LAGOS/Nigeria: Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a leading authority on Climate Governance and Policy, has called on world leaders to ensure that COP29 marks a pivotal moment for advancing global climate action and increasing financial commitments to combat the climate crisis.
His plea was conveyed in a press release signed by Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Media and Communications expert at the Centre for Climate Change and Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, on Monday in Lagos.
Okereke stressed that the world is in danger of missing the critical 1.5°C temperature target established under the Paris Agreement if decisive actions are not taken immediately. He highlighted the glaring shortage of resources required to tackle the worsening impacts of climate change disasters.
“Developed nations must lead the charge by mobilizing sufficient climate finance, moving beyond rhetoric and broken promises to meet the scale of this global challenge,” Okereke said. He underscored the urgency for wealthier nations to step up and reinvigorate global climate efforts, especially as developing countries remain the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Citing recent catastrophic floods in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria, Okereke illustrated how inequality, conflict, and existing development challenges magnify the vulnerabilities of poorer nations. He emphasized that developing countries would need between $5.8 and $5.9 trillion by 2030 to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Additionally, adaptation finance is projected to reach $1.7 trillion annually by 2050.
Okereke also stressed the critical priorities outlined by the Allied Climate Transformation (ACT2025) initiative, which he deemed essential and non-negotiable for COP29:
- Ambitious Climate Finance: ACT2025 calls for COP29 to establish a 1.5°C-aligned New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), reflecting the actual financial needs of climate-vulnerable nations. Okereke urged that these funds must be accessible, concessional, and transparent.
- Scaling Up Adaptation Efforts: Addressing gaps in adaptation planning and implementation is crucial, and COP29 should focus on bridging these gaps.
- Loss and Damage Response: ACT2025 demands that the new Loss and Damage Fund must be fully funded and operational by COP29 to provide adequate support to vulnerable nations.
- Accelerating Mitigation Ambition: Okereke stressed the importance of countries enacting just, equitable transitions away from fossil fuels toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, prioritizing people-centered solutions.
Okereke highlighted that the upcoming updates to the NDCs present a critical opportunity for major economies, especially G7 and G20 countries, to lead by example. He emphasized the role of China in global climate action, particularly its efforts to green overseas investments, and praised China’s leadership alongside the G77 in establishing the Loss and Damage Fund during COP27.
As COP29 approaches, Okereke expressed confidence in China’s continued leadership, especially in supporting climate-vulnerable nations, while urging global powers to seize this critical moment for humanity.
“The outcomes of COP29, and the decisions made by the global community this decade, will significantly influence the trajectory of our civilization and our collective future,” Okereke concluded, underscoring the high stakes of the upcoming climate summit.
