Some agriculture experts have urged local farmers to adopt irrigation farming due to the inconsistent rainfall patterns.
The experts made the recommendation in separate interviews on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Lagos.
The recommendation was made in line with the recent Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) forecast on the expected rains in some states and the need for farmers to delay the planting season.
Women farmers
The Chairperson, Nigerian Women in Agriculture, Mrs. Chahul Ngizan, noted that the infrequent rains and changing weather patterns have made local farmers wary.
“We really do not know what to expect with the changing weather patterns. As we all observed, there was no harmattan from last year till January this year.
“And when there is no harmattan, it is difficult for farmers to have a good harvest. We don’t know if we will have enough rainfall this year.
“I would advise all farmers to adhere to the instructions of NiMet or get irrigation systems. It is just that some areas up north rarely have water.
“We just hope to have a great planting season and a good harvest because of the inconsistent weather patterns,” Ngizan said.
On his part, an agriculture analyst and co-founder Corporate Farmers, Mr. Akin Alabi, urged the farmers to invest in irrigation on their farms despite the costs.
“It is hard for us to determine climate condition these days, climate factor and climate change, so we have to play it in a well-balanced format.
“So, we urge farmers to have an irrigation in their farms. It might be expensive but it’s worth it. You can’t predict the weather; that’s the honest truth.
“NiMet will try to give you a forecast, but sometimes that forecast may change because regardless rainfall or not, it is still dependent on the mother nature.
“But as humans we have to just be prepared for whatever weather pattern we see.
“It’s advisable to have some form of irrigation on your farm, it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are other irrigation systems now that make use of solar energy,” Alabi said.
He noted that there are solar energy irrigation systems that use sun to ensure adequate water on the farm.
“Or the farmer can just have a well, just dig a well where you can actually get water. But it’s very important at this time and age that farmers have a standard and a standby irrigation system, whether rain come or not,” the expert said.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has urged global investors to capitalise on opportunities in Nigeria’s 2025 licensing round, emphasising that recent reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 provide a predictable, transparent, and investor-friendly framework for upstream development.
Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made this known on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in her address at the opening of the 10th Anniversary of the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) 2026 in Lagos.
According to Eyesan, the licensing round is designed to unlock Nigeria’s upstream potential under a more predictable and investor-friendly regulatory framework established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The NUPRC boss added that Nigeria is leveraging the momentum of renewed global interest in Africa’s hydrocarbons to attract credible investors into its upstream sector.
“To facilitate resource access, Nigeria has launched the 2025 licensing round, offering 50 oil and gas blocks across various terrains.
“This initiative reflects a targeted approach to responsible resource development. We invite capable investors to participate and help realise Nigeria’s promising upstream potential,” Eyesan stated.
She noted that Africa’s energy investment outlook has significantly improved over the past three years, with the continent now capturing a larger slice of global capital expenditure.
“Of the $520 billion projected in worldwide capital investment this year, Africa expects to attract between $48 billion and $50 billion. over 8% of the total. This is a significant increase from previous years when it was below 4%.”
The NUPRC boss attributed the resurgence to renewed investor interest in frontier and established basins, particularly in Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique and other prolific African plays.
Beyond foreign investment, Eyesan stressed the importance of domestic and regional capital formation as a stabilising force for Africa’s energy future.
“As we work to draw in more external investment, encouraging capital formation within Africa remains essential. Domestic capital brings stronger commitment and stability, creating more opportunities for development,” the CCE said.
Eyesan noted that African independent operators are already playing a growing role in Nigeria’s upstream space, driving project execution and capital deployment.
A major milestone in strengthening indigenous financing, according to Eyesan, is the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, which is headquartered in Nigeria.
“The creation of the Africa Energy Bank, proudly hosted in Nigeria, is a milestone,” she said, adding, “Unified support from stakeholders will be crucial to its success.”
The NUPRC boss also highlighted the growing impact of regional cooperation, particularly in gas development, power infrastructure and regulatory alignment.
“Beyond national efforts, regional cooperation is having a transformative effect,” she said, pointing to expanded gas and power infrastructure that is improving energy access, reliability and affordability across Africa.
She added that platforms such as the African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum (AFRIPERF) are strengthening Africa’s collective voice globally.
Gradually increasing the price of fossil fuels is considered a key element of effective climate policy – and yet it remains the subject of bitter controversy.
In a new book, experts from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) explain this concept and correct false perceptions. The publication is aimed at professionals and laypeople who want to gain a thorough understanding of the topic.
“We want to build bridges between the camps,” says PIK Director Ottmar Edenhofer, who co-authored the book with political scientist Cecilia Kilimann and economist Christopher Leisinger from his scientific staff.
Carbon pricing
“We address the objections of those who, like us, want strong climate policy, but equate carbon pricing with blind faith in the market and the abandonment of government regulation. The finding of climate economics is that this is a misunderstanding. For pricing to reduce CO₂ emissions efficiently and without collateral damage, comprehensive government capacities and accompanying measures are needed.”
The publication presents the latest research findings from renowned journals, including several highly acclaimed articles by PIK and the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), which has been part of PIK since the beginning of 2025. Presented in an easy-to-understand format, the book corrects five popular misconceptions about carbon pricing as a core instrument of climate policy:
Misconception 1
“No steering effect”. Fuel is becoming more and more expensive, yet people are not driving less – observations like this make many people doubt the efficacy of the carbon price. But the research team provides a different perspective: that this rather suggests a need for complementary measures such as bans, standards and subsidies – which are most effective in combination with carbon prices.
They explain simply but scientifically how pricing environmental damage pushes “dirty” products, such as coal-fired power plants, out of the market and promotes “clean” products. The analysis also looks at individual motivations: when well designed, market control is also well suited to ethically motivated climate protection.
Misconception 2
“Politically unfeasible”. The numbers prove the opposite. Worldwide, 28 percent of all CO₂ emissions are now directly priced – and in the EU, this figure will rise to 75 percent in 2028 when a second emissions trading system is launched for transport and buildings. The book shows that more and more countries, including large emerging economies, are relying on this instrument. Its success is based on its flexibility: it can be designed as a tax, as emissions trading, or as a hybrid system and thus adapted to political requirements.
Misconception 3
“Socially unjust”. Indeed, according to empirical findings cited by the research team, carbon pricing without social compensation can place a disproportionate burden on poorer households. However, this also applies to climate policy through standards or bans – and carbon pricing has the advantage of generating revenue that can be used to counteract this. Four variants of compensation are presented: a per capita flat rate, innovative climate money for buildings, a reduction in electricity costs and hardship compensation.
Misconception 4
“Obsolete model”. Why go to the trouble of establishing a pricing system when there will be nothing left to price in the climate-neutral world we are striving for? The book counters this objection with a special section on atmospheric carbon removals. These are necessary to achieve the net-zero target while there are still residual emissions that are difficult to avoid.
Later on, they can even offset exceeding the 1.5°C limit for global warming through net negative emissions. Carbon pricing can therefore help balance supply and demand for remaining emissions and removals for many decades to come, thereby creating a financing system and providing incentives for investment.
Misconception 5
“Only possible with a world government”. Does carbon pricing only make sense if everyone participates? Readers learn why a globally uniform price would not be a sensible goal – and how pricing, even if patchy and regionally fragmented, can help the climate. In this context, the international competitiveness of industry and its jobs are also discussed in detail.
The research team presents effective mechanisms that can prevent so-called carbon leakage resulting from the relocation of production. These mechanisms could even serve as a driver for increased international cooperation in the future.
“The EU’s climate tariff system, which will come into effect at the beginning of 2026, will make carbon pricing even more important internationally,” concludes PIK Director Edenhofer. “In times of increasing geopolitical tensions, this will also become relevant to security policy because it will ultimately reduce the oil and gas revenues of authoritarian states such as Russia. The career of carbon pricing has only just begun. This book explains why that is a good thing.”
The White House has announced that the US Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA) will on Thursday, February 12, 2026, repeal the “endangerment finding,” a scientific conclusion that greenhouse gases are dangerous to public health and welfare.
The endangerment finding, enacted in 2009, was based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence and required the federal government to regulate emissions from burning oil, coal and gas.
White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called the EPA endangerment finding’s repeal “the largest deregulatory action in American history” and claims that it will “save the American people $1.3 trillion in crushing regulations.”
Lee Zeldin, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
“President Trump will be joined by Administrator Lee Zeldin to formalise the rescission of the 2009 Obama-era endangerment finding,” Leavitt said in a briefing on Tuesday, February 10. “This will be the largest deregulatory action in American history, and it will save the American people $1.3 trillion in crushing regulations.”
Known as the endangerment finding, the EPA’s 2009 decision says that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are heating the Earth and that warming threatens public health and welfare. It therefore functions, under the Clean Air Act, as the lynchpin for rules that set emissions standards for cars and trucks and require fossil fuel companies to report their emissions, among others.
The move is expected to upend most U.S. policies aimed at reducing climate pollution – if the repeal can withstand court challenges from environmental groups, which had already been preparing to sue.
The text of the rule repealing the finding has not yet been released, so many details are still unknown.
Rescinding the endangerment finding would almost certainly face legal challenges from environmental groups, and it could be legally tenuous. The endangerment finding has been upheld in court. In 2007, a Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, cleared the way for the finding to be made. The high court declined to hear an appeal challenging the endangerment finding as recently as 2023.
The planned revocation met swift backlash on Capitol Hill from Democrats.
“Let’s be very clear what this announcement represents: it is a corrupt giveaway to Big Oil, plain and simple,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday on the Senate floor. “The blast radius of this reckless decision will span from San Diego to Portland, Maine and from Seattle to Miami.”
The status quo has supporters in industry as well.
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla urged the administration to uphold the endangerment finding in a September letter to the EPA.
“The Endangerment Finding – and the vehicle emissions standards which flow from it – have provided a stable regulatory platform for Tesla’s extensive investments in product development and production,” Tesla wrote. “Reversing the Endangerment Finding would also deprive consumers of choice and extensive economic benefits, have negative effects on human health, and further impact the integrated North American automotive sector.”
Also, 350.org said that the claimed savings ignore the far greater costs of unchecked climate pollution, pointing out that the long-term social costs of emissions from US companies are estimated to reach $87 trillion.
Anne Jellema, 350.org Executive Director, said: “This isn’t about saving taxpayers’ money, it’s about saving an industry that has already been exposed as a permanent danger to American families.
“Climate denialism will bleed the people dry. While the Trump administration can manipulate scientific agencies, it can never suppress the truth that ordinary people in the US and around the world are paying the real price for Big Oil’s profits: lives are being lost, homes are being destroyed and costs are soaring.
“By giving Big Oil a license to pollute even more, the EPA is defying international law and piling more damage on communities in the US and around the world. But this extraordinary move will only strengthen global demands to make climate polluters pay.”
From spiritual rituals to the struggle for survival, a global photography contest lays bare the intimate connection between water and human identity.
Organised by UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme and Onewater, the competition selected winners from a pool of nearly 1,000 stories spanning 114 countries. The Identities theme serves as a visual prelude to the UN World Water Day 2026 focus on Water and Gender.
The competition awarded over €10,000 in prizes, supported by the Asian Development Bank, WEX, Calumet, the Global Environment Facility’s IW:Learn Platform, and WasserStiftung.
Two of the main protagonists in Kristina Steiner’s winning story: Stefaan rides his horse, Dina, to catch shrimp in the summer waters of the North Sea
German photographer, Kristina Steiner, won the first prize for documenting Belgium’s last horse shrimpers. The youth award goes to Gastón Zilberman, for his story on the Qotzuñi people and the disappearance of Bolivia’s second largest lake.
Regional winners include Giacomo d’Orlando whose story highlights the Agta peoples’ fight to save the last of the Philippine Crocodile and Abyan Madani from Indonesia who documented the indispensable Blue Troops of Jakarta.
A Global Mosaic
The submissions offer a sharp look at the role of water in everyday life with images ranging from sea rescue operations and the devastating reality of Amazonian droughts to the quiet traditions of salt extraction in Viet Nam and the remarkable Haenyo (sea women) of Jeju Island. The full gallery of winning stories can be viewed online at: https://onewater.blue/contest/identities
Exhibition and Media
The best stories will embark on a global traveling exhibition throughout 2026, following previous showcases at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris and the UN Headquarters in New York. Institutions interested in hosting the exhibition may apply until May 30, 2026.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, building indigenous capacity, and promoting gas as a key driver of Africa’s industrialisation.
Ojulari gave the assurance on Tuesday, February 10, in Lagos at the 10th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC 2026).
The conference, with the theme, “A Decade of Driving Africa’s Energy Future,” marks a decade of convening energy stakeholders across the continent.
Delegates at the 10th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC 2026) in Lagos
According to him, NNPC Ltd is focused on ensuring that Africa’s energy narrative is defined by creation, responsibility, and opportunity, with indigenous participation positioned at the heart of sustainable growth.
“NNPC Ltd remains committed to playing its part in strengthening partnerships, supporting indigenous capacity, and advancing gas as a catalyst for industrialisation,” Ojulari said.
He commended the organisers of SAIPEC for their vision and consistency, noting that the conference had evolved within a decade into one of Africa’s most respected energy platforms.
“In just 10 years, SAIPEC has grown beyond the confines of a conference,” he said.
“It has become a powerful statement of African capability and clear proof that our continent can convene, collaborate, and compete at the highest global standards.”
Ojulari said NNPC Ltd was proud to be a strategic partner of SAIPEC, describing the partnership as a reflection of a shared conviction that Africa’s energy future must be shaped by Africans.
“This partnership is anchored on strong institutions, credible policies, capable indigenous companies, and collaborations that deliver real value,” he said.
He expressed confidence that SAIPEC 2026 would be ambitious and impactful.
He noted that discussions on gas development, investment resilience, local content inclusion, and youth development directly addressed Africa’s energy realities, saying, “these are not abstract debates.”
“They reflect confidence in Nigeria’s capability, belief in Africa’s potential, and ambition without apology.
He added that Africa must move beyond being a follower in global energy conversations and assert itself as a credible leader.
“It should speak to an Africa that is no longer a content follower, but a real and reliable leader,” he said.
As the conference marks its 10th edition, Ojulari urged stakeholders to use the milestone to renew their collective commitment to Africa’s energy future.
“As we celebrate and look ahead, I encourage all stakeholders to recommit to the future we must build together,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Felix Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), called for deeper continental collaboration as the foundation for building a resilient and competitive African energy sector.
Ogbe made the call in his keynote address, delivered on his behalf by Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Corporate Services, NCDMB.
“At the continental level, our drive for Africa must be anchored on collaboration,” Ogbe said.
“We must collectively leverage the Brazzaville Accord to promote regulatory harmonisation, sectoral cooperation, and an Afro-centric approach to local content development.
He said aligning regulatory frameworks and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks would enhance the competitiveness and economic viability of African energy projects, positioning the continent to attract global investment.
Ogbe described the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, under the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation in partnership with Afreximbank, as a strategic milestone.
“The bank is designed to mobilise capital for African energy projects, provide access to affordable financing, strengthen industry players, and build capacity across the continent,” he said.
He urged governments, regulators, investors, and industry leaders to support the bank’s successful take-off.
He stressed that access to finance remained critical to unlocking sustainable growth.
“The path forward for Africa’s energy sector requires collaboration and a shared vision,” Ogbe said.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, said that in spite of the evolving global energy transition, Africa’s most urgent challenge remained energy access, affordability, and reliability.
According to him, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, while industrial growth continues to be constrained by persistent energy deficits.
“For Africa, energy transition is not about abandoning hydrocarbons,” he said.
“It is about leveraging our resources responsibly to drive development, while gradually integrating cleaner and renewable solutions.”
He described the rise of indigenous capacity across Africa’s energy value chain as one of the most profound achievements of the past decade.
He cited Nigeria’s success with deliberate local content policies.
“In Nigeria, indigenous companies now lead in drilling and well services, engineering, fabrication and construction, as well as asset acquisition and field development,” Ogunsanya said.
He noted that PETAN members had evolved from service providers into strategic partners, delivering complex energy projects to international standards.
“A decade ago, we set out to drive Africa’s energy future,” he said.
“Today, we are not at the end of that journey, but at the beginning of a far more ambitious chapter.”
Ogunsanya said SAIPEC was conceived ten years ago as more than an industry event.
“It was envisioned as a movement to amplify African capabilities, encourage collaboration, and redefine Africa’s role in the global energy landscape,” he said.
According to him, the platform has driven strategic dialogue on policy and investment, elevated indigenous participation, connected African service companies to global opportunities, and translated conversations into real projects.
Looking ahead, Ogunsanya stressed that Africa’s energy future must be defined by Africans, for Africans, and driven by investment and execution.
“Africa needs capital, and capital needs confidence,” he said, noting that investor confidence was built on regulatory clarity, stability, transparent processes, competitive fiscal frameworks, and bankable projects.
He urged stakeholders to embrace digitalisation, automation, data-driven operations, and low-carbon solutions to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
“As we mark this 10th edition of SAIPEC, let us recommit to moving from dialogue to delivery,” Ogunsanya said.
He added that PETAN would continue to accelerate gas development and infrastructure expansion, deepen local content utilisation, create jobs, transfer skills, and position Africa as a competitive and reliable energy destination.
“SAIPEC must remain a platform where ideas become investments and conversations translate into projects,” he said.
The Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of affected waterfront communities have backed the state government’s proposed water city project of the demolished areas.
This formed part of a five-point agreement reached on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja.
The waterfront communities affected by the demolition are Makoko, Sogunro and Oko Agbon in Lagos State.
Participants at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Noheem Adams, said the proposed project by the state government was intended to benefit the affected residents.
Adams, who is also the House Majority Leader, said the state government would constitute a 10-man committee to conduct a self-enumeration of affected buildings.
The majority leader said the committee was expected to complete the enumeration exercise and submit its report within two weeks to the Adhoc Committee on Rules and Business.
Adams called for transparency in the self-enumeration process, noting that data provided by the community would be cross-checked with government records.
He directed Makoko stakeholders to submit the list of the proposed 10-man committee to the House upon its constitution.
Speaking to journalists, the Baale of Sogunro Community, Chief Abraham Mesu, commended the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the matter.
Mesu described the proposed Water City project as a landmark initiative capable of improving living standards and ensuring that residents remain the primary beneficiaries.
He, however, expressed concern over the impact of the demolitions but affirmed the community’s willingness to collaborate with the state government.
Also speaking, the Baale of Makoko Waterfront, Chief Emmanuel Shemade, said community leaders had resolved not to rebuild demolished structures until further notice.
Shemade said he was satisfied with the agreement reached at the meeting on the regeneration of Makoko communities without displacing residents.
He further commended the commitment of the state government to provide an aerial photograph clearly showing demolition boundaries within one month.
Earlier, Dr Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Geographic Information Service (GIS), said the state government had concluded plans for the Water City project as part of efforts to regenerate the area.
Babatunde said the governor was concerned about overcrowding and poor living conditions in the communities and assured that affected residents would be adequately compensated.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reduced the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) (or petrol) by N25 per litre, lowering its ex-depot/gantry rate from N799 to N774 per litre.
The refinery communicated the price adjustment to marketers on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, confirming that the new rate takes immediate effect nationwide.
Petrol sale
“This is to notify you of a change in our PMS gantry price from N799 per litre to N774 per litre,” noted the refinery.
The adjustment further strengthens the competitiveness of locally refined products, as the current landing price of imported PMS from Lome stands at about N793 per litre, compared to Dangote Refinery’s ex depot price of N774 per litre.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted a longer-than-normal length of rainy season in Lagos, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ogun, Oyo, Nasarawa, Anambra, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe and Taraba states in 2026.
Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed this during the Public Presentation of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) in Abuja on Tuesday, February 10.
Keyamo said NiMet revealed that early onset is expected in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, and parts of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, and Taraba states.
Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, with dignitaries at the Public Presentation of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) in Abuja
“While a late onset is expected over Borno State. Rainfall cessation is anticipated to be earlier than normal in parts of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Niger states.
“However, a delayed end of season is expected in Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna states.
“Whereas, parts of Borno, Yobe and Niger states are expected to have a shorter-than-normal length of rainy season. A normal annual rainfall amount is anticipated in most parts of Nigeria compared to long-term average,” the agency said.
It forecast above-normal rainfall in Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom states, and the Federal Capital Territory; while in parts of Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states, below-normal rainfall would be expected.
The agency anticipated severe dry spells exceeding 15 days in parts of Oyo and Ogun states during the season of March to May.
NiMet also predicted moderate dry spells over Ekiti, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, and Delta states, parts of Kogi and Kwara states.
“Furthermore, during the June-July-August season, a severe dry spell that may last up to 21 days is predicted for parts of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states.
“The Little Dry Season (LDS), also known as ‘August Break,’ is predicted to begin by late July and will be severe and prolonged over Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and parts of Oyo states.
“The number of days with little or no rainfall will range between 28 and 40 days. A moderate LDS effect is expected over Ondo, parts of Kwara and Edo States,’’ it noted.
According to the agency, both daytime and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in January, February, March, and May.
“Some significant rains across the southern parts of the country this year should not be taken to mean that the rainy season has started in these places.
“Those engaged in rained agriculture and other rainfall-dependent activities in Nigeria are therefore advised to refer to the predicted onset dates in the publication or consult NiMet for proper guidance,” the agency added.
As countries submitted their third round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the inclusion of climate education in national commitments demonstrates both measurable progress and continued opportunity.
More than 150 countries now reference climate education in their NDCs. This is up from just 40 a few years ago. This dramatic increase reflects a growing global recognition that education is not peripheral to climate action but foundational to achieving it.
Over the past several years, IUCN Member EARTHDAY.ORG has led a campaign to embed climate education in countries’ NDCs, the core climate pledges under the Paris Agreement that guide policy, investment and long-term planning.
NDCs are updated every five years and outline how countries will reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and secure finance. For many governments, what appears in an NDC directly influences domestic plans, budget and international funding eligibility.
By ensuring that climate education is included in these commitments, EARTHDAY.ORG sought to move education from the margins of climate discourse into the heart of national climate strategies so that young people, educators and communities are equipped to protect the climate and the associated biodiversity loss.
Education matters for climate and nature
Climate change and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected crises. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and extreme weather events are degrading ecosystems, accelerating species loss and undermining nature’s contributions to people. At the same time, the degradation of forests, wetlands, oceans and other ecosystems exacerbates climate change by weakening nature’s capacity to absorb carbon and buffer climate impacts. It is all related.
Addressing this dual crisis requires more than technological solutions or top-down policy interventions. It requires an informed public that understands the relationships between climate and ecosystems, and that is empowered to act as stewards of nature. Climate education, when designed effectively, goes far beyond emissions and energy.
It integrates biodiversity, conservation, land use, food systems, water cycles and Indigenous and local ecological knowledge. This helps learners understand how protecting nature is essential to climate resilience and sustainable development.
By embedding education into NDCs, governments acknowledge the need for long-term investments in knowledge, skills and civic engagement critical to address these interconnected issues.
From the margins to the mainstream: The NDC campaign
When EARTHDAY.ORG began its climate education campaign in 2017, the global policy landscape was significantly different. At that time, only a handful of countries mentioned education in their NDCs, and where it did appear, the references were often general or lacked actionable depth.
However, by the second round of NDCs in 2020, a major shift occurred: climate education was reflected in approximately 40 countries’ NDCs, marking the start of a new era of climate education commitments.
Over multiple years, EARTHDAY.ORG conducted bilateral meetings with government representatives, education ministries, climate negotiators and civil society partners. These conversations took place on the margins of major UN climate negotiations, including the annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs), as well as during the intersessional Subsidiary Body (SB) meetings in Bonn.
In these settings, EARTHDAY.ORG advocated for education as a strategic enabler of climate and nature goals. The campaign emphasised how education supports:
Climate adaptation and mitigation, by equipping communities with knowledge to manage natural resources under changing conditions.
Biodiversity protection, by fostering ecological literacy and stewardship from an early age.
A just transition, by preparing young people for green jobs across agriculture, conservation, renewable energy and ecosystem restoration.
The increase in the number of countries referencing climate education reflects both internal shifts in national priorities and the broader evolution of the UNFCCC process. The Paris Agreement itself provides a foundation through Article 12, which calls on Parties to enhance climate education, training, public awareness and participation under the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) framework.
As ACE gained visibility in recent COP cycles, governments became more attentive to integrating education into national planning instruments, including NDCs. EARTHDAY.ORG’s campaign helped translate this normative commitment into practical action.
As countries revised and submitted their third round of NDCs prior to COP 30, climate education began to appear more often and with greater depth. Today, 153 countries include climate education in their NDCs, a nearly fourfold increase from where the campaign began.
Education as a foundation for the green economy
One of the central messages of EARTHDAY.ORG’s advocacy is that education underpins the transition to a green economy. Protecting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems require a workforce trained in conservation science, sustainable agriculture, forestry, marine management, environmental monitoring and ecological restoration. These sectors depend on foundational education that integrates climate science with ecological principles and local environmental contexts.
By committing to climate education in NDCs, governments signal that investments in human capital are as critical as investments in infrastructure or technology. Students who learn about ecosystems, biodiversity and climate systems are better prepared to innovate, participate in democratic decision making and implement solutions that align climate mitigation with nature conservation.
Importantly, this approach also supports equity. Communities most affected by climate change and environmental degradation, which are often Indigenous Peoples, rural populations and those living in biodiversity-rich regions, stand to benefit from education that recognises local knowledge systems and empowers community-led stewardship of natural resources.
From commitments to implementation
Including climate education in an NDC is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning. EARTHDAY.ORG’s work increasingly focuses on helping countries move these commitments into action. This transformation happens through curriculum reform, teacher training, public awareness campaigns and partnerships across education and environmental ministries.
As IUCN advances its long-term Strategic Vision, there is a significant opportunity for Members to help operationalise education commitments already embedded in 150+ NDCs. Climate education references in national pledges create entry points for conservation organisations, research institutions, Indigenous networks and civil society actors to collaborate with ministries of education and environment.
We invite fellow Members of the Union to consider how their expertise in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and Nature-based Solutions can inform curriculum development, teacher training and community learning initiatives connected to NDC implementation. Education is a cross-cutting lever that strengthens not only climate ambition but also biodiversity outcomes and intergenerational stewardship.
By aligning climate education commitments with conservation expertise, we can ensure that future generations are equipped not only to understand the climate crisis but to actively protect and restore the natural world upon which all climate solutions ultimately depend.
Bryce Coon is the Director of Education at EARTHDAY.ORG, where he leverages over a decade of classroom teaching experience to drive global climate literacy. He and his colleagues successfully spearheaded the organisation’s NDC campaign, securing climate education commitments from over 150 countries. Bryce is currently focused on the strategic implementation and next steps of these international policy achievements
