25.2 C
Lagos
Friday, June 20, 2025
Home Blog Page 5

Climate activists protest Brazil’s ‘hypocrisy’ at Bonn climate talks ahead of COP30

Michael Simire
-
0
Climate activists protest Brazil’s ‘hypocrisy’ at Bonn climate talks ahead of COP30

Climate justice activists and Indigenous representatives staged a protest on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, inside the UN climate talks in Bonn, where Brazil’s COP30 presidency is seeking to position the country as a global climate leader.

Brazil
Climate justice activists and Indigenous representatives directing messages at the Brazil COP30 Presidency at the Bonn climate talks

As Brazilian negotiators promoted their vision for climate action in the conference, large banners were opened inside the conference venue reading “No More Fossil Fuels,” “Climate Leadership Is Not Made of Oil,” and “Our Future Is Not Up For Sale”.

The protest comes in direct response to a major contradiction playing out in real time as the Brazilian government (through the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) is conducting the 5th Cycle of the Permanent Offer of Concessions, a remarkable oil and gas auction that includes blocks in the Equatorial Margin, one of the most sensitive and biodiverse regions of the Amazon.

Ilan Zugman, 350.org Latin America and Caribbean director, says: “While the Brazilian COP30 presidency speaks of a global mutirão for climate action – a word with indigenous origins that means collective effort rooted in solidarity, community-driven transformation, and collaboration – this oil and gas auction tells another story. Expanding fossil fuels in the Amazon not only undermines the spirit of the mutirão, but it also betrays it.

“This isn’t just about emissions, it’s about injustice. By auctioning off the forest and the Amazon coast to oil companies, the government is violating the rights of Indigenous peoples, endangering traditional communities, and lighting the fuse of the very destruction it claims to prevent. We must see a plan for the just energy transition without fossil fuels – You can’t lead on climate while fueling the crisis.”

Luene Karipuna, spokesperson for the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB) and executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and Organisations of Amapá and Northern Pará, says: “Talking about the climate crisis is talking about the lives of Indigenous peoples, who are already feeling its impacts. International agreements are important, but they must translate into concrete actions within countries. Science is clear: fossil fuels are the main drivers of the crisis. We need a just energy transition built through dialogue and respect for Indigenous peoples, unlike Belo Monte dam, in Brazil, which only brought destruction. President Lula must declare the Amazon a fossil-free zone and guarantee our right to life, with direct funding to Indigenous organizations in order to address the impacts we’re already facing in our territories.”

Cacique (chief) Ninawá Huni Kui says: “Brazil is preparing to host COP30 in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon, while approving new oil and gas auctions. This is not an energy transition, it’s an energy contradiction. It’s incompatible to celebrate climate commitments with one hand while signing off on the expansion of the fossil frontier with the other. It’s even more serious when this expansion directly threatens Indigenous territories. Indigenous peoples are not just defending the forest – we are part of the forest. Attacking our bodies and our lands is attacking what still sustains the planet’s climate balance.

“There is no climate justice without historical justice. There is no future with new oil. And there is no coherence in hosting a COP while deepening the extractivist model that brought us to this crisis. Brazil can be part of the solution, but that requires political courage to say no to fossil auctions and yes to the permanent protection of all biomes and their peoples. We are here to remind the world: the COP cannot be a stage for climate marketing. It must be a turning point. And the turning point begins now.”

Clara Junger, Brazil Campaigns Coordinator at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, says: “Expanding oil and gas exploration while positioning Brazil as a climate leader is a glaring contradiction. The ANP’s auction of 172 blocks on June 17 undermines the country’s climate commitments, especially as it prepares to host COP30. Pushing for 47 new blocks in the Amazon River Basin not only threatens Indigenous and traditional communities but also the global climate. With just 0.06% of oil revenues allocated to the energy transition, it’s clear where the priorities lie. The world urgently needs a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels equitably, and at the very least, we must halt this reckless expansion.”

Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy lead at Oil Change International, says: “At COP28, governments committed to an equitable transition away from fossil fuels – an agreement largely being ignored by rich countries. Not only are Global North countries continuing to open new oil and gas fields, but just a handful of them are planning to massively expand oil and gas production in the next decade. While fossil fuel phaseout timelines for countries like Brazil should not be the same for rich Global North producing countries, the COP30 host is acting in fierce contradiction to the 1.5°C survival limit.

“Brazil, both as COP30 host and aspiring Global South climate champion, cannot hide behind other countries to justify its own expansion plans. As this year’s UN climate talks host, Brazil should be seizing the opportunity to enable conditions for the Global South to transition away from fossil fuels while ensuring prosperity and development – not locking themselves into destructive oil and gas expansion for decades to come.” 

Claudio Angelo, International Policy Coordinator at Observatório do Clima, says: “The Brazilian government needs to stop sabotaging the COP30 presidency. Here in Bonn, Brazilian diplomats are working hard to bring countries together to solve the greatest collective challenge of humanity, but in Brasília the order remains ‘drill, baby, drill.’ President Lula must understand that his true legacy won’t be a bunch of oil wells, but the ability to use Brazil’s influence in the only global agenda the country is truly capable of leading – the environmental one.”

Patrícia Suarez, spokesperson for the National Organisation of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC), says: “Amazonian Indigenous territories have contributed for years to regulating the global climate and are fundamental to preventing climate collapse. The Amazon cannot remain at the mercy of changing governments. We welcome the current decision by the Colombian government not to expand oil concessions in the Amazon, but we demand that this becomes an irreversible policy to protect life and our territories.”

Similarly, Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA), representing over 70 organisations across the region, has condemned the Brazilian government’s willingness to auction oil blocks in the Amazon – a move the group says endangers climate stability, biodiversity, and Brazil’s credibility as the host of COP30.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Brazil is putting up 172 new oil blocks for auction, 68 of them in the Amazon, a move observers say directly contradicts the country’s climate commitments and threatens irreversible harm to fragile ecosystems like the Amazon Reef, as well as to the livelihoods of coastal and forest-dependent communities.

“This is not climate leadership. You cannot call for a global mutirão – a collective climate effort – while igniting a carbon bomb with the potential to release 11 billion tons of CO₂. That’s more than twice Brazil’s total emissions in 2023.

“We believe that Brazil has long been a key player in global climate diplomacy. But at a time when the world is looking to Brazil for leadership at COP30, this decision undermines trust, contradicts its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and puts decades of environmental credibility at risk.

“We urge President Lula and his government to immediately cancel oil exploration plans in the Amazon and to uphold the principles of environmental justice, long-term development strategies, democratic accountability, and planetary responsibility.

“Let Brazil lead not through rhetoric, but through action and coherence. Let the Amazon stand not as a new frontier for fossil fuels, but as a living symbol of a just, oil-free, and biodiversity-rich future. We believe you might agree with us that a liveable future needs concrete plan to leave fossil fuels in the ground.

“Let COP30 mark the turning point,” demanded CANLA.

Caio Victor Vieira, Climate Policy Specialist at the Talanoa Institute, says: “Opening an oil extraction frontier in the same Amazon where Brazil proudly claims to host a COP is politically incoherent, humanly disrespectful and damaging to the country’s credibility. The Brazilian Presidency must be part of the same collective effort it calls on the world to join and transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly, just, and gradual manner, starting now.”

Anna Cárcamo, Climate Change Politics Specialist at Greenpeace Brazil, says: “This auction is completely contrary to the COP28 decision to transition away from fossil fuels. The climate crisis requires us to accelerate the decarbonisation process, not prolong it. Every additional drop of oil also increases the impact of extreme weather events, which may affect us all tomorrow, but always disproportionately harm the most vulnerable populations in the affected regions. Every drop entails enormous losses for the near future.” Anna Cárcamo, Climate Change Politics Specialist at Greenpeace Brazil.”

Karla Maass Wolfenson, Advocacy and Campaigns Advisor, Climate Action Network Latinamerica, says: “Opening oil blocks at the mouth of the Amazon is like detonating a bomb at the heart of global trust – precisely when multilateralism is in jeopardy. There is no time for inconsistencies or political calculations when life and the protection of the natural world we all depend on are at stake. There’s no need to recall the science or voices of Indigenous peoples and local communities, as this decision has simply chosen to ignore them. From the possible future we, as people and organisations, strive to build, these actions are not only condemnable but unacceptable.”

Zambia: Group demands policy action on hazardous pesticide use to protect children, others

Michael Simire
-
0
Zambia: Group demands policy action on hazardous pesticide use to protect children, others

The Children’s Environmental Health Foundation (CEHF) is sounding the alarm on the widespread use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) among Zambia’s smallholder farmers – calling it a public health and environmental crisis that demands urgent government intervention.

Pesticides use
Pesticides use

According to recent field data and expert testimony, over 95 percent of small-scale farmers in Zambia are applying hazardous chemicals such as those used against Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) in maize and Tuta absoluta (tomato leaf miner) in tomato crops.

These pests – already resistant to many chemical treatments – are prompting farmers to increase pesticide dosages dangerously, often without adequate training, protective gear, or understanding of the long-term consequences.

A Triple Threat: Health, Environment, and Food Security

Speaking during a media briefing, CEHF Executive Director, Michael Musenga, warned that this unchecked pesticide use poses a triple threat to Zambia’s future.

 “Our food systems, our health systems, and our ecosystems are all under siege because of unregulated pesticide use. Pregnant mothers and children in farming households are exposed daily to toxic residues in the air, water, and food. Meanwhile, the soil is being degraded, water sources polluted, and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies wiped out,” Mr. Musenga said.

Numerous studies have linked long-term pesticide exposure to neurodevelopmental delays, respiratory diseases, hormonal disorders, cancer, and birth defects, particularly in children and youth. In rural areas, where children often help with farm work or live near sprayed fields, the risk of unintentional exposure is dangerously high.

Gaps in Law and Practice

Zambia is a signatory to several international conventions, including the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which aim to regulate hazardous chemicals. However, enforcement gaps remain.

 “Despite being signatories to global agreements, we still allow highly hazardous pesticides to circulate freely in informal markets. Smallholder farmers buy them over the counter with little regulation, and many are unaware they are applying chemicals banned in other countries,” Mr. Musenga said.

CEHF also noted that Zambia’s extension services are severely overstretched, with one officer often covering over 1,500 farmers, making it nearly impossible to monitor pesticide use or deliver timely advice on sustainable alternatives.

What CEHF Is Demanding

CEHF is calling on the Government of Zambia, in collaboration with development partners, the private sector, and academia, to undertake comprehensive reforms that prioritise child safety, farmer health, and environmental protection:

1. Enforce the Ban on Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs)

Fast-track the review and banning of pesticide products identified as Class Ia and Ib by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Strengthen regulation and customs controls to stop the illegal importation and sale of banned products.

2. Launch a National Awareness Campaign

Educate farmers, agro-dealers, and the public on pesticide safety, resistance management, and the dangers of overuse.

Target messages to protect vulnerable populations including children and women of childbearing age.

3. Expand Access to Sustainable Alternatives

Promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques and biological pest control (such as parasitoids and natural predators).

Provide subsidies or incentives for eco-friendly farming inputs such as organic biopesticides and protective equipment.

4. Strengthen Agricultural Extension and Digital Tools

Invest in community-based extension models and expand the use of digital advisory platforms like Plantwise Plus to disseminate timely, localised pest control information.

Train extension officers in toxicology, child health, and environmental monitoring.

5. Establish a National Pesticide Surveillance System

Set up systems to track pesticide use, exposure levels, and associated health outcomes.

Monitor pesticide residues in food crops, water sources, and rural households, especially near schools and homes.

Protecting Children Is Non-Negotiable

CEHF believes that no economic gain from higher crop yields should come at the cost of child health and environmental degradation. 

Mr. Musenga stressed the urgency of integrating environmental health into all national agricultural strategies.

 “Zambia’s ambition for agricultural transformation and food security must go hand in hand with a vision for safe, sustainable, and inclusive farming. No child should grow up in a toxic environment where their food, water, and air are contaminated by chemicals that were banned elsewhere decades ago.”

 “If we fail to act now, we will not only endanger our farmers and their families—we will compromise the very future of agriculture in Zambia,” he added.

World Environment Day: A call to action against plastic pollution

Michael Simire
-
0
World Environment Day: A call to action against plastic pollution

The theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, for this year’s World Environment Day resonates deeply, considering the menace of plastic to our environment. Every year, the United Nations (UN) designates the month of June to awareness of the importance of a healthy environment.

Plastic waste pollution
Plastic waste pollution

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has always maintained that we owe the environment a collective duty of care to have pure air, clean rivers, and forests teeming with life. Our environment is not merely a setting for our lives—it is the basis of our health, well-being, and future.

António Guterres, the United Nations Chief, in his heartfelt message to the world, said, “Plastic pollution is choking our planet – harming ecosystems, well-being, and the climate.”

A report by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group stated that the country is estimated to generate an average of 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with its commercial capital, Lagos, generating 870,000 tonnes annually. These numbers are a major cause for concern, especially as the ubiquity of plastic waste is steadily growing, with no directed measures to curb the increase.

Lagos is the state most affected by plastic pollution in West Africa. While some of these plastic wastes are collected and recycled, most are disposed of carelessly, clogging drainage systems, polluting waterways, and destroying the environment. The state recently announced a ban on Styrofoam, with a view to redefining its ecological and economic landscape. It will commence enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics on July 1. In June 2024, the Federal Government also announced a ban on single-use plastics in government offices, ahead of a planned nationwide ban. But not much has been heard about the proposed ban from this year.

Plastic pollution has become such a serious problem in Nigeria, with regular road users and beach visitors frequently dumping their plastic bottles carelessly, despite the dangers that such plastics pose to the environment.

Plastics not only harm humans and marine life but also degrade the aesthetic appeal and comfort of Nigerian landscapes, threatening cultural ecosystems and environmental security.

Combating plastic pollution in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach. This includes tackling the root cause – fossil fuel production, which generates plastic by-products – and addressing poor waste management practices prevalent in the country. Government policies should discourage single-use plastics, and significant investment is needed in public awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of indiscriminate plastic dumping and promote the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

It is our collective responsibility to bequeath an environment that future Nigerians can be proud of, and every action counts.

By Olamide Martins Ogunlade, Associate Director (Climate Change), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Esi-Ife Arogundade, climate change advocate at CAPPA

Rethinking Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Michael Simire
-
0
Rethinking Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

By applying a one-size-fits-all carbon-pricing regime to countries with vastly different capacities, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism undermines the principle of a just energy transition. To be effective, the CBAM must be more flexible and allow developing economies time to prepare and adapt

Claver Gatete
Claver Gatete, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

As the climate crisis escalates, the European Union and the United Kingdom are moving forward with their Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, promoting it as a landmark tool linking trade and climate policy. But the CBAM’s ambitious aims are now meeting a growing backlash.

The CBAM puts a price on the carbon content of emissions-intensive imports like steel, aluminium, and cement. The goal is to reinforce the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and create a level playing field between domestic and foreign producers, thereby incentivising greener production practices worldwide.

Despite the European Parliament’s support for recent proposals to simplify the CBAM, its current design and pace of implementation risk undermining its legitimacy. Rather than advancing a fair and equitable energy transition, it could stoke trade tensions and fuel economic fragmentation, exacerbate inequality, and deliver only limited climate benefits.

The transition phase, which began in October 2023, requires importers to report carbon dioxide emissions associated with their goods, but does not require them to pay. That will change in January 2027, when the CBAM’s levies on carbon-intensive imports take effect.

Most countries in the Global South – particularly major exporters to the EU – are unprepared for this shift, because they lack the technical capacity to track and report embedded CO2 emissions, the institutional infrastructure to verify them, and the fiscal space to absorb the costs of compliance. These are some of the symptoms of a deeply unequal global system in which the burdens of climate action have not been fairly distributed.

However commendable the CBAM’s stated goals may be, its inherent asymmetries must not be overlooked. Applying a uniform carbon-pricing regime to countries with vastly different capacities undermines the principle of a just energy transition and erodes the legitimacy of global climate action by placing a disproportionate burden on those least responsible for the crisis.

Many developing economies are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and struggling with rising public debt, in addition to being acutely vulnerable to climate shocks. Now, they are expected to comply with EU and UK standards despite lacking access to robust emissions data systems, clean technologies, regulatory infrastructure, and adequate climate finance.

Compounding the problem, revenues generated through the CBAM will be directed to the budgets of the EU and the UK rather than to international climate finance or support for affected countries. This design flaw reinforces the perception that the CBAM is not a genuine effort to advance global climate goals but an instrument of trade protectionism. Many countries, particularly outside Europe, have voiced such concerns, viewing the mechanism as a unilateral trade measure cloaked in green rhetoric.

The geopolitical consequences could be dire. The CBAM has emerged at a time of fraying multilateralism and escalating trade tensions. Without broader participation and tangible support for affected exporters, it risks fueling economic fragmentation and undermining global trust – just when international climate cooperation is most critical and official development assistance is being slashed.

But the CBAM is not beyond repair. With thoughtful reforms, it can evolve from a rigid policy tool into a catalyst for an equitable climate transition. To achieve this, the EU and the UK should consider postponing the start of financial enforcement until at least 2028, thereby giving developing countries time to prepare and adapt.

This pause must be anchored in a strategic partnership framework that directs resources toward establishing emission-tracking systems, strengthening regulatory capacity, developing carbon-credit markets, and accelerating green industrial investment in climate-vulnerable economies.

Moreover, a portion of CBAM revenues should be allocated to international climate partnerships. This would make the mechanism more equitable, build trust with developing countries, and ensure that carbon pricing serves as an incentive rather than a penalty. Most importantly, the CBAM must not be framed as a final destination, but as a step toward a more coordinated and inclusive carbon-pricing framework. Mutual recognition of national systems, policy flexibility, and transitional thresholds could help prevent fragmentation and promote international alignment.

While the EU and the UK have both the capacity and the influence to help shape global standards, climate leadership demands more than bold policy ambitions; it requires solidarity, partnership, and the recognition of shared but differentiated responsibilities. Rather than simply decarbonizing imports through a transactional approach, policymakers must focus on facilitating low-carbon development.

That goal cannot be achieved through border measures alone. If rushed, the CBAM could become just another divisive international levy. But if recalibrated through a constructive and pragmatic process grounded in trust-building, it has the potential to serve as a unifying platform for international climate cooperation.

The fight against climate change will not be won through exclusion. A sustainable future depends on building systems that bring others along. A well-designed CBAM could play a vital role in that effort.

By Rola Dashti (Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Claver Gatete (Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and Mahmoud Mohieldin (UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Co-Chair of the Expert Group on Debt)

Climate change puts goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 in jeopardy

Michael Simire
-
0
Climate change puts goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 in jeopardy

Africa could see 554,000 additional malaria deaths due to climate change, unless urgent action is taken.

Patric Epopa
Dr Patric Epopa

The goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is in jeopardy, as climate change, population growth, and funding shortfalls converge to reverse hard-won gains over the past decade. 

“Shifting temperature and rainfall patterns are expanding and altering malaria risk zones, which will continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially children under five,” says Dr. Patric Epopa, researcher at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) and Field Entomology Coordinator at Target Malaria Burkina Faso.

According to a climate impact model developed by Boston Consulting Group and the Malaria Atlas Project to predict changes in extreme weather events and to estimate their impact on malaria deaths to the year 2049, the increase in extreme weather events is reshaping malaria risk.

The findings indicate:

  • Between 2030 and 2049, climate change is expected to cause 554,000 more malaria deaths than if today’s climate remained unchanged. This is despite some regions seeing reduced transmission rates. Extreme weather events will drive 92% of these additional deaths.
  • Stepping up malaria control with current tools could reduce the additional deaths, but climate change may weaken their impact by up to 17%, making progress fragile.
  • By 2050, climate change will make malaria eradication harder for 75% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population,equating to 1.3 billion people.

“Extreme weather is one of the biggest drivers of malaria spikes,” says the researcher. “Displaced communities are often left unprotected without mosquito nets, indoor spraying, or access to early diagnosis and treatment.”

According to African Leaders Malaria Alliance’s (ALMA) 2024 Africa Malaria Progress Report and the WHO, the continent accounted for 95% of global malaria cases and 97% of global deaths in 2023, which are 251 million infections and nearly 580,000 lives lost, mostly children under five.

“Without urgent, coordinated action, we risk undoing decades of progress and failing an entire generation of African children, warns Epopa.”

Innovation must match the scale of the malaria crisis

Despite widespread use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), many regions continue to suffer high malaria burdens due to insecticide resistance and environmental factors that reduce the effectiveness of these tools.

In Burkina Faso, for example, malaria remains the leading cause of death among young children, despite major investments in control programmes.

That’s why scientists and public health experts are urgently turning to next-generation technologies to complement traditional approaches.

One promising innovation is gene drive technology. Not-for-profit research consortium, Target Malaria, is developing gene drive technology, a type of genetic modification, to reduce the population of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and reduce the transmission of the disease. 

“Gene drive isn’t a silver bullet, but we hope that it could dramatically cut transmission by reducing the number of female mosquitoes, the Anopheles mosquito, which bites and spreads malaria,” says Patric Epopa. 

Mathematical modelling studies suggest that gene drive could significantly reduce mosquito populations, particularly in West Africa, if integrated into national malaria strategies.

“Now more than ever, we need bold tools and local innovation to stay ahead of this disease,” adds Patric Epopa. “African governments must also embed malaria control into broader systems, like primary healthcare, gender equity, and climate resilience if we want lasting impact.”

Without bold action now, the vision of a malaria-free Africa by 2030 may become another missed milestone.

Hunger crisis deepens in global hotspots as famine rises, UN warns

Michael Simire
-
0
Hunger crisis deepens in global hotspots as famine rises, UN warns

United Nations on Monday, June 16, 2025, reported that extreme hunger is intensifying in 13 global hot spots, with Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali at immediate risk of famine without humanitarian intervention.

Cindy McCain
Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

The “Hunger Hotspots” report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) blamed conflict, economic shocks, and climate-related hazards for conditions in the worst-hit areas.

The report predicts food crises in the next five months. It called for investment and help to ensure aid delivery, which it said was being undermined by insecurity and funding gaps.

WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, said: “This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising, and we know who is at risk. Without funding and access, we cannot save lives.’’

For famine to be declared, at least 20 per cent of the population in an area must be suffering extreme food shortages, with 30 per cent of children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.

In Sudan, where famine was confirmed in 2024, the crisis is expected to persist due to conflict and displacement, with almost 25 million people at risk.

According to the report, South Sudan, hit by flooding and political instability, could see up to 7.7 million people in crisis, with 63,000 in famine-like conditions.

In Gaza, Israel’s continued military operations and blockade have left the entire population of 2.1 million people facing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million at risk of famine by the end of September, the report added.

In Haiti, escalating gang violence has displaced thousands, with 8,400 already facing catastrophic hunger, while in Mali, conflict and high grain prices put 2,600 people at risk of starvation by the end of August.

Other countries of high concern include Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria.

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, said: “Protecting people’s farms and animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest and harshest conditions, is not just urgent, it is essential.’’

Some countries, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Lebanon, have shown improvements and have been removed from the FAO and WFP’s Hunger Hotspots list. 

COP30: Former Los Angeles mayor named Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy 

Michael Simire
-
0
COP30: Former Los Angeles mayor named Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy 

The former mayor of the city of Los Angeles, United States of America (2013 – 2022) and former United States of America Ambassador to India (2023 – 2025), Eric Garcetti, has taken a new global leadership role as Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy on behalf of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Eric Garcetti
Eric Garcetti

The announcement was made during the Bonn Climate Change Conference. It stands as an inspiring signal that cities are ready to take their engagement in global climate policy to the next level, contribute to its reform and champion the solutions we need.

In this new role, Ambassador Eric Garcetti will help represent cities and their interests in global climate talks, helping to build relationships with national governments, fellow mayors, UN representatives, and other key senior stakeholders. He will advocate for advancing the recognition and engagement of cities in climate policy-making, ensuring their contributions and needs are recognised at COP30.

Eric Garcetti, Former Mayor of Los Angeles and Ambassador, Global Climate Diplomacy, said: “Fires, floods, and extreme heat resulting from climate change are threatening the health, safety, and livelihoods of more than three billion people across the globe. This urgent crisis demands proven solutions, ambitious action, and global collaboration to turn our climate goals into results.

“C40 Cities is helping city leaders clean up the environment and protect the health and safety of people everywhere. I am honoured to help lead the work of cities to take action and build partnerships with global leaders to strengthen the support we need for community-level change – the kind that truly saves lives.”

The Ambassador’s appointment comes at a critical juncture in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where subnational leaders aim to ensure national governments formally acknowledge subnational actors as key actors in their national climate plans, promoting a multilevel governance approach towards an era of implementation beyond this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Garcetti became the youngest Mayor in the history of the city of Los Angeles in 2013 and was reelected to a second mandate leading the city until 2022. While Mayor, he was chosen by his global peers to serve between 2019 and 2021 as Chair of C40 Cities – a network of 97 of the world’s biggest cities committed to taking bold climate action. 

At COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, he represented the world’s urban leaders delivering the Cities Race to Zero pledge to heads of States and governments, a commitment of over 1,000 global cities to implement net-zero carbon futures. During his time as Chair of C40 Cities, he not only encouraged global mayors in pushing ambitious climate agendas, but also helped coordinate cities through the COVID-19 crisis with a focus on green recovery.

Following his mayoralty, Garcetti served for two years as U.S. Ambassador to India, deepening his understanding of climate equity, development challenges, and resilience in the Global South.

Mark Watts, C40 Cities Executive Director, said: “Ambassador Garcetti has been a driving force for city leadership on climate and equity – from his transformative tenure as Mayor of Los Angeles to his steady hand as Chair of C40 Cities, guiding the world’s major cities through the twin crises of climate breakdown and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“His appointment as Ambassador for Global Climate Diplomacy comes at a pivotal moment. Eric understands both the potential of cities and the support they need to succeed. He’s exactly the voice we need to champion multilevel cooperation and ensure cities are at the heart of global efforts to protect the people and places we love on the road to COP30.”

In his nine years as Mayor of LA, Garcetti made climate action a cornerstone of his administration. Some of his key achievements in this period include: 

  • LA’s Green New Deal: A groundbreaking climate action plan that committed the city to carbon neutrality by 2050, with major targets for renewable energy, zero-emissions transportation, and green job creation.
  • 100% Renewable Energy Commitment: Under his leadership, LA committed to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035 – the most ambitious goal of any major U.S. city at the time.
  • Transportation Electrification: LA became a global leader in electric vehicle adoption and municipal fleet electrification, while expanding public transit and cycling infrastructure.
  • Urban Heat and Resilience Initiatives: Launched urban cooling strategies and appointed the city’s first Chief Heat Officer to protect communities from extreme heat events.
  • Zero Waste and Water Sustainability: Advanced zero-waste policies and local water sourcing to reduce dependence on imported water.

OPEC: Global oil demand unchanged for 2025, 2026

Michael Simire
-
0
OPEC: Global oil demand unchanged for 2025, 2026

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said it would maintain global oil demand growth forecast unchanged at 2.9 per cent for 2025 and 3.1 per cent for 2026.

Haitham Al-Ghais
Haitham Al-Ghais, OPEC Secretary-General

In its latest monthly oil market report on Monday, June 16, 2025, OPEC said that it projected a year-on-year increase of 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in both years, unchanged from its previous estimates.

“Better than expected actual data for the first quarter of 2025 in OECD Americas and OECD Europe were offset by lower expectations for oil demand growth.

“It said that particularly for the second quarter of 2025 in key countries of the non-OECD region   like China and India largely due to the likely impact of U.S. trade policy,” OPEC said.

In the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) region, oil demand is expected to rise by around 160,000 bpd in 2025, led by growth in the Americas.

Meanwhile, demand in non-OECD countries is forecast to increase by over 1.1 million bpd, driven by China, India and other Asian economies.

OPEC also noted that the global economy continued on a stable growth path, which is supported by solid performance in the first quarter of 2025 and tentative progress in U.S. trade negotiations. 

Food security: Nigeria to review its agricultural laws 

Michael Simire
-
0
Food security: Nigeria to review its agricultural laws 

The Federal Government has taken steps to review Nigeria’s agricultural laws to promote agriculture development and enhance food and nutrition security in the country.

Aliyu Abdullahi
Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security

Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, stated this on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the opening of the stakeholders’ workshop and input on the Nigeria Agricultural Laws Reform in Abuja.

Abdullahi said that these laws, which are the subjects of review or amendment, have been enacted for a very long time to provide the legal frame works for the promotion of development of the agricultural sector.

“The sector’s dynamism is evident in the shift from traditional farming practices to more modern techniques, diversification of crops and livestock and adaptation to changing weather patterns.

“This is in addition to the challenges of insecurity, climate change and high input costs which continued to affect agricultural inputs.

“In view of the above, it is imperative to formulate legal frame works to facilitate the key aspects of improvement in Nigerian agriculture aimed at addressing the problems affecting the sector,” he said.

He said that government policies and initiatives are aimed to boost agricultural production to meet the food needs of the growing population.

Abdullahi said that efforts were being made to support small holder farmers through access to finance, training and technology.

He said that there was a growing awareness of the need to address gender inequality in agriculture and empowering women to participate in decision- making and access resources.

Abdullahi said the review of the Nigerian Co-operative Societies Act was a priority, as it was intended to feature among the President legacy achievements under his Cooperative Revamp and Reform Initiative.

He said that the federal government’s approach to agriculture is multifaceted, encompassing policy development, financial support and infrastructural development.

 “The goal is to create a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector that can contribute to food security, economic growth and overall well- being of Nigerians.

“Some of these laws have, however, become obsolete, archaic and outdated necessitating this assignment,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said a strong and robust legal framework was crucial for the agricultural sector.

Earlier, Mr. Isimbabi Garba, Director, Legal Services in the ministry, underscored the urgent need to reform and reposition Nigeria’s legal framework to support a modern, vibrant, and resilient agricultural economy.

Garba said the event also represented a significant step towards strengthening the country’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security for the nation.

“Agricultural law reform is crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth, food security and sustainable development.

“The law plays a significant role in shaping the agricultural sector, and updating our laws will help us address emerging challenges and opportunities.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, and reforming our laws will help us enhance productivity and efficiency, promote sustainable practices, support small-scale farmers, attract investments and improve food security,” he said.

He said the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is taking a bold and timely step to ensure that Nigeria’s laws reflected the realities of today and the aspirations of tomorrow.

By Doris Esa

Nigeria deepens climate finance commitments with new N50bn Green Bond

Michael Simire
-
0
Nigeria deepens climate finance commitments with new N50bn Green Bond

Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr Patience Oniha, says Nigeria is taking a significant step in tackling climate change with the planned issuance of a N50 billion Sovereign Green Bond.

Green Bond
L-R: Senior Vice-President, Government Affairs, FMDQ Group, Mr. Emmanuel Etaderhi; MD/CEO, Central Securities Clearing System, Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha and CEO, Nigerian Exchange Ltd., Mr. Jude Chiemeka, at the Investors Forum for the Series III FGN Green Bond at Eko Hotel and Suites, on Monday in Lagos

Oniha said this at an investors’ forum for the Series III Sovereign Green Bond issuance on Monday, June 16, 2025, in Lagos.

She said that the initiative aimed to fund environmentally sustainable projects and reinforce the nation’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

According to her, the offer is a continuation of Nigeria’s climate financing journey following earlier issuances in 2017 and 2019 that raised N25.69 billion.

She said that the five-year Green Bond would provide funding for projects aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Today is about sensitising investors. This is the amount, this is the tenor, and very importantly, this is what we intend to do with the funds.

“We must give institutional investors an opportunity to ask questions, reflect, and begin their internal approval processes. This is not just fundraising; it is about our national commitment to sustainability,” she said.

The five-year bond, targeted at institutional investors with a minimum investment of N10 million, will be listed on the FMDQ platform.

Oniha explained that while the bond market in Nigeria is well-developed, price discovery would remain guided by market expectations.

Also, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, emphasised the urgency and purpose behind Nigeria’s green financing drive.

“Climate change is not a distant threat, it is here, and it is threatening humanity and biodiversity.

“The impact is evident in shifting weather patterns, extreme heat, disappearing Harmattan, rising floods, and desert encroachment.

“Nigeria is shrinking geographically, and we have no planet B. What we do today is a debt or gift to the next generation,” she said.

Abiola-Awe described the Green Bond initiative as part of Nigeria’s broader framework for delivering on global climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

She said that Nigeria was committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent unconditionally, and up to 47 per cent with international support.

“These bonds are not just financial tools. They are part of a homegrown, innovative solution to climate finance.

“Through initiatives like the 2021-2030 Climate Change Policy, Energy Transition Plan, afforestation strategies, and renewable energy projects, we are building real capacity to mitigate climate impacts.

“The preparation for the issuance of this sovereign green bond underscores Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to environmental and climate action goals and initiatives, aligning perfectly with Mr. President’s renewable energy agenda,” Abiola-Awe said.

She cited examples of projects supported by previous green bond issuances across various sectors including agriculture, energy, and transport.

“These projects, many of which were initiated with the first issue in 2019, demonstrate our progressive movement in mitigating climate change within Nigeria.

“I strongly believe, as the D-G has emphasised, that we are on a progressive path towards achieving a great deal in mitigating climate change here in Nigeria.”

She said that the proceeds from previous green bond issuances funded critical projects, including energising education initiatives in Nigerian universities.

“That project improved internet access, increased study hours, and ultimately raised academic performance.

“It is not always what you see on paper, the impact is multidimensional.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, has provided the policy and institutional frameworks for these issuances, which aim to support sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, and forestry.”

She said, “Our progress so far, and this third issuance, reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to consistent and sustainable financing for climate action.

“The time to act was yesterday, but what we are doing today is one of the biggest contributions we can make.”

The event also acknowledged Nigeria’s legal and transaction advisors on the Green Bond.

The Private Debt Market Makers (PDMMs) were encouraged to support the new issuance with confidence, especially with the successful repayment of earlier bonds.

By Olawunmi Ashafa

1...456...2,252Page 5 of 2,252

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×