dormanlong, Saipem, and Aveon Offshore are executing complex projects previously handled by foreign multinationals.
Beyond minerals and manufacturing, the NCDMB has also enforced local employment regulations through its partnership with COREN, ensuring that only certified Nigerian engineers are deployed on projects. In tandem, a customs alert system now prevents the importation of goods – such as cables, paints, and valves – that are produced locally.
“Local content is not a constraint; it is an enabler,” Ogbe said. “When deployed intentionally, it becomes a lever for self-sufficiency, industrial growth, and economic sovereignty.”
As African leaders at the summit discussed regional energy integration and industrialisation, Nigeria’s example stood out. Delegates praised the country for turning policy into measurable outcomes – from factory construction to formalised artisanal mining cooperatives and electric vehicle assembly plans.
“We are no longer exporters of raw potential,” Alake said. “We are builders of real value.”
Also speaking at the summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised that local content must be measurable. He highlighted reforms under the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralised electricity governance and enabled 11 states to begin managing their own power markets. He said the government is aligning its electrification drive with local manufacturing – including clean energy projects, meter assembly, and solar component production.
“The real value of local content lies in supply chains, technical jobs, and local ownership,” Adelabu said.
From East Africa, Kenya’s Minister of Mining and Blue Economy, Hassan Ali Jobbo, offered a cautionary note. He urged African nations to define their own priorities in the minerals sector rather than simply adopting classifications imposed by others. “Africa has talked too long about potential without decisive action,” he said. “We must decide for ourselves which minerals are critical to our future – not wait for outsiders to tell us.”
A draft UN declaration to eliminate trans-fatty acids from global diets risks inadvertently denying the world’s poorest the nutritional benefits of milk and meat, experts have said.
Trans fat foods
A new declaration to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and diabetes proposes to eliminate all trans-fatty acids from global diets.
However, while research shows that industrially produced trans-fatty acids contribute to NCDs, those found naturally in animal-source foods at low levels are not harmful and may even offer health-protecting benefits, such as preventing type two diabetes.
Writing in an open letter to UN negotiators, more than 115 signatories from Africa, Europe and the Americas said: “The risk of a blanket commitment to eliminate all trans-fatty acids is that it unnecessarily discourages the consumption of highly nutritious dairy, meat and other animal-source foods. And once again, the burden will fall heaviest on low- and middle-income countries, where nutrient-rich meat, milk and dairy are already under-consumed.”
The letter, which was coordinated by the Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), was endorsed by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). It was also signed by experts representing the UN Committee on World Food Security, theGlobal Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP).
NCDs disproportionately impact developing countries, where obesity and diet-related disease in adulthood are closely linked to undernutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. In 2023, one in every five Africans faced hunger and around a third of children under five were affected by stunting.
Animal-source foods like meat and milk are energy-dense and a rich source of high-quality proteins and micronutrients, including Vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and iodine. Research has found that a child who drinks milk daily can grow up to three per cent more in a month than a child who does not, yet average annual milk consumption can be as low as just 1kg per person per year in some developing countries.
“A single glass of milk is among the most affordable, nutrient-rich foods available – milk has been shown to reduce stunting in children and lessen the burden of hunger,” said Namukolo Covic, nutrition expert and ILRI’s Director General’s Representative to Ethiopia.
“Industrially produced trans-fatty acids come from food processing, a sector that is still in its infancy in many African countries. These countries have the opportunity to create a new food future as their food systems transform. These food systems must transform towards eliminating industrially derived trans-fat.”
The draft resolution is currently under review with member states with a final draft due to be presented for endorsement at the UN General Assembly in September.
In the meantime, countries are gathering in New York from July 14 to 23, 2025, for the UN’s High-Level Political Forum, which will assess progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), among others.
“The contribution of animal-source foods to trans-fatty acids is very low compared to industrially derived trans-fats and should be weighed against their contributions to nutrient density, given their nutritional benefits even in small quantities,” said Ruth Oniang’o, Professor in Food Science and Nutrition and Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development.
“For people in low-income settings, animal-source foods are often the only reliable and available source of essential nutrients, we need a nuanced approach supported by sustainability solutions.
“UN negotiators must ensure this resolution recognizes the distinction between the large amounts of trans-fats of industrial origin and the low levels naturally occurring in animal-source foods.”
Climate imperatives are reshaping the landscape of financial responsibility – and, in Nigeria, a new front is opening against deforestation and environmental degradation
On July 9–10, 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the GEF-7 Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Programme in Nigeria and with support from UN-REDD, convened a high-level virtual workshop aimed at integrating deforestation-free finance into Nigeria’s financial architecture.
In Nigeria, a new front is opening against deforestation and environmental degradation. Photo credit: UNDP Cambodia/Chansok Lay/Oddar Meanchey
Sector-Wide Engagement
The two-day dialogue brought together more than 30 decision-makers and technical experts from seven key financial institutions: the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Sterling Bank, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), and Advans Lafayette Microfinance Bank.
Unified by a shared objective, these institutions explored strategies to align with emerging global sustainability benchmarks, while safeguarding Nigeria’s forests, ecosystems, and rural livelihoods. The initiative underscores the growing realisation that deforestation is not only an environmental concern – but a material financial risk.
Risks, Readiness, and Resilience
Participants acknowledged the systemic risks associated with unsustainable land use: reputational fallout, regulatory exposures, and vulnerability to asset devaluation amid climate volatility. However, these risks are matched by unprecedented opportunities. Nigeria’s Sustainable Banking Principles provide an enabling foundation, and the financial sector is signalling a commitment to responsible growth through ESG frameworks, exclusion policies, and green lending instruments.
International case studies – particularly from Brazil – were spotlighted, demonstrating how blended finance, structured investment vehicles, and sustainability incentives can support scalable transformation.
Pathways Forward: A Roadmap for Action
Stakeholders co-developed a phased roadmap to institutionalise deforestation-free finance across Nigeria:
Short-Term Priorities: Capacity-building efforts focusing on ESG integration, geospatial analytics, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Medium-Term Goals: Harmonised regulations, product innovation for sustainable production financing, and partnerships with development finance institutions to support smallholders and SMEs.
Long-Term Vision: Full-scale integration of deforestation-free and ESG criteria into banking standards – positioning Nigeria to unlock green capital inflows and align with global compliance frameworks.
Building Institutional Momentum
Delegates advocated for a national in-person forum to accelerate implementation and deepen sectoral collaboration. FAO and its partners were urged to provide continued support in developing operational tools, enhancing institutional capabilities, and facilitating blended finance models to de-risk investments in sustainable land use.
Dr. Paul Oluikpe from the Development Finance Unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria underscored the critical need for coordinated leadership:
“As climate and deforestation risks evolve, Nigeria must continuously update its frameworks, adopt international best practices, and invest in technologies that support deforestation-free finance. A resilient agricultural sector is pivotal to economic stability and environmental conservation,” he said.
Toward a Sustainable Financial Future
This convening marks more than a strategic touchpoint – it signals the emergence of a paradigm shift. The redirection of capital flows toward deforestation-free ventures will be instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s climate goals, preserving biodiversity, and fortifying the rural economy.
For FAO and the FOLUR Nigeria Project, this workshop is a catalyst for long-term partnerships with the financial sector, forging a future where environmental integrity and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand.
A new, dynamic ecosystem for climate action is rapidly maturing across Africa, characterized by a sophisticated shift from ambition to tangible results. Two landmark initiatives stand at the forefront of this evolution: the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) NDC Implementation Index (https://atps-ndcindex.africa/), a living document, which provides a crucial scorecard for progress annually, and the recently launched Africa Green Economy and Sustainability Institute (AGESI) (https://agesi.africa), an engine designed to drive on-the-ground implementation. Together, they represent a powerful, African-led approach to tackling the climate crisis.
Magnus Chidi Onuoha (top) and Eugene Itua
Part I: The Scorecard – Measuring What Matters with the ATPS NDC Index
The launch of the ATPS NDC Index, a collaborative effort with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the West African Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI), provides a clear, data-driven snapshot of how nations are translating their climate commitments into action. By evaluating countries across five core pillars – Governance, Mitigation, Adaptation, MRV/Transparency, and Finance/Technology – the index creates a transparent framework for accountability.
The 2024 findings have already offered vital insights. The celebration of Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ethiopia as top performers creates a “race to the top,” inspiring continent-wide ambition. Crucially, the index reveals the mechanics of success. Nigeria’s strong performance in the “Governance” category, for instance, is attributed directly to its landmark Climate Change Act, underscoring a foundational lesson: robust legal frameworks are the bedrock of effective climate action.
However, by highlighting the leaders and the laggards, the index also illuminates the continent’s primary challenge: the persistent gap between policy and projects. This raises the critical question that the index helps to frame: Now that we know where we stand, how do we accelerate the pace of real-world implementation?
Part II: The Engine – Driving Implementation with AGESI
This is precisely where AGESI comes in. Positioned as the answer to the “how,” AGESI was launched in June 2025 with a clear mandate to function as a “do-tank,” not just a think-tank. Its core mission is to convert the ambitions measured by the ATPS Index into concrete, bankable projects.
AGESI is engineered to dismantle the key barriers to implementation:
Catalysing Climate Finance: Access to finance is a major hurdle. AGESI tackles this by de-risking investments to attract private capital and by acting as a crucial link to major financiers. Its partnerships are key: the African Development Bank (AfDB) defines AGESI as the “catalyst” for the projects it will finance, while its collaboration with the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) – the country’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) accredited entity – provides a direct channel to structure projects that meet global standards.
Driving Execution and Capacity: Moving beyond policy, AGESI is designed to “help build the road,” as noted by Nigeria’s Minister of Environment. It strengthens the entire ecosystem by championing transparent governance to prevent a “green resource curse” and by partnering with universities to build the local human capital needed to manage and scale green projects.
Convening the Coalition: As a neutral convener, AGESI brings all the necessary players to one table: government bodies, financial institutions, private sector innovators, and academic researchers.
The choice of Lagos, Nigeria, for its first office is a masterstroke. It places this new engine at the heart of Africa’s largest economy, allowing it to work directly with the Federal Government to support its Climate Change Act and leverage its vibrant private sector. Nigeria thus becomes a powerful proving ground for developing successful, scalable models that can be replicated across the continent.
Conclusion: A Synergistic Approach for a Climate-Resilient Africa
The parallel emergence of the ATPS NDC Index and AGESI creates a complete and synergistic ecosystem for climate action in Africa. If the ATPS Index is the scorecard showing a country’s performance, AGESI is the coach and trainer, providing the technical, financial, and collaborative support needed to improve that score.
For the first time, the continent has both a transparent, African-owned tool to measure progress and a dedicated, action-oriented institution to drive it. This powerful combination empowers Africa to take full ownership of its climate destiny, equipped not just with ambition, but with the machinery to turn that ambition into a sustainable and prosperous reality.
By Eugene Itua (Executive Director, AGESI & CEO, Natural Eco Capital) and Magnus Chidi Onuoha (Executive Director, West Africa Green Economic Development Institute – WAGEDI)
Both Authors are part of the Nigeria Climate and Circular Economy Consortium made up of the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI) and Natural Eco Capital
