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Africa forum urges unity to strengthen global climate negotiations – EnviroNews
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The Africa Climate Forum has called for a united African position in global climate negotiations, stressing the need for stronger partnerships to address the continent’s growing environmental and economic challenges.
The Convener of the forum, Prof. George Nwangwu, made the call at the fourth edition of the event in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with the theme, “Implementing in Lockstep: Public-Private Action for Green Outcomes”.
“Africa needed adequate climate finance, affordable technology and stronger partnerships to tackle flooding, drought, food insecurity, energy poverty and environmental degradation affecting communities across the continent”, Nwangwu said.
He urged governments, private investors, development finance institutions, researchers, innovators and communities to coordinate their efforts towards delivering resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable industries.
The convener said the forum’s four platforms, policy dialogue, investment facilitation, innovation and Climate Stories, were designed to strengthen policymaking, connect projects with investors, promote African solutions and highlight communities’ experiences of climate change.
He explained that the Deal Room would connect project developers with investors, while the Marketplace would showcase African innovations.
Climate Stories, he added, would amplify local experiences, resilience and home-grown solutions.
Dr. Oge Modie, Founder and Executive Chair of Avocado Holdings, also called for stronger public-private collaboration to translate Africa’s climate commitments into measurable development outcomes.
Modie, who was represented by Mrs. Chioma Ikenna-Ibeh, Head of Business at Radah Media Company, said climate action should address not only environmental protection but also reliable energy, food security, resilient infrastructure, economic opportunities and improved community well-being.
She said that governments must establish clear policies, businesses mobilise investment and innovation, and development partners provide access to finance and expertise, while communities participate meaningfully in interventions.
Modie stressed that effective collaboration required shared priorities, clearly defined responsibilities and accountability, warning that bringing stakeholders together without coordinated implementation could undermine expected results.
She also emphasised the role of strategic communication, noting that public understanding, institutional trust and stakeholder engagement were essential to ensuring that climate policies gained acceptance and produced practical outcomes.
According to her, communication should be integrated into policy implementation from the beginning to link government decisions with communities and encourage meaningful public participation.
“Communication is not merely how we report progress. It is one of the ways we make progress possible,” she said, urging stakeholders to prioritise transparent engagement.
Modie urged participants to focus on implementation, responsibilities and measurable outcomes during the two-day forum, rather than limiting discussions to identifying challenges and proposing solutions.
She said that Africa had the ambition, ideas and expertise needed to tackle climate challenges but must strengthen coordination, sustain partnerships and align efforts to achieve tangible results.
By Abigael Joshua
