African Leaders Demand Inclusive, Just Climate Transition

The two-day Africa Climate Forum 2025 (ACF 2025) ended yesterday in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, with the federal government calling for an inclusive climate transition for all member countries and their citizens.

The minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), attended the event. At it, African leaders and partners called for bolder, greener and better steps to bridge the continent’s climate transition gaps.

Keyamo also advised that Africa’s climate transition must be locally driven and anchored on innovation, good governance and cooperation.

The minister said that though Africa stands at a crossroads richly endowed in natural beauty, human capital and biodiversity, the continent has unfortunately been profoundly vulnerable to the disruptions of climate change.

While worrying about the widespread impact of climate change across the continent, he urged the Forum to focus on turning these transition gaps into global opportunities.

“In this year’s forum, we focus – as the organisers have envisioned – on turning transition gaps into transition bridges.

We will examine how to align global opportunity with local priorities; ensure no country, community or sector is left behind; promote climate justice and move from discussion to delivery,” he said.

Earlier, the director-general of the Africa Climate Forum, Prof. George Nwangwu, revealed that ACF had emerged as the cornerstone of global climate action, adding that since its inception in 2023, the forum had been a beacon of new hope, innovation and collaboration.

He said the two-day event would address critical gaps that hinder Africa’s green transition. He explained that these gaps span four key areas, which are: governance, finance, human rights and energy access.

In his address, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina, emphasised that Africa needs cohesion between its institutions and agencies to tackle its climate challenges.

While commending the ACF for creating the platform, which seeks to unite the continent towards bridging its climate transition gaps, the Ambassador boasted, “Africa does not lack vision. What we need is cohesion between our aspirations, institutions, and the resources to sustain them.”

In her address, the founding partner of Radar Media Group, Dr Oge Fundola-Modye, amplified the need for Africa to embrace strategic communication in shaping its climate narrative.

The media consultant listed three strategic areas for the partnership to include; amplifying bold ideas, providing real-time advisory services, and demystifying myths around climate finance through media engagement.