Tinubu to global leaders: Time for climate action is now
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Tinubu has urged world leaders to act with urgency, courage, and unity in addressing the escalating global climate crisis, stating that the world can no longer afford to delay critical climate decisions.
Speaking on Wednesday at a high-level virtual dialogue on climate and the just transition—co-hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to balancing climate objectives with economic growth.
The meeting brought together leaders from 17 countries and major international blocs, including the European Union, African Union, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States, as momentum builds toward COP30, scheduled to hold in Brazil.
Tinubu presented Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) as the cornerstone of its climate strategy, with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. The ETP targets five key sectors—power, cooking, transportation, oil and gas, and industry—with an estimated investment requirement of over $410 billion.
“We are aligning our regulations, fiscal incentives, and institutions to ensure energy access, decarbonisation, and economic competitiveness go hand in hand,” he said, adding that Nigeria is leading efforts to expand energy access across Africa.
Highlighting Nigeria’s involvement in the Mission 300 initiative—launched in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank—Tinubu said the aim is to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
He also emphasized Nigeria’s progress under the Dar es Salaam Declaration and the country’s National Energy Compact, which outlines reforms, investment opportunities, and measurable targets for clean energy and clean cooking adoption.
In March, Nigeria finalized its Carbon Market Activation Policy, projected to generate up to $2.5 billion in carbon credit investments by 2030. The President further disclosed that Nigeria is currently updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with UN climate protocols, with a full revision expected by September.
