Global climate justice group, 350.org, has condemned reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to repeal its foundational scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human life.
Lee Zeldin, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
According to a New York Times article published July 22, 2025, the EPA is drafting a ruling that is set to eliminate the 2009 bedrock scientific finding, known as the “endangerment finding.” The finding established that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane pose a direct threat to public health and the environment and underpins much of the federal government’s authority to regulate emissions and address the climate crisis.
On Friday, July 18, the EPA had already announced plans to dismantle its scientific research arm and lay off hundreds of staff. Now, as climate advocates are pointing out, the agency is targeting the science itself.
Anne Jellema, Executive Director of 350.org, says: “This administration is making a mockery of the institutions set up to protect us all. It’s one thing to wilfully ignore the science in favour of profit, but to attempt to cancel it altogether beggars belief. Canceling the endangerment finding would declare open season on all of humanity, and cause irreversible harm to the entire planet, not just within the boundaries of the United States.”
For decades now, scientists have agreed, with a greater than 99% consensus, on climate change being caused by human beings. Yesterday, in an address titled ‘The Moment of Opportunity’, the United Nations Secretary General emphasised that “the climate crisis is laying waste to lives and livelihoods, and the 1.5-degree limit is in unprecedented peril. To keep it within reach, we must drastically speed up the reduction of emissions – and the reach of the clean energy transition.”
In Washington this week, a protest was brought to the steps of the White House with 27 colourful trunks representing the children whose lives were tragically lost to the floods in Texas that claimed at least 135. Their families brought this protest to the White House to condemn a broader failure to address the climate crisis and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. They demanded immediate policy changes, full funding for weather and disaster response agencies, and a rapid transition away from coal and oil.
“We are already bearing witness to the impacts of the chaotic policy changes being pushed through by this administration. These have cost us lives and will continue to do so long into the future. We will not sit back and let this administration unravel the protections we have fought so long and hard for. We are standing by – with the full force of the global climate movement behind us – to denounce this proposal as soon as it is published for public notice and comment.” concluded Anne Jellema.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, issued its ruling on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change and the legal consequences for failing to fulfil those obligations.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management for the Republic of Vanuatu
Vanuatu and the large majority of the 96 States and11 International Organisations that presented evidence that States obligations were not limited to voluntary contributions and pledges found in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement during the hearings in December 2024.
The ICJ agreed with the majority and confirmed that international legal obligations – including the duty to cooperate, human rights, duties to prevent transboundary and environmental harm, including marine harm, and to act with due diligence – were also applicable to States’ conduct in the context of climate change.
Additionally, all States, whether they are parties to the UNFCCC, Kyoto and Paris Agreements or not, were bound by these legal obligations under customary international law.
Breaches of any of these primary obligations confirmed as ‘most directly relevant’ to climate change would result in legal consequences. The Court also confirmed that harm from climate impacts could be established and scientifically attributed to specific polluter States whose acts or omissions resulted in significant harm.
Legal consequences include cessation, including requirements to regulate private polluters and end fossil fuel subsidies; assurances of non-repetition; and a duty to make full reparations to injured States and individuals.
This ruling is expected to take centre stage when the United Nations General Assembly meets in September and at the next conference of parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change (COP30), in November in Brazil.
These legal proceedings were requested by the UN General Assembly in a Resolution passed by consensus on March 29, 2023. The campaign for the resolution was initiated by the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change and spearheaded by the Government of Vanuatu seeking climate justice.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management for the Republic of Vanuatu, stated: “The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu commends the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on its landmark advisory opinion on climate change, issued today in response to a UN General Assembly Resolution requesting the opinion following the initiative of the Government of Vanuatu and our fellow Small Island Developing States.
“The ICJ ruling marks an important milestone in the fight for climate justice. We now have a common foundation based on the rule of law, releasing us from the limitations of individual nations’ political interests that have dominated climate action. This moment will drive stronger action and accountability to protect our planet and peoples.
“We will now take the ICJ ruling back to the United Nations General Assembly, and pursue a resolution that will support implementation of this decision. The implementation of this decision will set a new status-quo and the structural change required to give our current and future generations hope for a healthy planet and sustainable future.
“Even as fossil fuel expansion continues under the US’s influence, along with the loss of climate finance and technology transfer, and the lack of climate ambition following the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, major polluters – past and present – cannot continue to act with impunity and treat developing countries as sacrifice zones to further feed corporate greed.
“Vanuatu is proud and honoured to have spearheaded this initiative, and the number of States and civil society that have joined to fight the same fight is a powerful testament to the leadership, courage, and determination of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and youth activists. Their persistence has transformed a grassroots movement into the biggest case in the history of international law, placing climate justice at the heart of international discourse.
“The Global South is bearing the brunt of a crisis it did not create. Families are losing their homes, entire cultures are at risk of disappearing, and lives are being shattered by man-made climate disasters. The nations most responsible for emissions should be held accountable for any violations of legal obligations and they must also step up and lead in providing resources and support to aid those most affected.
“This ruling provides a critical foundation for lawyers and activists to further strengthen and affirm that climate destruction is ‘against the law.’ It also confirms that environmental harm violates fundamental legal principles.
“A victory in the world’s highest court is just the beginning. Success will depend on what happens next through coordinated efforts across diplomacy, politics, litigation, and advocacy to turn this moment into a true turning point.
“Vanuatu looks forward to collaborating with other States on implementing the Court’s decision and ensuring that the structural changes needed to increase accountability, demand real financial commitments, and reframe climate justice become the heart of every negotiation, every policy, and every court where our peoples’ futures are at stake.”
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, that climate inaction on the part of national governments may violate their legal obligations to current and future generations under international law. It has also stated that those already impacted have legal routes to demand loss and damage funding.
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The opinion was published upon a request from the UN General Assembly, led by Vanuatu and other small island states. They asked the court to clarify what responsibilities governments have to address climate change and what legal consequences they can face if they flout these responsibilities.
Driven by a demand from Pacific youth and island nations supported by a coalition of civil society, Indigenous Peoples and States, the World’s Court has taken action to put high emitters on notice. This advisory opinion will shape international norms and now exists as a tool that leaders can use to negotiate stronger climate policy in a struggling multilateral system.
This landmark opinion is said to be yet another example of the world’s most impacted nations, like Vanuatu, continuing to lead the charge on climate action.
In its advisory opinion, the court stated that climate change is an “urgent and existential threat” and that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are “unequivocally caused by human activities.”
Judges stated that states have a duty to act on the latest climate science, in line with the international goal to limit warming to 1.5C, as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The court described the climate system as a vital part of the environment that must be protected for present and future generations. Though the opinion is non-binding, it carries significant legal and political weight and may shape future climate litigation and treaty negotiations.
It comes amid increasing efforts to hold governments accountable for climate change through legal avenues. In a separate landmark ruling last year, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favour of a group of older Swiss women who argued their government’s insufficient action on climate change exposed them to deadly heatwaves.
The Strasbourg court found that inadequate climate policy can amount to a violation of human rights, setting a precedent for similar cases across Europe.
Criminalising ecocide
At the international level, discussions are underway to make large-scale environmental destruction a crime.
The proposed definition of ecocide covers acts committed with knowledge that they are likely to cause severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment.
If adopted, this would allow the court to prosecute individuals, including corporate executives and government leaders, for environmental destruction such as large-scale oil spills or deforestation.
The mortality cost of carbon
The ecocide proposal, backed by several Pacific Island nations, faces legal hurdles as ecocide is not yet part of customary international law or recognised as a core international crime.
Nevertheless, climate litigation is gaining momentum, driven in part by advances in climate attribution science, which now makes it possible to connect specific weather events and deaths to human-driven climate change.
Researchers recently estimated that the heatwave in southern England in June this year caused 263 deaths in London, 171 of which were attributed to the increased temperatures linked to climate change.
Legal challenges are increasingly drawing on this science. Friends of the Earth recently announced it will take its case against the UK Government’s climate adaptation plan to the ECHR.
The group argues that the Government’s failure to prepare adequately for climate impacts breaches the rights of people in the UK, especially those most vulnerable to heat and flooding. The UK High Court previously ruled the Government’s adaptation plan lawful.
The ICJ’s opinion adds a new layer of legal clarity on what governments are required to do to prevent climate harm. While the court cannot enforce its ruling, it reinforces the growing view that states may be held accountable for climate inaction under international law.
ICJ reaction: ‘A rocket boost for climate justice’
Reacting to the ICJ’s opinion decision, the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment’s Noah Walker-Crawford said: “The ICJ’s advisory opinion brings the weight of international law behind what climate science has shown for decades. By grounding states’ obligations in scientific consensus and human rights law, the Court affirms that governments must not only reduce their own emissions but also regulate companies to do the same.
“This creates a powerful foundation for future claims to hold both states and major emitters accountable.”
Power Shift Africa’s director, Mohamed Adow, said: “This ruling is a rocket boost for climate justice. The ICJ has confirmed what Africa has long demanded: that rich nations must be held accountable for the damage their emissions have caused.
“For a continent like Africa – least responsible but most affected – this decision is a lifeline. It strengthens our call for reparations, debt relief, and real climate finance – not loans that deepen poverty… the law now backs our moral case.”
“The era of polluters hiding behind vague promises is over.”
Greenpeace International’s legal counsel, Danilo Garrido,said: “This is the start of a new era of climate accountability at a global level. The ICJ advisory opinion marks a turning point for climate justice, as it has clarified, once and for all, the international climate obligations of states, and most importantly, the consequences for breaches of these obligations.
“This will open the door for new cases, and hopefully bring justice to those who, despite having contributed the least to climate change, are already suffering its most severe consequences.
“The message of the Court is clear: the production, consumption and granting of licenses and subsidies for fossil fuels could be breaches of International Law. Polluters must stop emitting and must pay for the harms they have caused.”
The Climate Group’s executive director of government and policy, Champa Patel,said:”This is an historic affirmation that states have legal obligations to act decisively on climate change. This strengthens the mandate for national governments to accelerate their climate action in line with international law. Legal certainty can not only strengthen domestic policy, but it can also unlock global cooperation.
“National governments are not alone in this endeavour. To achieve high ambition and accelerate the transition, governments should work with businesses, cities, states and regions. Their leadership and collaboration can help translate legal obligations into real-world impact, supporting national governments to meet their responsibilities and protect the rights of current and future generations.”
Fenton Lutunatabua, Deputy Head of Regions at 350.org, says: “The oceans are rising, but so are we. Once again, young Pacific Islanders have stepped up with courage and made sure that our reality, as a community on the frontlines of the climate crisis, is witnessed by the world’s highest court. Today’s outcome adds strength to our fight for our future, placing our basic human rights at the heart of states’ climate obligations, and setting a new legal and moral benchmark for climate action. The ICJ has upheld the call for greater accountability, at this crucial time for our survival. A line has been drawn, and high-emitting states now have the obligation to address their climate responsibilities head on.”
Anne Jellema, Chief Executive at 350.org, says: “This landmark outcome came about because Pacific youth chose to fight rather than drown, and it gives hope to everyone out there protecting their communities from being engulfed by climate chaos. Years of shameful delays and diversions by world leaders have pushed humanity to a precipice, but today, the ICJ has made it clear that our governments are obliged under law to act, and act now. That starts with agreeing on a concrete timeline at COP30 to draw the line against the fossil fuels overheating the planet.”
Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, said: “IUCN welcomes this important advisory opinion, which strengthens the global legal framework and reinforces the urgent imperative to limit warming to 1.5 °C. IUCN has been actively engaged at every stage of these historical proceedings and congratulates the ICJ on this key decision that will shape the future of our planet.
“Climate change is not only a crisis of rising temperatures; it is a crisis for both humanity and nature with profound implications for human rights. By undermining ecosystems, climate change weakens the life-support systems upon which people’s rights to life, health, food, water, and culture depend. As the global authority on the state of nature, IUCN urges all States to strengthen their commitments – recognising that protecting nature is not just part of the solution, it is essential to delivering climate justice and safeguarding our collective future.”
Dean Bhekumuzi, Campaigner at Don’t Gas Africa, said: “This is a legal and moral breakthrough. For the first time, the highest legal authority on the planet has confirmed what so many communities, especially in Africa and the Global South, have been saying for decades: climate harm is not just a tragedy, it’s a violation of international law. This is an extraordinary shift that means the climate crisis isn’t just a political or economic issue anymore.
“It’s a legal one that opens the door to consequences. States that ignore science, delay action or bankroll fossil fuels are now exposed and could soon be in courtrooms. For African nations experiencing climate-induced extreme weather events, this gives us a legal foundation to demand justice. The ruling validates Africa’s lived reality and gives frontline communities a powerful new tool to hold major emitters accountable.”
Cristina Rumbaitis, Senior Advisor on Adaptation and Resilience at UN Foundation, noted: “The ICJ ruling is a victory not only for vulnerable countries but all of humanity. It is an important reckoning with the reality of climate change. It recognises what so many vulnerable countries and people around the world already know – that climate change is already here, threatening lives, livelihoods and imposing suffering on those who did the least to cause this problem.
“It recognises that countries must now invest in adapting to the impacts of climate change. This is no longer a choice, but a vital priority and an obligation of those that did the most to cause this problem to support vulnerable countries in adapting to this new reality.”
Bertha Argueta, Senior Policy Advisor on Climate Finance and Development at Germanwatch, observed: “The advisory opinion has confirmed what climate justice campaigners and civil society organisations have been saying for decades. That states, especially those most historically responsible for the climate crisis, have the legal obligations to stop, repair and compensate vulnerable communities for the damages they have caused.
“This includes clear obligations to support adaptation efforts and provide reparations to those affected by the climate crisis, including by providing climate finance. Civil society will continue to push for these obligations to become a reality with renewed legitimacy and strength.”
According to observers, the announcement comes at a time of unprecedented climate upheaval, marked by extreme weather events and record-breaking heating. These impacts, they stated, underscore the urgent need for decisive action and reinforce the importance of holding major polluters accountable for their contributions to this intersectional crisis. The advisory opinion must compel rapid fossil fuel phase outs and the necessity for climate finance, including reparations for loss and damage.
Across the globe, diverse movements are uniting in the face of intersecting crises. As climate change intensifies alongside rising living costs and ongoing conflicts worldwide, communities are coming together to demand systemic change and a just future for all.
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, representatives of Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and social movements from across the Amazon held a demonstration in front of the construction site of COP30 in Belém, sending a clear message to global leaders: the solutions to the climate crisis already exist and are practiced daily by Indigenous and traditional peoples in Brazil and around the world.
Protestors at COP30 site in Belém, Brazil
The action, staged in front of the future Blue Zone – the official venue for the UN climate negotiations – marked the launch of the “Declaration of the Amazon Peoples’ Gathering for COP30: The Answer is Us,” a collectively written political statement. In the centre of the protest stood a globe melting and stained with oil, symbolising the urgency of the climate crisis.
Around it, leaders held messages such as “The Climate Won’t Wait – It’s Time to Act,” “The Answer is Us,” “Draw The Line,” and “Keep the Forest Standing, Leave Oil and Gas Underground.” This declaration is supported by the global climate movement, which is organizing a week of action in September called Draw The Line, when thousands will take to the streets to demand real climate action.
The protest comes at a critical moment in Brazil, as movements call on President Lula to veto Bill 2159/21 – known as the “Devastation Bill” – which would represent one of the most significant rollbacks to environmental protection in Brazil since the military dictatorship.
“For us Indigenous peoples, for Brazil’s Indigenous movement, for social movements, and for everyone committed to defending the environment and biodiversity – especially in this moment of climate emergency – the approval of this bill goes against everything humanity is fighting for in terms of sustainable solutions,” said Kleber Karipuna, Executive Coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB).
Toya Manchineri, General Coordinator of COIAB, highlighted one of the bill’s most dangerous aspects: removing the role of institutions like Funai from the environmental licensing process. “This leaves thousands of Indigenous communities vulnerable, with no mechanisms to defend themselves or participate in decisions that directly affect their territories, ways of life, and well-being,” he said.
Sila Mesquita Apurinã, General Coordinator of the GTA Network, emphasised the need for unity: “We already have many climate authorities living in our territories – people who know how to face the climate crisis. If world leaders don’t know what to do, we do. We, Indigenous leaders, traditional communities, and social movements, are the answer. Our territories and ways of life are the solution. That’s why we’re joining forces in this permanent mobilization and reaffirming our fight for life.”
Amazonian peoples demand protection and a seat at the decisions table
In the “Declaration of the Amazon Peoples’ Gathering for COP30: The Answer is Us,” social and Indigenous movements demand recognition and protection of their territories; an immediate end to destructive exploitation; meaningful participation in decision-making forums; recognition of the Amazon as a common good of humanity; direct climate finance for forest and riverine peoples; and an end to violence against those who defend the forest. The declaration – signed by 19 organizations – will be delivered to the COP30 Presidency.
The Jigawa State Government has warned against the use of unauthorised chainsaws to fell trees, threatening offenders with fines and jail terms.
Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa State
Dr Abdullahi Umar-Namadi, Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment, issued the warning while speaking to newsmen after a tree planting campaign in Dutse, the state capital.
The campaign was organised by the Partnership for Development Action (PADAC) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
PADAC, a focal NGO of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), is spearheading a 100,000-tree planting initiative across the state.
Umar-Namadi said the state government had reviewed its environmental law to curb indiscriminate tree felling, adding that the revised law was currently before the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
“It is the policy of the state government to make Jigawa green, and this cannot be achieved unless seedlings are properly cared for,” he said.
“In addition, we are committed to maintaining the existing trees.
“If you fail to preserve the trees already planted while only focusing on new ones, and people continue to destroy the existing ones, then progress will be impossible,” he added.
“To address this, the state’s environmental law has been reviewed and is currently before the State House of Assembly for deliberation, pending final assent by His Excellency.
“Once enacted, no one will be allowed to use a chainsaw to fell trees without official approval.”
“Any chainsaw found in use without authorisation will be confiscated and become the property of the Jigawa Government,” he warned.
The permanent secretary added that any tree cut down without authorisation will attract a fine of N100,00/one year jail or both.
According to him, laws are not made to punish offenders, but to deter people from committing offences.
“This is the only way to make Jigawa green. So it not enough to plant trees, but maintain and nurture to maturity because this the only way we can enjoy the fruit of our efforts,” he said.
The permanent secretary, who described the NGO’s gesture as very “good development”, emphasised the need for benefiting communities to maintain to nurture the planted seedlings to maturity to ensure sustainable environment.
Alhaji Mustafa Aminu, a senior member of the Dutse Emirate Council, noted that trees served as windbreakers and help improve air quality.
He urged parents, especially mothers, to instill the culture of tree planting in their children to promote a greener environment.
Blessing Tagaino, Programme Officer of the NGO, said the seedlings planted were climate-resilient species capable of mitigating the effects of climate change in the state.
She added that the initiative was part of the NGO’s 2025 tree planting campaign, “which aims to plant 1,500 seedlings along three selected roads in Dutse, the state capital”.
In a related development, A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Bridge That Gap, has inaugurated a large-scale tree planting campaign in Kudenda community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Kaduna, Mr. Zinta Akpoko, Programme Officer of Bridge That Gap, said the initiative was a move to combat climate change and promote greener environment in the state.
The initiative, which saw enthusiastic participation from local residents, aimed to plant hundreds of trees across the community.
Akpoko said the campaign was designed to help restore environmental balance, curb the effects of global warming, and promote sustainable living.
“Our aim is to plant as many trees as possible in Kudenda. Climate change is not a distant threat, it is already affecting us.
“By planting trees, we are taking a simple but powerful step to protect our environment and our future,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Kudenda, Mr. Gabriel Galadima, welcomed the initiative and praised the organisation’s commitment to grassroots development.
“I thank Bridge That Gap for bringing this important campaign to our chiefdom. It is a blessing to our people and a step in the right direction towards a healthier and greener Kudenda,” Galadima stated.
Some beneficiaries of the tree seedlings, Sarki Syprian and Juli Jude, expressed gratitude to the NGO.
Syprian noted that the campaign brought hope to communities often overlooked in environmental efforts.
“This campaign is a great gift to our community. We are grateful and we urge other organisations to emulate this noble initiative,” he advised.
On her part, Jude, observed that planting trees “are planting life for tomorrow.”
While thanking Bridge That Gap for the initiative, Jude encouraged other NGOs to spread their tentacles to grassroots communities with similar impactful programmes.
The campaign is designed to continue over the coming weeks, with plans to expand the initiative to neighbouring communities, reinforcing the message that local action could drive global change.
By happenstance, 16-year-old Blessing Obiabo found herself on the frontline of a national movement.
Obiabo, a student of Lyngra Private Montessori School in Karu, Nasarawa State, found her voice the day Cedars Refuge Foundation (CRF) brought its anti-tobacco campaign to her school.
According to scientists, tobacco smoking is dangerous to health
“We are not fools; this is our future, and we are taking it back,” she said.
Obiabo’s declaration mirrors a growing wave of youth-led resistance sweeping across Nigeria, fueled by the CRF’s Students Congress Against Tobacco (SCAT) initiative.
The programme, inaugurated under the banner of a “Tobacco-free Revolution,” is a response to what CRF describes as a calculated and aggressive invasion by the tobacco industry into the lives of young Nigerians.
The Executive Director of CRF, Mr Peter Unekwu-Ojo, minced no words at the campaign inauguration in Karu.
“The tobacco industry is a well-dressed cartel selling flavoured slavery.
“They are not selling lifestyle; they are selling addiction, bubble-wrapped in mango flourish and influencer smiles.”
According to Unekwu-Ojo, the tactics of the tobacco industry have become more deceptive than ever.
“Gone are the days of plain cigarettes; in their place are brightly-packaged e-cigarettes, vapes, and other nicotine products, flavoured, flashy, and dangerously appealing to teenagers.
“It is the same poison, just packaged in sleek tech and tropical flavours.
“These flavoured products, often promoted through digital marketing and pop culture influencers, create the illusion of harmless fun, masking the reality of addiction and long-term health consequences.”
The SCAT programme, now active in several schools across Nasarawa and Abuja, was created to expose and counter these tactics.
It promotes in-school advocacy, peer-led clubs, creative campaigns, and dialogues with teachers, parents, and community leaders.
Unekwu-Ojo emphasised the call for urgent reforms, including a nationwide ban on flavoured tobacco and nicotine products, higher tobacco taxes, strict penalties for marketing to minors, and the enforcement of school-based prevention programmes.
“If we do not protect the future in classrooms, we will be fighting addiction in clinics,” he warned.
Mr. Abba Owoicho, CRF’s Programme/Operations Officer, weighed in.
“We are witnessing a silent epidemic thriving on ignorance and regulatory loopholes.
“SCAT is not just a campaign; it is a counter-offensive,” he said.
At the school level, educators are stepping up.
Mrs. Blessing Onu, Head Teacher at Lyngra, welcomed the initiative.
“Our students will not be left defenceless in the face of such a manipulative industry,” she said, announcing the establishment of a Tobacco-Free Club in the school.
Mr. Pius Nnaemeka, a senior teacher, appealed directly to national authorities.
“If we continue to play soft while our children inhale poison, history will not forgive us.
“The government must outlaw flavoured tobacco, fund preventive education, and support civil society groups championing this cause,” he said.
These school-based actions are mirrored across other institutions.
At Klinnicaps Academy in Koroduma, another CRF outreach event themed “Exposing Lies, Protecting Lives” engaged students in interactive sessions that peeled back the façade of flavoured products.
Unekwu-Ojo told the students that the industries were setting young people up against their future.
“They sandwich their products with glamorous colourful packaging and high-profile adverts, hiding the dangerous consequences of addiction.”
He described the educational sessions as a wake-up call.
“Tobacco use is not a fashion statement; it is a death sentence disguised in shiny colours,” he said.
Mr. John Egla, Executive Director of Development Initiatives for Societal Health, reinforced the message: “There is no safe level of smoking.”
He cited global statistics from the 2018 Tobacco Atlas, noting that more than 942 million men and 175 million women worldwide smoke, with rising usage among African youth.
In response, CRF is establishing Tobacco-Free Clubs in at least 10 more schools in Nasarawa State, equipping students with peer leadership and advocacy tools.
The message is resonating beyond classrooms.
In Katsina State, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu-Funtua, recently stressed the importance of school-based campaigns.
Speaking during World Tobacco Day celebrations, he warned that a society that allowed the exploitation of its youth by profit-driven tobacco companies is a society at risk.
Adamu-Funtua urged joint efforts among government agencies, civil society, parents and youths.
“Let us choose health over harm, strength over addiction,” he said.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has also thrown its weight behind tobacco control.
At a recent workshop in Bauchi, its Senior Programme Officer, Mr Solomon Adoga, highlighted tobacco’s role in multiple cancers and reproductive health challenges.
“Tobacco significantly contributes to Nigeria’s cancer burden,” he said.
CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, called for urgent policy reforms, stronger laws, and intensified awareness campaigns to stem tobacco-related deaths.
Beyond the halls of policy and classrooms, the anti-tobacco wave is being carried by mothers.
In Ilorin, Kwara, a march led by Bundies Care Support Initiative and other groups amplified maternal voices demanding action.
Mrs. Funmilayo Osiegbu, Executive Director of the initiative, sounded a note of warning.
“We cannot stand by while our children are exposed to harmful tobacco products.
“We are urging the government to enact policies that shield young people.”
Inspired by international campaigns such as Tobacco-Free Jordan, the Kwara mothers demanded full implementation of Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act.
“This includes stricter enforcement of bans on advertising and sponsorship, and stronger measures to prevent youth access,” she said.
Kwara’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Afolashade Opeyemi, reaffirmed government’s support.
“The administration has zero tolerance for smoking any substance,” she said.
Also, health experts lend their support.
Prof. Abiodun Afolayan, Chair of the Nigeria Cancer Society in Kwara, warned that lung cancer had become the most common cancer worldwide, driven largely by smoking.
“Often, the damage only appears when it is too late,” he said.
Mr. Lekan Mikail, Special Adviser on Drug Abuse to the Kwara Governor, urged parents to stay vigilant.
“We must protect our children from this slow and silent killer,” he said.
As the SCAT initiative prepares to expand to 30 schools by 2025, it is clear that a national youth-driven movement is taking root.
From Obiabo’s defiance to policymakers’ endorsements, Nigeria is witnessing a shift in its tobacco control landscape.
But for CRF’s Unekwu-Ojo, the work is far from over.
“Every child deserves a future free from the industry’s traps, flavoured nicotine, flashy adverts, and peer-induced pressure,” he said.
His words echo in classrooms, streets, and government chambers across the country; the call is no longer just to awareness, but to action.
Mrs. Precious Ojiaku, Dean of Studies at Klinnicaps Academy, said tobacco had no place in the future of Nigerian youth.
“Living a morally grounded life and rejecting these traps is the strongest resistance we can teach,” she said.
With the ongoing concerted efforts, stakeholders believe the threat posed by tobacco can be contained.
Five deaths have been reported in Italy as extreme heat continues to affect parts of southern Europe.
Tourists in Rome struggle in the heat. Photo credit: AFP/Getty
By 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, temperatures had already exceeded 30 degrees Celsius in Sicily.
Turkey and Greece were also experiencing high temperatures, with the Turkish city of Istanbul reaching 36 degrees Celsius and the Greek island of Lesbos 38 degrees Celsius by the same time.
In Athens, the Acropolis and other popular ancient sites were to be closed during the midday hours.
Delivery service employees, construction workers and agricultural workers have also been instructed to stop work.
Greek law requires such measures for outdoor work when temperatures climb above 40 degrees Celsius, as is expected on Wednesday and in the coming days.
Doctors have warned that elderly people and small children in particular should not spend time outdoors, that people should drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
The Italian authorities said there have been at least five deaths in the southern Apulia region alone in the last few days that could be related to the high temperatures.
In Palermo, the capital of Sicily, the highest heat alert level is in effect.
Heat warnings are also in place in more than a dozen other cities.
A high-pressure area from Africa, which meteorologists have named Kamel, is expected to bring temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius to the south of Italy.
Turkey is also groaning under the heat.
On Tuesday, temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in six of the country’s 81 provinces, and temperatures are expected to climb even higher on Wednesday.
The heat is compounded by drought, which allows forest fires to spread more quickly.
The emergency services are currently battling three active fires.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, launched a ₦500 billion Uptake Guarantee Fund aimed at transforming the state’s food system, reducing hunger, and boosting inclusive economic opportunities.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State with other dignitaries at the launch
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was borne out of the state’s urgent need to reimagine its food security structure following the vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, climate change, and global supply disruptions.
“Our vision is to build a resilient and self-sustaining food system that feeds Lagos now and in the future.
“This fund is a safety net that connects producers to consumers with dignity and efficiency,” he said.
He said a comprehensive study conducted by the state showed that Lagos consumes over 50 per cent of the food produced in the Southwest, highlighting the urgency for internal production and distribution solutions.
“Lagos has a food economy that’s growing for over 60 years, but recent shocks have shown how exposed we are.
“We must now feed our people sustainably, and this fund is the vehicle to get us there,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that the state had restructured its governance framework by renaming the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems in 2024.
“This is a deliberate move to reflect the human, social, and economic complexities of food security.
“Agriculture is no longer just about farming, it is about jobs, dignity, and survival,” the governor said.
He thanked members of the Federal Executive Council and private sector partners present, saying the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“We are on the same frontline for food security, and we are working together to ensure Nigeria feeds itself,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the fund was a decisive step toward rewiring the state’s food value chain through logistics efficiency, innovation, and rural-urban market integration.
“This fund will assure uptakers to buy, give farmers courage to plant, embolden financiers to invest, and reassure Lagosians of access to safe, affordable food,” she said.
She said the initiative stemmed from planning that began in 2019 with the launch of the state’s five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap.
According to her, the Lagos Fresh Hub was established to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise food prices through coordinated aggregation and distribution.
“Our hubs are not just warehouses; they are bridges connecting rural abundance with city tables,” she said.
She also highlighted programmes such as the Lagos Agri-Innovation Club, the Agri-Preneurship Programme, and the Lagos Food Festival, noting that they had empowered youths and tech innovators to reimagine agriculture.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the intervention as a timely and commendable model for tackling food insecurity through collaborative action.
“This landmark initiative aligns perfectly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic resilience and inclusive growth,” she said.
Uzoka-Anite said the Uptake Guarantee Fund would inspire confidence in the sector, promote food access, and protect livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.
“We are proud to support a framework that brings dignity to food production, secures supply chains, and empowers the real drivers of our economy the farmers, processors, and traders,” she said.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, also commended the state government for the initiative.
Musa said that food security was essential to national peace and stability.
“A well-fed nation is a safer nation. When communities have food, crime reduces, and peace is more sustainable,” he said.
Musa urged the government to invest in ranch development as a sustainable solution to herder-farmer clashes.
“Building ranches across states will not only modernise livestock farming but also reduce the friction that often results in violence and displacement,” he added.
Founder of Heirs Holdings and philanthropist, Mr. Tony Elumelu, applauded the Lagos State Government for what he called a transformative step toward economic inclusion.
“This initiative will tackle the root causes of joblessness. Agriculture has the power to employ millions if we invest the right way,” Elumelu said.
He also pledged financial backing to the initiative for economic growth and development.
“We at Heirs Holdings are committing N25 billion to support this food systems transformation. We will work hand-in-hand with the Lagos State Government to scale its impact by creating jobs,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun; Gov. Muhammad Bago of Niger; Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba; and Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi.
Others were Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor; the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Olayide Adelami; Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Afeez Alabi; members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of farmer cooperatives from across the country.
“In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous,”goes a quote by the American historian Daniel Joseph Boorstin.
Like these anonymous true heroes, wetlandsplay vital overlooked roles including provision of essential ecosystem services like flood control and water regulation, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation among others. Although they cover about 6% of the earth’s land surface area, they are home to about 40% of all plants and animal species, including birds which rely on these sites for breeding, feeding and resting during migration.
Hadejia Nguru Wetlands in Nigeria
Further, these critical ecosystems support livelihoods of billions across the world. However, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, world over. According to the just released 2025 Global Wetland Outlook (GWO) Report, the world has lost about 22% of these critical ecosystems, equivalent to more than half a billion football pitches, since the 1970s. Various factors including pollution, agricultural and developments in addition to climate change are driving this loss. In the Sahel region, for example, Lake Chad, bordering Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon has shrunk from 26,000 square kilometres in the 1960s, to less than 1500 square kilometres today.
Protecting and restoring wetlands and securing the livelihoods of communities that depend on these areas is paramount. This is why BirdLife International, the world’s largest Nature Partnership, is working in 27 countries across Africa to protect key habitats including wetlands. This approach is underpinned by identifying and protecting wetlands along key migratory bird flyways.
Africa is home to key flyways including the African Eurasian Flyway, East Atlantic Flyway, major migration route for waterbirds, encompassing a network of wetlands across countries, which include Ramsar-listed Wetlands of International Importance. Through collaboration with national BirdLife Partners, efforts are focused on implementing national conservation strategies.
An example of this is in Asia’s East Asian Australasian Flyway stretching from Siberia and Alaska to New Zealand and Australia. BirdLife in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the East Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership Secretariat launched a $3 billion Regional Flyway Initiative in 2021. This initiative aims at the protection and restoration of more than 50 key wetlands sites along the Flyway which are important sites for millions of migratory birds, in addition to supporting livelihoods of millions of people through fisheries and agriculture, among others.
Such models can be replicated across flyways, benefitting nature and people. Closer home, BirdLife Zimbabwe is working with local communities to protect the 201,194 hectares Driefontein Grasslands, home to 85% of Zimbabwe’s Wattled Crane population in addition to significant populations of the Endangered Grey Crowned Crane.
Financing is yet another critical component of wetlands’ conservation. According to the GWO Report, it is estimated that biodiversity conservation funding accounts for just 0.25% of global GDP, which is only approximately one-fifth of funds needed to address biodiversity loss, highlighting significant underinvestment. Consequently, there is need to increase investments in nature protection, including wetlands. Luckily, there are several innovative financing tools that can be leveraged. These include debt for nature swaps where debt relief can be provided in exchange for wetlands conservation commitments, green and blue bonds, carbon finance, Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, and biodiversity credits among others.
Partnerships and collaborations with various stakeholders is paramount for protecting these critical ecosystems. Local communities who are custodians of wetlands, should be empowered to identify and implement relevant solutions to conserve wetlands. Equally important, is the need for policies and regulations which protect wetlands. Like migratory birds, wetlands connect countries, and their conservation necessitates, co-operation across boundaries.
From July 23 to 31, 2025, the world will convene in Zimbabwe for the Conference on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar COP15). This is an opportunity for policymakers to articulate and adopt resolutions to enhance the protection of these delicate ecosystems. Every action counts and, together, let us protect these “anonymous heroes” for present and future generations.
By Julia Pierini and Kariuki Ndang’ang’a
Julia Pierini is the Chief Executive Officer, BirdLife Zimbabwe, while Kariuki Ndang’áng’a is the Regional Director for Africa, BirdLife International
Across Africa, smallholder farmers sit at the heart of the continent’s food systems, yet many remain trapped in cycles of low productivity, limited access to markets, and financial exclusion. At Solidaridad Southern Africa, we’ve seen firsthand how digital innovation and inclusive financing are changing that narrative – not just in theory, but on the ground.
Humphrey Nxumalo, Head of Programmes, Solidaridad Southern Africa
Take, for instance, in partnership with the Cotton Council of Malawi and the industry players we have seen how the introduction of e-payment systems in the cotton sector has increased transparency, security, and farmer confidence. That’s not just progress; it’s transformation.
From Pilot to Scale: A New Era for Agripreneurs
What’s remarkable is how these interventions are moving from pilot to scale. We are no longer testing concepts. We’re implementing solutions – across cotton fields, and emerging marketing centres – that are replicable, cost-effective, and inclusive. In every case, we’re guided by a simple principle: farmers should not just survive; they should thrive as agripreneurs.
Digital tools, especially mobile-based platforms, are proving to be powerful enablers. Farmers are now sending and receiving money across borders and districts without needing a brick-and-mortar bank. They’re registering loans, accessing weather-index insurance, and tracking repayment digitally. For financial institutions, input suppliers, and impact investors, this creates efficiency, traceability, and accountability, ultimately boosting investor confidence and reducing risk.
Inclusive by Design: Youth, Women, and the Digitally Underserved
Critically, inclusivity is at the centre of our design. Our programmes intentionally target women, youth, and differently abled individuals, ensuring that no one is left behind in this digital shift. And while rural connectivity and the cost of high-quality devices remain challenges, we’re building farmer digital ecosystems that are adaptable, inclusive, and interoperable – laying the groundwork for a broader digital transformation in agriculture.
Surprisingly, when it comes to money, literacy isn’t the biggest barrier. Farmers understand value, timing, and commitment. We’ve seen loan recovery rates that outperform traditional models, because when services are relevant and fair, farmers show up – and pay up.
A Call to Government: Partnering for Scalable Impact
Of course, this journey isn’t without hurdles. Unreliable internet connectivity can delay payments. Capturing high-resolution, geotagged farm photos requires advanced devices that many rural agents cannot yet afford. But the path is clear: as we digitise more layers of agriculture – from planting to payment – we are making the sector more resilient, transparent, and scalable.
Now is the time for governments to come on board – not just as regulators, but as partners in progress. By embracing digital finance, supporting farmer data systems, and incentivising regenerative practices, public institutions can vastly improve service delivery, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Africa’s smallholder farmers are ready. With the right support, they’re not just the future of agriculture; they’re the future of inclusive economic growth. Let’s give them the tools and trust they need to lead the way.
By Humphrey Nxumalo, Head of Programmes, Solidaridad Southern Africa
