The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is inviting its member governments and accredited observer organisations to nominate experts to serve as Co-Chairs and members of the Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data).
Jim Skea, IPCC Chair
A call for nominations of experts by governments and observer organisations to serve as TG-Data members has been launched. Nominations should be submitted by Thursday, April 17, 2025, says the IPCCC.
The final selection of TG-Data members will be undertaken by the IPCC Bureau.
The IPCC Task Group on data support provides guidance to the IPCC’s Data Distribution Centre on the curation, traceability, stability, availability and transparency of data and scenarios related to IPCC reports.
The TG-Data work mainly requires but is not restricted to data specialists, with a particular expertise in areas such as data provenance, scientific workflows, climate data handling systems, FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) Data principles, and development and/or analysis of climate and observational datasets.
TG-Data membership is renewed with the author selection process of a new assessment IPCC report. Following the agreement on the outlines of the three Working Group contributions to the Seventh Assessment Report reached at the Panel’s 62nd Plenary last month, the IPCC is currently calling for the nomination of authors for these three Working Group contributions.
The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1988 to provide political leaders with periodic scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies.
In the same year the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by the WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC. It has 195 member states.
World Water Day, held annually on March 22, celebrates water and raises awareness of the approximately 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water, according to the United Nations.
The Coca-Cola Foundation water facility
Together with partners, the Coca-Cola system and The Coca-Cola Foundation invests in water initiatives that benefit nature and communities. The group advances solutions that help provide safe drinking water to those living in vulnerable communities and in water-stressed regions.
The Coca-Cola Foundation’s Strengthening Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Service Delivery (S-WASH) initiative in Nigeria collaborates with community members, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, and local government authorities.
Borno State, a water-stressed area in Nigeria, is experiencing a severe water crisis impacting health, education, and quality of life. The S-WASH initiative, implemented locally by the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF) and WaterAid, has positively impacted six communities, two healthcare facilities, and one public school. Now, more than 16,000 people have better water, sanitation and hygiene services; women are trained as volunteer hygiene promoters; and youth are trained as maintenance artisans.
One of the beneficiaries, Zainab Bulama, a healthcare officer at Gamboru Primary Healthcare Centre in Borno State, Nigeria, said: “Before S-WASH, we lacked clean water. Now, with the rehabilitated borehole and handwashing stations, we can teach hygiene practices and ensure quality care.”
Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, said: “This water project is an example of our efforts to scale and accelerate access to safe drinking water and improve water security across Nigeria. We are grateful to work with local partners and communities to amplify our impact.”
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis on Friday, March 21, 2025, committed to lead regional efforts to accelerate climate ambitions in the Caribbean with a focus on energy, water, and food security.
Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, with GCF Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, during the Regional Dialogue
The undertaking was made at the closing of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-hosted “Regional Dialogue with the Caribbean Towards a Resilient Caribbean: Advancing Regional Solutions for Climate Action, Sustainable Growth and Inclusive Development”, which was held in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment, Joyelle Clarke, said strategic initiatives and collaborations were vital to enhance climate resilience and achieve the sustainable development goals.
“The partnership with GCF is critical to support energy security resilience and the sustainability agenda in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean region,” Minister Clarke said. “The Regional Dialogue has also facilitated regional discussions focusing on Caribbean-wide partnerships on initiatives to help the region tackle common climate change challenges in sectors that will also create new economic opportunities.”
The Minister’s remarks echoed the rallying call issued by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, at the Regional Dialogue’s launch.
“I am grateful for the continued support of our international partners and remain committed to ensuring that St Kitts and Nevis is at the forefront of the regional climate resilience movement,” the Prime Minister said.
GCF Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, said: “This Dialogue is about turning the ambitions and resources of the Caribbean region into historic impact by strategically targeting GCF resources to be as catalytic as possible. GCF is investing more than $700 million to help Caribbean countries make tangible and unprecedented investments in building resilient and prosperous societies.
“SIDS (Small Island Developing States) face immense capacity challenges and we have the most powerful instrument – our Readiness Programme – to respond to them. We’re here to match the region’s ambition with the partnerships and resources it demands.”
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis indicated that a major focus of scaling up regional ambitions on climate would be to explore further innovative approaches and financial instruments for increasing resilience, including through private sector-led initiatives. This could include insurance-linked instruments, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate-resilient infrastructure, debt-for-nature swaps, green hydrogen, performance-based grants, resilience credits and resilience bonds.
The Caribbean region’s appetite for innovative climate action was on display last week when the green light was given to a groundbreaking $110 million co-funded GCF project to strengthen water and food security and protect the environment in Barbados, as part of the world’s first debt-for-climate resilience conversion.
The need for accelerated ambition and action is clear. Last year’s hurricane season was one of the costliest ever. Climate-related disasters are projected to cost the Caribbean region $22 billion per year – roughly 10 per cent of current GDP – by 2050.
GCF’s regional investment portfolio continues to grow. The Fund has invested $237 million in eight climate action projects in Barbados, for a total of $714 million in the Caribbean. Almost half of the Fund’s Caribbean investments (45 per cent) are delivered via grants, which support country-led action in the region that does not add to debt burdens.
Friday, March 21, 2025, is International Day of Forests, with a focus on the crucial link between forests and food security, as over five billion people worldwide depend on forests and non-timber forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods, according to the FAO.
Rainforest. Photo credit: Kanenori / Pixabay
Forests are essential to life on Earth, providing clean air, regulating water cycles and supporting biodiversity. From wild fruits, nuts and medicinal plants to soil fertility and pollination, forests are fundamental to global food systems. At the same time, reducing deforestation and managing forests sustainably are key to mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term food security.
Forests play a critical role in climate action, as emphasised in the Paris Agreement and global stocktake. The REDD+ framework helps developing countries reduce deforestation and forest degradation while promoting sustainable management of forests.
Since the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ was adopted in 2013, REDD+ has protected approximately 1.7 billion hectares of forest – over 90% of tropical forests and more than 75% of forests in developing countries – helping communities maintain access to forest-based food sources while building resilience against climate threats to agriculture.
Enhancing transparency and technical expertise
Ensuring transparency and credibility in REDD+ implementation is vital to its success. A fundamental component of this process is the establishment of REDD+ reference levels, which serve as critical benchmarks for tracking forest conservation efforts.
From March 24, 2025, UN Climate Change will convene its 12th technical assessment of REDD+ reference levels, where experts from various countries will assess reference levels submitted by Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Panama, Senegal and Sudan – some for the first time, others with updated reference levels. This process strengthens national reporting capacities, enabling countries to enhance their methodologies, integrate new data sources, and improve overall accuracy.
“For Ghana, we don’t see the forest reference level as just a requirement under REDD+. We see it as a process to build capacities, to bring expertise together. It is a process to make sure that whatever the challenges are, we are able to overcome them and get results for the country,” said Thomas Yaw Gyambrah, from Ghana’s Forestry Commission, during a side event at COP29.
Nur Masripatin, advisor to Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, emphasised how expert feedback has helped improve national REDD+ assessments: “The interaction provided our national experts with a better understanding of where our strengths lie, where our weaknesses are, and the areas we need to improve.”
Forest conservation in national climate plans
As nations work toward halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, it’s crucial to integrate sustainable management of forests into national climate plans (known as nationally determined contributions or NDCs). Some countries are already incorporating REDD+ activities into their NDCs, using them to meet emission reduction targets while protecting ecosystems and livelihoods.
Strengthening engagement in REDD+ can help countries access climate finance and enhance monitoring capabilities. As technological advancements improve forest data collection and international cooperation expands, ensuring forests are central to national climate strategies will be key to sustaining both people and the planet.
Protecting forests safeguards climate stability, biodiversity and future food security, ensuring communities can thrive for generations to come.
Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), will speak at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris in May 2025, highlighting Nigeria’s gas sector opportunities as a critical driver of energy security, industrialisation and economic growth
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, will take the stage at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris this May, offering insights into Nigeria’s strategy to leverage its natural gas resources for long-term development. As a key decision-maker shaping Nigeria’s gas policies, Minister Ekpo’s participation will provide valuable perspectives on the country’s current gas-focused investment opportunities, relevant regulatory reforms and role within Nigeria’s energy mix.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most attractive energy investment destinations and is targeting $10 billion in deepwater gas exploration investments through tax incentives and new policy measures. The country is prioritising gas as a transition fuel, with major developments underway to expand both domestic and export infrastructure, alongside plans to auction undeveloped oil and gas blocks to accelerate exploration and production.
TotalEnergies’ $500 million Ubeta onshore field development is set to begin production in 2027, supplying gas to the Nigeria LNG plant. The company is also planning to sanction the $750 million Ima dry gas project this year to further boost LNG supplies. Other recent milestones include Shell’s sale of its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, signaling a shift toward greater local participation in the sector.
Nigeria is also advancing several major pipeline projects to expand its gas sector and strengthen regional energy security and export capacity. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company is undertaking a $1.2 billion rehabilitation of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline to enhance gas supply for power generation and industrial use.
Last month, Nigeria, along with the governments of Algeria and Niger, signed agreements to accelerate the implementation of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project, which aims to transport Nigerian gas through Niger and Algeria to Europe.
Agreements for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which would connect West African markets to European demand by running along the Atlantic coast through several countries, are also expected to be signed in 2025.
As Nigeria places renewed focus on monetising its more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Minister Ekpo’s participation at IAE 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s gas industry.
His participation, according to the organisers, will offer critical insights into Nigeria’s investment climate, ongoing infrastructure projects and how global stakeholders can engage with local ministries, regulators and the evolving gas market to advance the energy transition while securing energy supplies.
The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) has launched a tree planting campaign in two Senior Secondary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja to combat the effect of climate change.
The CJID tree planting exercise in Abuja
Mr. Nicholas Adeniyi, the Coordinator of the CJID Climate Change Project, on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Abuja said that the tree planting exercise was also to commemorate the International Day of Forests.
Adeniyi said that the project was being implemented in partnership with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, Association of Flower Nurseries and Landscaping Practitioners, Abuja, and the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The International Day of Forests is celebrated annually on March 21.
It is an initiative to highlight the importance of the ecosystems in the fight against climate change and to warn on the dangers of its degradation.
The 2025 celebration is themed, “Forests and Food” and it highlights the vital role of forests.
“Today is International Day of Forests.
“It is a day set aside to raise awareness of the importance and significance of forests and how forests serve as a home to 90 per cent of the terrestrial organisms out there.
“We have brought this advocacy to Government Day Secondary School Gwagwalada and School of the Gifted to teach the students the importance of tree planting and the need for trees in our natural environment.
“While we understand that the world is grappling with climate change which has become an existential threat to everyone, we have to play our role of planting trees and not falling trees,” he said.
Adeniyi decried the state of environmental pollution, degradation and flooding destroying farmlands, sources of livelihoods and homes leading to deaths across the country.
He called for the swift intervention of governments at all levels in discouraging realtors, contractors and housing agents from falling trees for the purpose of construction but to safeguard the ecosystems for human existence and food sustenance.
He said that CJID had planted over 100 trees across schools and communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within five years of its climate change project in tendem with its climate change mandate.
Adeniyi said that the group would continue to amplify advocacy on aforestation for the safety of Nigerians and the global community.
Mrs. Dorcas Nicanor, a representative of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said that the partnership with CJID was to create afforestation awareness in secondary schools.
Nicanor said that it was in line with its mandates on food security and climate change.
She appraised the schools Eco-clubs on climate change sensitisation amongst students.
Mr. Bello Audu, the Principal of School for the Gifted, commended the groups for the initiative to contribute to the ecosystems’ preservation and reduction of the impact of climate change.
“As you can see in our school environment we have a lot of economic trees and umbrella trees that help us to causion the effect of climate change.
“So this is a welcome idea and we support this initiative, and we will ensure that the trees we are going to plant today survives,” he said.
He also discouraged deforestation for the purpose of real-estate and charcoal production.
Mr. Bello Ajekunle, the Principal of Government Day Secondary School Gwagwalada, also lauded the organisers of the tree planting exercise.
Ajekunle said that the initiative to plant trees in secondary schools in Gwagwalada was timely, especially with the heatwave being experienced and in anticipation of rainy season.
He said that the school management would ensure that the trees were preserved.
“We are ready to do whatever we can do to make sure that the aims and objectives of this tree planting is achieved, which is for our own good and benefits,” he said.
The tree planting exercise was carried out by some students belonging to the Eco-clubs of both schools under the supervision of forestry and tree planting experts of the organisers of the exercise.
The Eco-club is an extra-curricular group in schools where students are taught the concept of climate change and ways to mitigate it under the supervision of climate change experts and stakeholders.
As the world marks the International Day of Forests, Wild Africa has called for urgent action to protect Nigeria’s forests.
Bugoma Forest
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Festus Iyorah, Wild Africa Nigeria’s Representative, on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Lagos.
Iyorah urged the Nigerian government, private sector, and conservation organisations to intensify efforts in protecting the nation’s forests, which, he said, served as a refuge for its most iconic wildlife species.
He stressed that Nigeria has experienced a 12 per cent decrease in tree cover in the last two decades, equivalent to 1.25 million hectares.
He added that approximately 60 per cent of the forest loss was due to logging, agricultural expansion, mainly through slash-and-burn farming practices and commercial plantation developments.
He noted that the 2025 theme: “Forests and Foods,” celebrated forests’ pivotal roles in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods.
“Forests sustain life by providing food, fuel, medicinal ingredients, income, and employment, especially to host communities closer to forests.
“They also protect our water resources, sequesters carbon emissions from the atmosphere, supports soil fertility and facilitates crop pollination.
“Across the continent, forests are disappearing, with deforestation occurring at more than four million hectares per year, twice the world’s average,” Iyorah said.
According to him, the rapid loss of Africa’s forests threatens biodiversity, people’s livelihoods, food security, and climate stability.
He said that globally, forests and trees are a rich source of nuts, fruits, seeds, roots, tubers, leaves, mushrooms, honey, cacao pods, meat, and insects, providing essential nutrients to people’s diets.
He said that approximately 1.6 billion people, or 25 per cent of the global population, relied on forests for their subsistence needs, livelihoods, employment, and income.
He added that Nigeria is endowed with some of the continent’s most biodiverse rainforests.
Iyorah said the Cross River National Park, spanning 4,000 square kilometers in southern Nigeria, is home to the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee, drill monkeys, forest elephants, and the critically endangered Cross River gorilla.
“However, rampant illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and urban development threaten these critical habitats.
“As forests disappear, biodiversity dwindles, and the livelihoods of those dependent on forest resources are increasingly jeopardised.
“Despite these challenges, there is hope. Through innovation and collaboration, a sustainable future where forests thrive is possible,” Iyorah stated.
He explained that combating deforestation in Africa required a multifaceted approach, including sustainable land management, stronger law enforcement, renewable energy alternatives, and community involvement.
He said the public could also help protect forests by avoiding activities that contributed to habitat destruction and supporting conservation initiatives.
Iyorah quoted Dr Mark Ofua, Wild Africa’s West Africa spokesperson as saying:
“The forest is more than trees – it is life, shelter, and the heartbeat of our planet. When we protect it, we protect our future.
“But sadly, Nigeria’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, taking with them critical biodiversity, essential ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of millions.
“If deforestation continues unchecked, we risk crossing an irreversible threshold that will devastate both people and nature.”
Iyorah said that Wild Africa would continue to advocate for stronger conservation policies and initiatives that would safeguard Nigeria’s forests using a combination of radio, TV, billboards, newspaper publications, and public service announcements.
He said the campaigns had featured influential Nigerian ambassadors such as 2Baba, Nela Duke Ekpenyong, and other influential Nigerians.
He added that they had used the campaigns to highlight Nigeria’s forests, its potential and the need to protect Nigeria’s wildlife and wild spaces for future generations.
Two agricultural experts on Friday, March 21, 2025, urged the government and other stakeholders to prioritise adoption of climate-smart agriculture and carbon credit for improved agricultural productivity.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari
Mr. Tajudeen Abubakar, Access to Innovative Finance and Technology Integration Manager, Heifer International, an NGO, made the call on the sideline of the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Food Security in Abuja.
The dialogue, organised by One Acre Fund (OAF), had as its theme: “Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap”.
Speaking in an interview, Abubakar identified climate change, characterised by excessive heat, flooding, among others, as one of the challenges confronting the country’s food system.
According to him, the nation has to adopt climate-smart agriculture starting from quality and drought-resistant seeds to adopting climate-smart technology among others, to ensure improved productivity.
“The days of using cutlasses, hoes, diesel or fuel irrigation pumps are over. There are lots of low-cost solar-powered irrigation pumps available now.
“These can be made available to farmers because it reduces the effect of greenhouse gas emission,” he said.
Abubakar advocated for green finance, and urged financial institutions, governments and other stakeholders to assist farmers in accessing funds for carbon credit.
According to him, this will go a long way in helping to put an end to environmental pollution caused by diesel and fuel-powered irrigation pumps.
Abubakar commended the Federal Government for initiating agriculture transformation policies in the country, but emphasised that such policies should be implemented effectively.
“Government should work closely with private sector partners, sharing in their visions and objectives, providing concessions to some of them, so that they can play effectively in the agricultural field,” he said.
Rufus Idris, Country Director, Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), said the dialogue was basically to see how the sector could thrive by boosting the farmers’ capacity from the current subsistence farming to commercial.
Idris acknowledged that the sector had lots of job opportunities, which the country was yet to take advantage of.
“We have not taken advantages of the opportunities in the sector to create jobs, this is a sector that employs a lot of our people; both men, women and youth.
“More than half of Nigeria’s population are young people and they have opportunities in the agricultural space to thrive but we are not living up to our potential.
“There are lot of job opportunities on farms for young people and women, opportunities in terms of providing agricultural services, extension services, logistics, solar power for young people, and issues around value addition, processing among others.
“Let us get the sector booming, let’s get the food system actually thriving as we are trying to ensure we produce more food that will make our agro-industries more sustainable, stronger and operating at high capacity,” he said.
The Renewed Hope Concerned Citizens (RHCC), a civil society organisation (CSO), has urged President Bola Tinubu to address inconsistencies in energy policies.
Renewed Hope Concerned Citizens (RHCC) protesters in Abuja
Speaking during a peaceful protest on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Abuja, RHCC Chairman, Mr. Tayo Agbaje, emphasised the need to protect the interests of Nigerians in the diaspora.
Agbaje, who also serves as the group’s convener, acknowledged the progress made by the current administration but expressed concerns about inconsistencies in energy policies.
He called on the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, to take immediate action to safeguard the interests of both domestic and international investors.
Specifically, he urged the government to reinstate the 2006 Gazetted Energy Policy Alignment, saying that it was essential for protecting diaspora investments and ensuring they received adequate attention.
“Our beloved President, the foreign investors under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Diaspora Investors (ANDI) have cried out for too long.
“Please intervene to protect their energy sector investments and support the Renewed Hope Administration,” Agbaje said.
According to him, restoring the 2006 gazetted alignment is crucial for investment stability, economic growth, foreign direct investment attraction, risk mitigation, and long-term economic sustainability.
“The 2006 gazetted alignment has been instrumental in creating a stable and predictable policy environment, which attracts and retains both local and international investments in Nigeria’s energy sector,” he said.
Agbaje highlighted the significant role Nigerian diaspora investors played in job creation, business expansion, and overall economic development.
He said that protecting their investments would ensure continued economic growth and job opportunities across the country.
Reinforcing the 2006 policy alignment, he argued, would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining a stable investment climate.
He added that it would also encourage both foreign and domestic investors to invest in infrastructure and energy projects.
He warned that “any deviation from established policies introduces uncertainty, which can jeopardise existing investments, deter future ones, and hinder the sector’s growth potential.
“There is an urgent need for immediate action to sustain and expand Nigeria’s energy sector.
“Restoring the 2006 gazetted alignment is key to providing the necessary policy framework for long-term prosperity.
“This step will enhance the sector’s stability and significantly contribute to Nigeria’s sustained economic success,” Agbaje said.
Also speaking at the event, RHCC Mobilisation Officer, Boluwaji Adeyemi, called on the minister of works to fulfill the promise of reverting to the original 2006 Gazetted alignment.
“As committed stakeholders in Nigeria’s economic progress, we have consistently supported the government’s vision, particularly in revitalising infrastructure and the energy sector.
“While we acknowledge the administration’s positive strides, recent developments have raised concerns about policy misalignments, particularly regarding the 2006 Gazetted alignment,” Adeyemi stated.
He reiterated RHCC’s support for ANDI’s call to restore the 2006 Gazetted alignment plan for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, emphasising its importance for boosting investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic future.
“We urge the government to act swiftly in protecting the interests of diaspora investors.
“This will pave the way for continued economic success under the Renewed Hope Administration,” he said.
Given how rapidly the world is changing, particularly how climate change is influencing human activities and economic development, it is clear that Africa must reconsider its growth strategy and address the issue of carbon emissions in the marine industry.
Participants including the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the African Strategic Summit on Shipping Decarbornisation held in Abuja
As part of efforts to address the aforementioned challenge, industry actors from across the continent convened in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Monday, March 17, 2025, for a two-day African Strategic Summit on Shipping Decarbonisation to discuss how to accelerate Africa’s maritime decarbonisation agenda and it’s active participation in global climate change mitigation efforts.
In his remarks, while flagging off the event, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, stressed the need for Africa to take a leading role in shaping the future of the maritime industry.
The minister underlined Africa’s strategic position to become a global leader in green shipping, leveraging its geographic advantage and renewable energy potential.
To ensure that no nation on the continent is left behind, Oyetola emphasised the importance of equitable decarbonisation, a key summit goal that, he explained, aims to solidify Africa’s position in advocating for fair revenue distribution from global decarbonisation measures as well as to strengthen technical capacity for effective climate action.
“Nigeria is also bidding for a seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, seeking support from member states for its candidacy,” he stated.
In the same vein, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General/CEO of NIMASA, hinted the summit’s aims to align Africa’s maritime strategies with global decarbonisation efforts, supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 that advocates for climate action.
At the end of the summit, participants reaffirmed their collective commitment towards fostering the African shipping decarbonisation plan, and agreed on the following resolutions:
African nations should actively participate and engage for a unified position to actively engage in IMO negotiations, particularly in the Intersessional Working Groups for Greenhouse Gas (ISWG-GHG) and Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), ensuring that global decarbonisation policies are equitable and considerate to Africa’s unique challenges.
African nations should ensure that peoples with right technical, political and diplomatic skills consistently attend the negotiation meetings and engagement at international fora fostering continuity in driving the shipping decarbonisation agenda.
African nations should develop a comprehensive national action plan for shipping decarbonisation, aligned with the IMO’s GHG Reduction Strategy and tailored to local realities.
Establish regional training centres to equip maritime professionals with the skills needed vis-vis capacity building for the transition to low-carbon operations, including the use of alternative fuels and energy-efficient technologies.
Develop mechanisms to monitor and report relevant shipping emission data for analysis and modelling to enable informed policy formulation.
African nations should harness their abundant renewable energy resources to produce zero-carbon fuels and power green port infrastructure, positioning the continent as a hub for sustainable shipping.
Governments should create enabling policies and incentives to attract investment in renewable energy projects for the maritime sector.
African nations should collectively advocate for global decarbonisation policies that address the high transition costs and limited access to clean fuel technology faced by developing countries.
African nations should push for the establishment of funding mechanisms to support Africa’s transition, including grants, low-interest loans, and technology transfer programmes.
A strategic government policy mandating agreement with shipping companies to create structured opportunities for African cadets, fostering capacity development and enhancing expertise.
African government should deliberately encourage policies on the engagement of women in seafaring and other aspect of maritime.
African Nation should engage key stakeholders including ship-owners in the decarbonisation negotiation discourse.
This high-level event was attended by international experts, including the IMO-MEPC Chairperson Dr. Harry Conway.
It serves as a platform for forging stronger collaborations among African states and global partners to advocate for just and equitable implementation of IMO policies.
