The Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Comrade Yusuf Olatunji Kelani, has called for stronger climate governance systems anchored on justice, inclusion, and collaboration, warning that climate change has become an immediate global reality requiring urgent action.
Speaking at the opening of the GenCGov International Conference 2026 in Abuja, Kelani said the world is facing unprecedented climate and geopolitical challenges, including rising temperatures, flooding, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, forced migration, and widening social inequalities.
He noted that climate change should no longer be viewed solely as an environmental issue but as a development, governance, economic, security, and social justice challenge. According to him, the effectiveness of climate governance systems will determine how nations respond to future risks and opportunities.
“Climate change is no longer a future threat; it is a present reality,” Kelani said, stressing that strong climate governance requires inclusive institutions, transparent decision-making, stakeholder participation, science-based planning, and sustainable financing.
The presidential aide also highlighted the issue of climate injustice, observing that Africa contributes only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions yet bears a disproportionate burden of climate impacts. He said vulnerable groups, including women, young people, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and marginalized populations, must be placed at the centre of climate decision-making processes.
Addressing Nigeria’s climate challenges, Kelani pointed to recurring floods, desertification, coastal erosion, environmental degradation, declining agricultural productivity, and climate-induced displacement. He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to advancing climate action through the implementation of the Climate Change Act, the Energy Transition Plan, and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Kelani further emphasized that no single institution can address the climate crisis alone, calling for stronger partnerships among governments, academia, civil society, development partners, and the private sector. He described the GenCGov Conference as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and co-create practical solutions.
The presidential aide also underscored the role of research and innovation in shaping climate policies, while advocating greater involvement of young people in climate governance. He described Africa’s youth population as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and climate champions whose contributions are critical to achieving sustainable development.
Calling on participants to move beyond dialogue, Kelani urged stakeholders to leave the conference with practical recommendations, stronger partnerships, and actionable commitments.
“The climate crisis demands urgency. The future demands courage. The moment demands leadership,” he said.
The GenCGov International Conference 2026 is themed “Governing Climate in an Age of Retreat, Risk, and Geopolitical Re-alignment: Justice, Inclusion, and Transformation as the New Climate Imperative.”
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Climate justice is a long overdue situation in Africa and I love the attention it is getting right now.