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Nnimmo Bassey: The force and the fire at COP30

Michael Simire
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Nnimmo Bassey: The force and the fire at COP30

The opening and closing of COP30 were marked by significant events. Not about climate ambition or high sounding speeches but by unplanned events. First was the determined entry into the COP venue by indigenous protesters who felt excluded from the conference and needed to be heard. They charged through the security and raised the critical question about who is really at the table and whose cause they were negotiating on.

One of their demands was that they want their lands “free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers.” The second event was the fire outbreak at one of the pavilions within the Blue Zone in the morning of 20 November, a day before the scheduled closure of the conference. As the flames leapt through the fabric of the ceiling delegates and observers scrambled for the exits.

Nnimmo Bassey
Nnimmo Bassey (left) wit Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, at COP30

While the forced entry of unbadged persons into the COP venue was followed by a high level of militarization of the conference premises, it was not clear if the fire in the conference venue would make the negotiators and politicians recognize the climate emergency for what it is. Nothing could be more poignant than lapping flames at a climate conference.

As the flames leapt, and teams of volunteers fought the fire, the temperature in the already hot venue literally leapt through the roof. More than a dozen individuals were treated for smoke inhalation from the fire that was contained within minutes.

COP30 formally opened on 10 November but was preceded by a leaders conference on the 6th of November. At that conference, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil laid out his key ideas and hopes regarding COP30. Two of these were the TFFF or the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, and the need for the COP to get serious about phasing out fossil fuels.  While the TFFF sounded poetic, even lyrical, it is nothing more than another variety of carbon deals or false climate solution mechanism.

It basically will not tackle the root cause of deforestation but will serve as a tool for the financialisation of Nature and may benefit carbon speculators more than forest dependent communities or even highly forested nations. It sounded new, but its antecedents date back more than a decade. It has been fiercely opposed by many.

For thirty years the Conference of Parties has skirted around recognizing the fact that the burning of fossil fuels is the major driver of the climate crisis. Call it willful denial. You would be right. Petrostates have regularly hosted the COPs and fossil lobbyists literally swarm the COP venues. Competing with the 1773 fossil fuel lobbyists that were at the COP29 in Baku, COP30 had 1,600 fossil fuel lobbyists in its halls and lobbies, with the obvious objective of erasing any mention of fossil fuels in outcome documents or demanding its phasing out as an energy source.

When fossil fuels were highlighted in the books at COP26 in Glasgow the reference was restricted to phasing down unabated coal. When it raised its head at COP28 in UAE the reference was to “transitioning from fossil fuels” in energy. A more determined effort to push for a phase out of fossil fuels got some life from President Lula’s candle even though he is reportedly keen on extending the fossil fuels frontier in his country.

As COP29 progressed more than 80 countries joined the call for transitioning from fossil fuels, while almost 30 others are strongly opposed to such a roadmap. While this could make or mar the COP outcome, a global conference on this subject will be hosted by Colombia on April 2026.

The draft outcome of COP30 was framed in a nine-page document titled Muritao Text. It recognized and celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and pushed for a new season of implementation beyond wordsmithing. Suggested focus areas for implementation in the draft text got interestingly spiced with options, and even blank ones at places.

The text appeared to have carefully crafted so as not to ruffle fathers of those who hold the purse strings and power. And so rather than denouncing the slow pace of raising climate finance and condemning the lack of readiness to meet agreed targets, the text sought to accommodate everyone and even left blank options for those who care to fill.

The political correctness of climate negotiations, the deference to power and the sheer lethargy that engulfs every session are alarming considering that the voluntary actions of nations and other entities are driving the world to a heating of more than 3 degrees above the emergence of capitalism. Even if humans can survive such a furnace, should we not realize there are billions of other beings that we share the planet with?

It is not surprising that funding adaptation remains a sticky issue while more funding goes to mitigation efforts. Adaptation mostly concerns helping the vulnerable to cope with a crisis they did not create, while mitigation often offers options of investing in ideas and infrastructure that maintain current polluting paradigms and frees polluters to keep plying their trade.

The rich and powerful nations spend up to 2.7 trillion dollars on warfare annually and a fraction of that, coupled with a little shift towards peaceful coexistence would definitely reduce the impacts of the climate crisis and move the world towards resilience built on solidarity. Will the petro-military complex allow this sensible path?

While negotiators dithered, the outside spaces raised serious and fundamental solutions to the climate crisis. Such outputs include A New Pledge For Mother Nature by the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) and the Declaration by the People’s Summit Towards COP30 which had up to 70,000 participants.

As COP30 drew towards the finish line the key issues that would mark it out as an “implementation” COP and as a conference that showed more seriousness towards far reaching decisions, remain an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, finance for adaptation, a truly just energy transition and a climate finance that does not come as loans and other instruments that push vulnerable nations into further debt and further exacerbate geopolitical imbalances.

Nnimmo Bassey is Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)

Costa Rica celebrated for including coastal wetlands in its Nationally Determined Contribution

Michael Simire
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Costa Rica celebrated for including coastal wetlands in its Nationally Determined Contribution

The Pew Charitable Trusts on Friday, November 21, 2025, praised the government of Costa Rica for continuing its global leadership in environmental stewardship by committing to manage, restore, and finance coastal wetland ecosystems within its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.

Costa Rica joins a growing number of countries – including Belize, Jamaica, Kenya, and Panama – in safeguarding these vital blue carbon ecosystems through its national climate action plan.

Rodrigo Alberto de Jesús Chaves Robles
President Rodrigo Alberto de Jesús Chaves Robles of Costa Rica

NDCs are the cornerstone of the Paris Agreement – the legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015 by nearly 200 countries, which strengthens the global response to climate change. Each NDC – required to be revised every five years – must be more ambitious, communicating the country’s efforts to achieve the Paris Agreement goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of “blue carbon” coastal wetland ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes) are nature-based solutions to climate change, which can provide critical climate adaptation and mitigation benefits. These ecosystems stabilize sediments, reduce coastal erosion, and sequester and store carbon, and they also support coastal livelihoods by providing nursery and spawning habitats for fish.

Costa Rica’s revised NDC, recently submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), builds upon the bold and ambitious coastal wetland conservation targets that the country included in its 2020 NDC. Since 2020, Costa Rica has increased institutional coordination to facilitate the achievement of these goals and began efforts to develop new conservation finance strategies.

These efforts include the launch and implementation of the country’s landmark National Blue Carbon Strategy and Action Plan, and the ongoing development of a marine payment for ecosystem services programme.

In its NDC 3.0, submitted to the UNFCCC in November, Costa Rica committed to:

  • Develop a baseline inventory of the amount and condition of blue carbon coastal wetland ecosystems in the country by 2030 and classify wetland ecosystems with carbon storage potential.
  • Restore 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of mangroves by 2030 and an additional 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) by 2035, for a total of 3,900 hectares (9,600 acres) of mangroves undergoing restoration in the next 10 years, drawing down measurable amounts of carbon.
  • Establish a sustainable and permanent financing mechanism for the conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems by 2035.
  • Integrate measurement, reporting, and verification systems for blue carbon within its national greenhouse gas inventory.

“Costa Rica’s 2020 NDC included some of the boldest commitments to coastal wetlands of any NDC at the time. The 2025 revision, benefiting from five years of extensive implementation experience, continues that trend – further scaling the country’s ambitions to conserve and restore these incredible ecosystems,” said Tom Hickey, project director of Pew’s advancing coastal wetlands conservation project. “Pew is proud to have worked through a range of partnerships to support some of the research, financial, and technical capacities needed to make that happen.”

The new NDC was also applauded by Pew’s NGO and governmental partners in Costa Rica.

“Costa Rica is proud to have advanced the conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems through the NDC. As a country, we are committed to strengthening our institutional capacity and policy frameworks to ensure that our coastal wetlands, like mangroves, are protected and restored to strengthen the resilience of our local communities,” said Rotney Piedra Chacón, director, national wetlands programme, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment and Energy

“Costa Rica, in its newly launched 2025-35 NDC, again demonstrates the country’s commitment to include key goals to conserve the important benefits the ocean and wetlands provide to our biodiversity, coastal communities’ livelihoods, and climate resilience,” submitted Ana Gloria Guzmán Mora, executive director, Costa Rica program, Conservation International

G20 must choose people-powered transition over fossil fuel expansion – African activists

Michael Simire
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G20 must choose people-powered transition over fossil fuel expansion – African activists

As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit this weekend – amidst COP30 negotiations in Belem, Brazil – African civil society is urging global leaders to commit to a rapid shift to a fossil-free future with renewable energy systems that are locally owned, community-driven, and accessible to all.

This call was amplified at The Green Connection’s G20 Civil Society Symposium on Climate Justice and the Green Economy in early November, which brought together activists, community leaders and policy experts to formulate the Cape Town Civil Society Charter.

The eco-justice organisation and community partners also joined the mass march against TotalEnergies’ century of exploitation, as part of the We, the 99% People’s Summit, on Constitution Hill in Johannesburg.

G20
People took to the streets on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s G20 Summit, urging world leaders to end fossil fuel expansion and deliver real commitments on climate justice.

“In countries like South Africa, governments must develop national and local adaptation plans that are participatory, transparent, and inclusive of those most affected – including women, youth, informal workers, and rural and informal-settlement communities. Adaptation should protect livelihoods, secure water and food sovereignty, and build grassroots climate resilience.

“This requires ending fossil fuel subsidies, stopping oil and gas expansion, and prioritising grant-based climate finance for the Global South. At the same time, the justice implications of extracting critical transition minerals must also be addressed as global demand continues to rise,” says Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Officer at The Green Connection.

“Global solidarity is critical in this moment. We are of the opinion that the current fossil-fuel economy may not only be destroying our environment but could also deepen inequality while violating human rights. As the world accelerates a ‘green’ transition, Africa must not be pushed into yet another cycle of extraction. G20 leaders must recognise that communities – not corporations – should guide Africa’s energy future.

“Public funds should shift away from oil and gas projects that risk becoming stranded assets, towards renewable energy systems that are locally owned, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the 1.5°C limit. It makes little sense for Africa to take on more debt for outdated infrastructure while the rest of the world moves towards cleaner technologies.”

Makaula stresses that predictable, accessible, grant-based climate finance is essential for people-centred adaptation and for easing the debt burden on developing countries that have contributed least to the climate crisis but face its worst impacts.

She says, “We urge G20 leaders to honour their climate finance commitments, including the $1.3 trillion annual goal by 2035. International financial institutions also require urgent reform, as current rules penalise African economies and obstruct effective climate action. Global financial systems must serve people, not profit.”

Beyond climate finance, governments must protect human rights, civic space, and the rule of law. People must be free to organise, speak, and participate in democratic processes without fear of harassment or repression. This will become even more important as investment in critical transition minerals – such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements – expands.

Civil society must have fair, open, and meaningful public consultation in all policy-making processes, and communities should be able to influence decisions affecting land use, housing, energy, and environmental governance. Consultation must be genuinely accessible, inclusive, and based on mutual respect.

Community Outreach Coordinator at The Green Connection, Neville van Rooy, says, “The ethical management of Africa’s reserves of transition minerals is vital. While these minerals underpin global decarbonisation, communities must not face exploitation. Instead, they should benefit through local value-addition, decent jobs, and community ownership. This sector cannot repeat the injustices seen in the fossil fuel industry. A just transition must protect communities from harm.”

He continues, “We support a just transition that truly centres workers, communities, and marginalised groups. This requires transition policies that guarantee decent work, offer retraining where necessary, and provide strong social protection. It also means safeguarding existing sustainable livelihoods, including those of small-scale fishers and people working in eco-tourism.”

The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead, Liz McDaid, says, “South Africa has a historic opportunity to use its G20 Presidency to elevate Africa’s priorities. With the world watching, we hope to see governments act for people and planet rather than continue subsidising industries that may drive the crisis. But meaningful progress requires ethical, transparent leadership that serve the people, not corporate interests. And public funds and climate finance must be managed with integrity.”

Action exposes critical climate ambition, finance and justice gaps as COP30 nears conclusion

Michael Simire
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Action exposes critical climate ambition, finance and justice gaps as COP30 nears conclusion

As COP30 entered its final hours, climate justice groups and frontline leaders on Thursday, November 20, 2025, staged an action inside the Blue Zone to call attention to the widening climate ambition, finance, and justice gaps blocking real climate progress.

Thursday’s action responded directly to concerns raised in civil society analysis – including an assessment of the COP30 Presidency’s latest draft – which warns that the current text still lacks: A strong commitment for a “transition away from fossil fuels” roadmap towards a fast, fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels, the primary driver of the crisis, as well as adequate and accessible climate finance – COP30 must deliver real ambition, real finance and a real fossil-fuel phase-out – not symbolic gestures.

Mind the Gap-ybara
“Mind the Gap-ybara” action at COP30

The action titled “Mind the Gap-ybara” brought together 100 stuffed capybaras, capybara headpieces, banners and signs such as “Capybaras for a Fossil-Free Future”, “No oil in capybara land” and “Capybaras want rivers, not pipelines.”

Short statements were delivered by spokespeople from the Pacific, Africa and the global climate movement, highlighting the urgency of closing these gaps before the COP ends.

Johan Rockstrom, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): “The global curve of GHG emissions needs to bend next year, 2026, not at some undefined point in the future. We need to begin reducing CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels now, by at least 5% per year. This means getting as close as possible to absolute zero fossil fuel emissions by 2040 – and no later than 2045.

“It requires no new fossil fuel investments, the removal of all fossil fuel subsidies, and a global plan to phase in renewable and low-carbon energy sources in a just way while rapidly phasing out fossil fuels. Finance from rich countries to developing countries is imperative.”

Brianna Fruean, 350.org Pacific Council Elder: “This gap in ambition and action cannot be ignored. Our Pacific people are fighting tooth and nail to keep the world below 1.5 degrees and our islands above water. Why must we constantly be the bridge between the world and survival? Our elders deserve to rest and our young people deserve to thrive free from the climate crisis.”

Samuel Okulony, Director of the Environment Governance Institute (EGI) Uganda and an activist with the StopEACOP campaign: “I come from Uganda, a country on the frontlines of the climate crisis, where its impacts are part of daily life. For us, a fossil fuel phase-out is not a bargaining chip – it is the only just and central outcome we expect from this COP. I speak with the voices of thousands of frontline communities, Indigenous peoples, youth, and women who refuse to be ignored any longer. If this is truly the COP of truth, then it’s time to be honest about who caused the climate crisis and to finally put an end to fossil fuels.”

Savio Carvalho, Managing Director of Campaigns Networks, 350.org: “The Presidency’s draft text still doesn’t respond to the urgency outside these negotiating rooms. Without a strong mandate for a fast, fair and funded pathway to phase out fossil fuels, COP30 risks becoming yet another missed opportunity. People across the Amazon, the Pacific and Africa are sounding the alarm, and today’s action made that impossible to ignore. Governments must close the ambition, finance and justice gaps, because without them, there is no credible transition and no climate safety for anyone.”

Carolina Marçal, Project Coordinator at ClimaInfo Institute: “It is urgent that COP30 deliver a roadmap for the just and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels – the only real solution to contain the climate crisis. In the face of limited progress and growing distrust in multilateralism, Brazil must show leadership and rise to the level of the climate emergency. Clear, binding commitments are essential.”

Nigeria’s e-waste crisis reaches critical mass, regulators demand unified action

Michael Simire
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Nigeria’s e-waste crisis reaches critical mass, regulators demand unified action

Nigeria’s spiraling electronic waste problem has reached a critical juncture, demanding immediate, unified national action from all stakeholders, from top regulators to individual digital citizens.

This urgent call resonated profoundly at the 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue in Lagos, where the nation’s foremost environmental agency issued a stark warning, buttressed by appeals from the event’s convener for a concrete national strategy.

Delivering the keynote address, the Director General/CEO of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Professor Innocent Barikor, who was represented by the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at the Lagos State Liaison Office, Olaide Oyedele-Taiwo, underscored that the nation’s rapidly increasing generation of electronic waste is not merely an environmental nuisance but a burgeoning health crisis and a squandered economic opportunity.

eWaste 2025
From left: Host, Editor-in-Chief ITREALMS Media, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke; Director Operations, ITREALMS Media, Lolo Nkem Nweke; Head Environment, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Weyimi Metseagharun; Executive Assistant E-Waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria, Azeezat Alabere; Assistant General Manager, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Mr. Uchechukwu Ugwuanyi; Chief Scientific Officer, NESREA Lagos Liaison Office, Olaide Ayodele-Taiwo and Publisher, Political Economist Magazine, Mr. Ken Ugechie, during the 2025 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme: Nigeria: Recycle Your E-Waste It’s Critical in Lagos on 20-11-2025

“The demand for critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, vital components in our everyday electronics, is skyrocketing globally,” Barikor stated unequivocally. “Nigeria must position itself not just as a consumer, but as a key player in the circular economy by establishing efficient systems to recover these materials from discarded electronics, rather than allowing them to poison our communities.”

He warned of the dire consequences of informal e-waste recycling, where hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium are released into the environment, posing severe health risks. “When you don’t recycle your e-waste responsibly, it’s not just clutter; it’s a silent killer lurking in our landfills and informal dumps,” he said, making a passionate plea for immediate behavioral change.

Earlier in the day, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group and Convener of the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, set the stage by extending a warm welcome to a distinguished array of guests, industry leaders, and regulators. He highlighted the significant honour of hosting representatives from key stakeholders including NESREA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), ALTON, IXPN, NLNG and EPRON, among others, emphasising that their collective presence signaled the e-waste challenge as a national priority.

Nweke traced the journey of the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, noting its evolution over five years. “Five years ago, we began this Dialogue to foster awareness. Today, the conversation must evolve. We have moved beyond merely acknowledging the problem; Nigeria now generates an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of e-waste annually. This burden demands immediate, unified, and practical solutions.”

He explained that this sobering reality informed the blunt and focused theme for the year: “Nigeria: Recycle Your e-Waste … It’s Critical!”

Nweke described this theme as “A call to action. It is a demand for a concrete national strategy. It is an appeal for every digital citizen to take personal responsibility.”

He also previewed the subsequent high-powered panel session, set to dissect the roles of various stakeholders in transforming the crisis into a circular economic opportunity.

Professor Barikor, in his keynote, further cemented the federal government’s unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme in the Electrical and Electronics sector.

This initiative, he explained, places the onus on producers and manufacturers to manage the end-of-life cycle of their products, from collection to recycling.

“The National Environmental (Electrical and Electronics) Sector Regulations are not merely guidelines; they are enforceable laws designed to ensure accountability,” Barikor asserted, signaling a firmer stance from the regulatory body. He indicated that NESREA would intensify its efforts to ensure compliance, stressing that deliberate disregard for these regulations would face stringent enforcement.

Before concluding, Nweke underscored a crucial holistic perspective: “E-waste management is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health, economic, and national security issue.” He affirmed the Dialogue’s mission to leave the event with actionable policy recommendations that will protect Nigeria’s environment and future generations.

Professor Barikor concluded his address by challenging every attendee to become “e-waste ambassadors,” urging them to champion proper e-waste disposal and recycling, transforming it from a niche environmental concern into a daily habit for every Nigerian.

Niger seeks stronger global partnerships against escalating climate threats

Michael Simire
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Niger seeks stronger global partnerships against escalating climate threats

The Niger State Government has called for stronger global commitment and coordinated action to address the escalating climate challenges threatening economies and communities across the world.

Mr. Yakubu Garba, the Deputy Governor of Niger, made the call in an interview on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

Garba stated that climate action in Niger is not only a local necessity but also a critical contribution to Africa’s global climate commitments.

Yakubu Garba
Yakubu Garba, Deputy Governor of Niger State

“Investing in Niger means investing in the resilience of over six million people, in food security, and in the protection of critical ecosystems that sustain Nigeria’s environmental balance,” Garba said.

He described Niger as a land endowed with rich natural resources, fertile agricultural landscapes, and a population determined to build a sustainable and climate-smart future.

The deputy governor highlighted the state’s Green Sustainable Agenda, stating that climate actions are embedded across governance sector; including agriculture, forestry, energy, water resources, waste management, and sustainable livelihoods.

“The roadmap aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Africa’s broader call for equitable climate finance and fair partnerships.

Garba stated that inspite of the state’s proactive approach; implementing renewable energy initiatives, afforestation programmes, climate-smart agriculture, and youth-led waste-to-wealth enterprises, financial constraints have limited the scale of these efforts.

He urged development partners, climate funds, and private investors to collaborate with Niger in mobilising climate finance through concessional funding, carbon market access, and blended financing mechanisms.

Garba further emphasised the importance of technology transfer and innovation in driving low-carbon development adding that youth participation is central to the state’s green transformation.

“Niger seeks collaboration with research institutions, development partners, and climate investors to promote clean energy, digital climate information systems, and modern agricultural technologies,” he said.

According to Garba, equipping young people with the right tools, training, and technology can create jobs, foster green entrepreneurship, and sustain climate-smart value chains.

“Niger is seeking partnerships to establish green innovation hubs, renewable energy clusters, and digital monitoring systems for effective climate action tracking”.

He cited the direct impacts of climate change on local communities, including unpredictable rainfall, floods, droughts, desert encroachment, and declining crop yields.

“Niger has initiated community-based adaptation programmes that integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific solutions, such as land restoration projects, irrigation support, and early-warning systems for farmers,” the deputy governor explained.

By Abigael Joshua

Lagos showcased subnational climate action leadership at COP30 – Official

Michael Simire
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Lagos showcased subnational climate action leadership at COP30 – Official

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its continental leadership in climate action following a series of high-level engagements at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in São Paulo, Brazil.

In a statement on Thursday, November 20, 2025, on Lagos, the state’s Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE) said that Lagos featured in three strategic sessions from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8 and showcased flagship programmes.

The office said that the programmes included the 80 Million Clean Cookstoves Initiative and LAMATA’s e-Mobility aimed at attracting global capital for inclusive and measurable climate progress.

Lagos COP30
Panelists at the Lagos Private Roundtable at COP30 in Brazil

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titi Oshodi, said that Lagos went to COP30 to demonstrate catalytic subnational leadership.

“Lagos went to COP30 to demonstrate what true subnational leadership looks like.

“We are proving that African cities can build bankable climate solutions that are inclusive, investable and capable of transforming millions of lives.

“The world is looking for climate ambition-backed by action, and Lagos is stepping forward,” she said.

The official said that active presence of Lagos at COP30 strengthened global partnerships, deepened investor confidence and positioned the state as a model for how African cities could translate climate vision into bankable, people-centred projects.

Oshodi said that the Lagos Private Roundtable with the theme: “Financing Urban Climate Solutions for a Just and Inclusive Transition” brought together development finance institutions, philanthropic organisations and private-sector investors at COP30.

She said that discussions at the roundtable focused on co-financing pathways, de-risking instruments and innovative financing structures capable of scaling green investments in Lagos.

“Key investment outcomes from Lagos’ COP30 participation include commitments to advancing feasibility and financing discussions for clean cooking projects, and interest in co-developing e-mobility pilot corridors with private investors.”

 She added that the outcomes included the need for exploratory talks with international partners on green bond issuances under the Lagos Climate Finance Framework.

“At the Africa Innovation Forum, co-curated by OCCE and Climate Action, Lagos was spotlighted as a leading voice among African cities advancing climate innovation.”

According to Oshodi, the panelists included herself; the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo; the President of Oando Clean Energy, Mr. Demola Ogunbanjo; and Senior Manager, Climate Business Department, International Finance Corporation, Ms. Diep Nguyen-van Houtte.

COP30: Osun leverages digital tools, data to fast-track SDGs implementation

Michael Simire
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COP30: Osun leverages digital tools, data to fast-track SDGs implementation

Osun State Government on Thursday, November 20, 2025, said it had leveraged digital tools, data and innovation hubs to fast- track Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in the state.

Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, the Director-General and Special Envoy of Osun State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, said this during the global launch of “From Waste to Wheels and Watts” initiative of the state.

The launch took place on the sideline of the 30th United Nation Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) in Belem, Brazil.

Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe
Prof. Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe, the Director-General and Special Envoy of Osun State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy

According to her, Osun State recognises ending poverty and other deprivations by involving strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth via tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests.

Obuaku-Igwe said the state had been positioned as a digital sustainability hub to strengthen data-driven policy and youth innovation to mitigate and adapt the impact of climate change.

She said the circular economy and waste to wealth initiative was designed to transform Osun State’s waste management system into a vibrant green economy by establishing Material Recovery Outlets (MROs) across local communities.

“Also, alongside a referral and tracking system that incentives households, schools and businesses to actively participate in recycling.

“This initiative complements the recycling hub already launched and operational in Osun, while institutionalising the circular economy through strong community and private-sector partnership.

“Institutionalisation of circular economy moves Osun from ad-hoc recycling to a structured, state-wide waste-to-wealth framework,” she said.

She explained that the initiative would reduce landfill burden, lower Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from unmanaged waste and support Osun’s climate action targets, while embedding waste segregation and recycling habits at household and community levels.

She said the state deployed affordable, solar-charged electric bicycle for urban and peri-urban mobility, to reduce fossil fuel reliance in transport.

She further said that “Imole Clean Cook Stove”, an energy-efficient clean cook stove, was also introduced to replace kerosene, firewood and charcoal cooking methods.

The director-general said government distributed solar-power lantern to schoolchildren in underserved rural communities.

“We started by distributing to learners who were writing NECO, then we proceed to distribute to rural dwellers and market women. This improves access to clean, reliable lighting for education, reduce kerosene use and enhances child safety.

“The state also initiated Climate- Smart Farming for Rural Woman to strengthen capacity-building and technology transfer for women farmers to adopt drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation and organic methods.”

Mr. Femi Dosumu, the Chairman, Greener Climate Limited, said Osun State had participated in the “Go Green Today for a Greener Tomorrow” challenge, an initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to promote afforestation and sanitation.

According to Dosumu, who is also a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the state is involved in some efforts to restore degraded landscapes as part of the project.

He said: “Osun State is involved in national efforts to restore degraded forests through National Afforestation Programme (NAP).

“The state government is taking actions to prevent farming and the erection of permanent structures within forest reserves to better manage and secure them and working to relocate farmers who have entered the Shasha forest reserve to other areas.

“The government is collaborating with the Osun State University to develop efficient Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems to support national climate goals.”

By Gabriel Agbeja

Green bonds performance signifies global confidence in Lagos – Sanwo-Olu

Michael Simire
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0
Green bonds performance signifies global confidence in Lagos – Sanwo-Olu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos says the outstanding performance of the state’s latest bond issuances demonstrates global confidence in the state’s economy, governance structure and long-term development strategy.

At the signing of the state’s Series III Green Bond and Series IV Conventional Bond, on Thursday, November 20, 2025m in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said the strong investor demand underscored the reputation of Lagos for stability and sustainable growth.

“The overwhelming subscription we received is a vote of confidence in our fiscal discipline, our economic strength and our commitment to environmental sustainability under the THEMES Plus development agenda.”

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

He gave the assurance  that the funds would be channelled into critical projects in transport, housing, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability and urban renewal.

Sanwo-Olu thanked President Bola Tinubu, Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Pension Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly, Lagos State Executive Council and technical partners for support.

“This bond success reinforces our credibility and the trust our partners have in Lagos.

“We will ensure every Naira raised delivers value for our people,” he said.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, described the N14.815 billion green bond issuance as a landmark in Nigeria’s capital market.

He said the bond met all international certification standards under the Climate Bonds Initiative and would support Sustainable Development Goals-focused projects.

“These funds will deliver healthcare upgrades, solar energy solutions, improved education infrastructure, strengthened food security systems and an expanded urban transportation network.

“This issuance sets a new benchmark for subnational green financing in Nigeria and shows the commitment of Lagos to global best practices,” he said.

The United Kingdom also commended the Lagos State’s milestone.

Representing the UK Deputy High Commissioner, Private Sector Development Adviser at the Department for International Development, Temilola Akinrinade, said that the feat was laudable.

She said that Lagos State and the entire Nigeria should be proud of the achievement which, she said, reflected strong investor confidence.

By Aderonke Ojediran

Groups urge unity to fight climate change impacts

Michael Simire
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Groups urge unity to fight climate change impacts

Organisers of the Climate Equity Project have called for stronger collaboration among governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), and community actors to address the growing impacts of climate change across Nigeria.

This was the concession during the Climate Equity Validation Session in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

The project, implemented by NETHOPE, the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN) and Ushahidi, aims to amplify the voices of vulnerable communities in Oyo, Osun and Ondo states.

Seyi Makinde
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State

The Implementation Manager for Ushahidi, Ms. Rhoda Omenya, said the presence of government officials at the validation meeting was a positive indication that the presented data would influence climate adaptation efforts.

“I’m very glad that we had some government representatives in the session, which means they agreed with the data outputs.

“Once the final report is compiled, we hope to present it to them for use in strengthening their adaptation and mitigation strategies.

“I’m hoping this informs climate action policies in the three states, and even nationally,” she said.

Mr. Seyi Olawuyi of YARN said the project exposed the scale of neglect in rural and riverine communities, where residents had repeatedly called for government intervention.

According to him, the data reveal that communities need urgent help.

“We realised that government hands do not reach many of these areas. Flooding is a common problem across Oyo, Osun and Ondo states.

“People complain bitterly about excessive rainfall and the lack of functional drainage systems.

“We are urging the government to do more by providing proper drainage and strengthening infrastructure,” Olawuyi said.

He further stated that CSOs, government agencies and community leaders must jointly undertake awareness creation and sensitisation exercises.

“None of us can do it alone. There should be synergy among all stakeholders so we can provide sustainable solutions,” he said.

Also, Climate Intersections Project Coordinator at NETHOPE, Mrs. Aminat Adebayo, said the initiative aligned with the organisation’s climate equity pillar, which sought to integrate community voices into climate policy.

“Nigeria is clearly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“People know they are being affected. That is, farmers know and communities know.

“They may not call it climate change, but they understand that rainfall patterns have shifted and weather conditions are no longer stable,” she said.

Adebayo said earlier projects in Uganda showed that climate impacts, such as flooding and drought, could even trigger secondary crises, including gender-based violence.

She noted that similar realities informed the organisation’s work in Nigeria.

Adebayo also identified gaps between climate science and local implementation.

“There’s a huge disconnect between what is discussed at global platforms and how it is translated into local action.

“Government involvement is still limited, especially in enforcing policies that address these challenges,” she said.

According to her, participants agreed that collaboration among government, CSOs and community-based groups remains central to tackling Nigeria’s climate challenges.

“People are aware and ready to make changes, but the support system must work,” Adebayo said.

She further stated that the Climate Equity Project’s final report would guide climate adaptation and mitigation programming across the three participating states and support broader national climate-action planning.

The findings highlight recurring climate-related concerns, particularly flooding, excessive rainfall, poor drainage, and low government presence in the most-affected communities.

By Ibukun Emiola

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