Diplomats from MIKTA member countries, Mexico, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and Australia, alongside officials from the Federal Government of Nigeria have urged international stakeholders to reform climate finance mechanisms, expand global partnerships, and direct funding toward practical climate solutions for developing nations.
​The call was made on Tuesday morning during the MIKTA Side Event on Climate Finance and Implementation Partnership in Africa, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs auditorium in Abuja. The high-level gathering served to align regional strategies ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
​Delivering remarks on behalf of Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Jummai Vandu emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to champion actionable solutions over non-binding promises, declaring that the nation would no longer remain a passive participant in global climate negotiations, but actively construct its enduring pillars.
​Echoing this demand for concrete action, Ambassador Mehmet Poroy of Türkiye, the host nation for COP31, stressed that climate finance must be integrated directly into broader development agendas to deliver measurable improvements for local communities across Africa.
​Australian diplomatic envoy Bin-Juda highlighted the necessity of removing administrative hurdles that delay funding for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, noting that COP31 must focus entirely on turning ambitious policy goals into practical outcomes.
​Republic of Korea Ambassador Jeong Yo-an reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding technology transfer and green growth initiatives across partner nations. Meanwhile, Ambassador Legesse Geremew Haile of Ethiopia drew attention to the disproportionate burden climate change places on African nations despite their minimal contribution to global emissions, advocating for grant-based, predictable funding ahead of Ethiopia hosting COP32.
​Delegates at the symposium concluded by establishing a collaborative framework to streamline access to multilateral funds like the Green Climate Fund, ensuring a continuous policy pipeline connecting the upcoming summit in Antalya to future African-hosted climate forums.
