Tinubu calls for global unity, bold action to tackle climate crisis

President Bola Tinubu has called on world leaders to show unity, courage, and sustained commitment in confronting the deepening global climate emergency, describing climate action as a strategic imperative rather than a burden on development.

Speaking virtually from Abuja on Wednesday at a high-level international dialogue on climate and the just transition, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to pursue a development path that aligns economic growth with environmental sustainability.

“The global climate emergency demands our collective, courageous, and sustained leadership,” he said. “For Nigeria, the urgency of this moment is clear: we view climate action not as a cost to development, but as a strategic imperative.”

The dialogue was co-hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as part of efforts to build momentum towards COP30, which Brazil will host. The meeting brought together leaders from 17 countries and key regional blocs, including the African Union, ASEAN, the European Union, and the Alliance of Small Island States.

During the session, President Tinubu showcased Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), a strategic framework aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan focuses on five key sectors – power, cooking, transport, oil and gas, and industry – and identifies a $410 billion funding requirement to meet its targets.

“We are aligning our regulatory environment, fiscal incentives, and institutional frameworks to ensure that energy access, decarbonisation, and economic competitiveness proceed in lockstep,” Tinubu said, highlighting Nigeria’s leadership role in expanding access to sustainable energy.

He cited Nigeria’s participation in the Mission 300 initiative – an ambitious programme developed with the World Bank and African Development Bank – to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. He also referenced Nigeria’s National Energy Compact, which lays out policy reforms, investment opportunities, and measurable targets for clean energy and cooking access.

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Tinubu further announced the finalisation of the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy, set to unlock up to $2.5 billion by 2030 through the sale of high-integrity carbon credits. This, he said, forms part of Nigeria’s broader climate finance and market reforms strategy.

Additionally, he revealed that Nigeria is currently updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a revised submission expected by September 2025.

“Our climate strategy is not limited to planning and regulation – it is also rooted in market reform,” he said.

“We are working to position Nigeria as a premier destination for climate-smart investment through the creation of a Global Climate Change Investment Fund.”

The fund will target green industrial hubs, e-mobility infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy mini-grids in underserved communities.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s international partners, particularly the United Nations and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), for their support in developing Nigeria’s climate frameworks.

“These partnerships are a shining example of the value of multilateral cooperation in climate delivery. We are prepared to collaborate, lead, and deliver – because we understand that the time for climate action is not tomorrow; it is now,” he said.

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