Newly inaugurated President of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE International), Sam Onuigbo, has assured that Nigeria and the wider African continent will continue to strengthen their participation in international frameworks aimed at combating climate change, promoting environmental sustainability, and driving energy transition efforts.

Speaking during his inauguration at GLOBE International’s 35th anniversary ceremony held at the Churchill Room of the UK Parliament’s House of Commons in London on Wednesday, Onuigbo pledged to deepen global legislative collaboration on climate action and ensure that environmental commitments translate into measurable outcomes for communities worldwide.

The former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, who becomes the first African to lead the international body, said GLOBE’s contributions over the last three and a half decades have helped shape parliamentary responses to climate challenges across the world.

According to him, the organisation has evolved from a platform that convenes lawmakers across political divides into the focal point of the Parliamentary Group of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), facilitating cooperation among parliamentary networks globally.

He noted that GLOBE successfully hosted the first Parliamentary Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai, repeated the initiative at COP29 in Baku, and is preparing for another edition at COP31 in Antalya, providing lawmakers with a platform to exchange ideas, showcase climate initiatives and engage experts on climate solutions.

Onuigbo commended legislators from the United Kingdom, Africa, Europe, Asia, Central and Latin America, and the Pacific region for their continued commitment to advancing climate action, stressing that the organisation’s achievements have been driven by the collective support of its members.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s journey with GLOBE, Onuigbo praised former Senate President Bukola Saraki for introducing the organisation to Nigeria and supporting its expansion across Africa.

He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening GLOBE’s role in promoting climate action globally, describing climate advocacy as a responsibility that must be sustained and expanded.

“As we now enter a new era, it is my firm commitment that we will continue to build on the ideals and visions of this great organisation. We will build to support parliamentary efforts to progress climate action globally,” he said.

The new president outlined an ambitious agenda centred on promoting green investments, expanding climate initiatives, enhancing parliamentary engagement, and strengthening collaboration among governments, development agencies, civil society groups and the private sector.

He said GLOBE under his leadership would focus on knowledge sharing, capacity development and peer learning among legislators while ensuring that climate discussions at international forums lead to practical interventions at the community level.

A key component of his vision, he added, is the promotion of climate education across all levels of learning to prepare future generations for environmental leadership.

According to him, climate literacy, environmental stewardship and sustainability education are essential tools for equipping young people with the skills required to address emerging environmental challenges.

Onuigbo said GLOBE would intensify advocacy for integrating climate education into school curricula worldwide and expand programmes such as the Student-MP Climate Surgery initiative, which he previously supervised in Nigeria in 2022.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening the capacity of lawmakers to enact progressive climate legislation, provide effective oversight and secure adequate budgetary allocations for climate-related programmes.

“Climate change remains one of the defining challenges of our time, and effective responses require informed and empowered legislators who can champion robust policies, enact progressive legislation, provide oversight and mobilise public support,” he said.

Calling for broader support for parliamentary engagement on climate issues, Onuigbo maintained that legislatures remain central to achieving global climate goals.

He urged governments, development banks, donor agencies, academics, youth groups and development partners to work closely with parliaments in advancing climate action.

The inauguration formed part of activities marking the ongoing London Climate Action Week, which also features the Nigeria Climate Investment Summit (NCIS), where Nigeria is showcasing investment opportunities in carbon markets, renewable energy and energy transition initiatives.