Why Nigeria must care about the Africa Climate Summit – Daily Trust

From September 8–10, 2025, African heads of state, ministers, and negotiators will gather in Addis Ababa for the second Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS-2). The central theme for this year is “Accelerating Global Climate Solutions and Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development,” consolidating on the outcomes of the inaugural summit held in Nairobi, Kenya.

 The summit’s goal is to continue to advance efforts to combat climate change, with pre-summit events scheduled from September 5–7. Over the course of three days, discussions will focus on three main themes: nature and technology-based solutions for decarbonisation and resilience, adaptation and resilience to address Africa’s climate risks and showcase scalable responses and climate finance and African-led solutions. The summit will indeed draw a large crowd, with an estimated 25,000 attendees from a variety of fields to pivot pathways amidst Africa’s shared climate crisis.

The theme of the ACS-2 profoundly resonates with Africa’s climate realities, where trillions are required to adapt to rising temperatures and build resilient economies. For Nigeria, one of the developing countries most disproportionately affected by climate change, this moment calls for a more strategic approach that leverages bilateral and multilateral engagements to unlock funding for adaptation and resilience. We must attend this summit as a credible partner with a clear plan; otherwise, we risk returning home having done little more than attend a jamboree.

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Nigeria is a major part of the African group of negotiators; we do not speak alone but in a bloc. This collective voice is our greatest strength, but it is only as powerful as the substance behind it. The first climate summit in Nairobi was meant to mobilise finances, however a critical element hampered progress: the absence of a standard framework. Without a robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system, accessing these promised funds becomes nearly impossible. This is concerning because $410 billion in clean energy investment to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2060 in core areas like renewable energy, clean cooking solutions, transport electrification and resilient infrastructure.

So, the argument is that Nigeria cannot talk of finance or African-led solutions without an MRV, a standard monetary framework.  Fortunately, Nigeria is taking a significant step. The validation of our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 just before this summit is a strategic move. It positions us to make a stronger case because we have submitted a Biennial Transparency Report (BRT1). The international community looks for this transparency, a clear account of emissions and a verifiable plan to lower them. This is the foundation of trust.

Our focus must now shift to the type of finance we seek. For Nigeria, and for Africa broadly, the current model of primarily providing loans as climate finance is ineffective. The country is already indebted, with external debt standing at $49.98 billion as of Q1 2025. Nigeria should be aggressively pursuing grants, not more loans. There should also be focus on concessional finance and blended finance models that strategically use public development funds to de-risk and catalyse large-scale private sector investment in green projects.

However, our internal readiness is just as important as our external negotiations. Nigeria has beautiful policies — a carbon finance pricing assessment and a carbon budget framework technical working group launched by the Minister of Environment. But a document launched is not a problem solved. We need to look inward and assess our checklist for climate finance readiness and carbon market readiness. The federal government needs to have the standard financial frameworks in place. Climate vulnerability is not at the centre but state level. If we take loans from the World Bank for agroclimatic resilience projects in semi-arid regions, the subnationals should be allowed to access funds directly, guided by a flexible federal framework to prevent irresponsible agreements. If these internal reforms aren’t in place, we will achieve nothing concrete.

This ACS-2 should be the stage upon which Nigeria breaks the jinx of following and starts leading. It is a well-lit stage for the country to showcase its own innovative, homegrown solutions to climate change and move conversations around major topics like Food Systems and Renewable Energy. Rather than solely relying on technical knowledge transfer from the Global North, which can often be “garbage in, garbage out”, African nations need to present their own models. It’s no longer enough to be impacted by climate change; the continent must contribute to globally acceptable but local solutions. For Nigeria, this translates to highlighting successful, locally-led initiatives. These are already underway through initiatives like the ACReSAL project, which is designed to provide these very solutions.

Admittedly, Africa needs to present a coherent, realistic and ambitious voice ahead of international gatherings like the G20, the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly and COP30. This calls for a two-way strategy: strengthening regional collaboration and presenting a unified front externally. For Africa’s voice to be rooted in its realities, there must be a commitment to radical transparency and accountability.

Moreover, Africa must sit down as brothers first, create a common platform and perhaps even a common fund; a basket where each country contributes, so when disaster strikes one, resources are available for all. This is the kind of co-creation that yields development, progress, security and an economic boost.

In the diplomatic arena, Nigeria’s sacrosanct role is to ensure the consensus reached in Addis Ababa is maintained, using its influence to build alliances with other emerging economies so the African Group can negotiate as a formidable bloc. A united African bloc holds a stronger chance of pushing for reforms in debt relief, concessional financing and blended finance. By advocating for fairer credit terms and an equitable distribution of climate funds, Africa can leverage its collective power. Under South Africa’s G20 presidency, climate finance and just energy transitions are already being prioritised, offering us an opening for African countries to advocate for fairer credit terms, equitable distribution of climate funds and support for vulnerable countries.

For a continent on the front lines of climate impacts, successful outcomes for Nigeria and Africa from the summit will be measured by real green investment commitment, implementation of policy reforms that reflect current realities and the establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms that engage all stakeholders, including the private sector and vulnerable populations and highlight local solutions. And finally, Nigeria must help ensure Africa speaks as one, not as a medley of competing national agendas.

As Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed puts it, “This is Africa’s moment to lead, innovate, and prove that green growth is both possible and essential. The future we create now will shape generations to come.”

 Anka, PhD, is the Director of Climate Change at the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

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