A major announcement by Daniel Ronen, founder of a UK-based drone technology company, became one of the defining moments of the 5th Global Sustainability Summit & Awards 2026 at the House of Lords, as delegates from more than 37 countries expressed strong interest in partnering on one of Africa’s most ambitious climate restoration programmes.

Speaking during the summit convened by Ambassador Canon Otto, FRSA, Daniel Ronen announced that Ambassador Otto is leading a multidisciplinary team of international experts to deliver a 200 million tree planting initiative in Nigeria, with implementation planned across Rivers State, Kwara State, Oyo State and Abia State.

The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause and generated immediate interest among delegates, who recognised the scale and potential impact of the initiative on climate action, biodiversity restoration, food security, carbon sequestration, job creation and sustainable community development. Several international participants indicated their interest in exploring partnerships, technical collaboration and investment opportunities to support the programme.

The summit, held under the theme “People, Planet and Profit in the Age of AI and Innovation,” brought together world leaders, diplomats, policymakers, academics, investors, innovators and sustainability champions from over 37 countries at the historic House of Lords, Palace of Westminster.

In his keynote address, Ambassador Canon Otto challenged leaders across government, business and civil society to place sustainability at the centre of decision-making.

“If we are serious about solving the world’s greatest challenges, we must first transform leadership. Leaders are the catalysts of change. Every policy, every investment, every institution and every community is influenced by the decisions of those entrusted to lead. Sustainability must no longer be treated as an option—it must become the foundation of leadership,” he said.

The summit featured high-level discussions on climate change, sustainable development, food security, ethical investment, artificial intelligence, innovation and strategic international partnerships designed to accelerate progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Among the distinguished delegates were Her Excellency Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of Nigeria’s Governors’ Spouses Forum; Her Excellency Engr. Mrs. Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde, FNSE, First Lady of Oyo State; Her Excellency Dr. Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, First Lady of Gombe State; Professor Dr. Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger, Chair in Sustainable Development Law and Policy at the University of Cambridge and Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Climate Law and Governance Initiative; Professor Payam Akhavan, Human Rights Chair at Massey College, University of Toronto, and Barrister at Twenty Essex, London; Dr. Alexandra R. Harrington, Chair of the Pollution Law Specialist Group of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and Visiting Scholar at McGill University Faculty of Law; Dr. Md. Abdul Quader, Founder and Executive Director of SETU, Bangladesh; Hajia Hafasat Oduwole-Balewa, Chairman of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone; President Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, President of Woodhall Capital Group and Woodhall Capital Foundation; Nathalie Mindus, Co-Founder and CEO of Mindus and House of Green Digital; Ms. Oyinkansola Owoyemi, Sustainability Director at Sunbeth Global Concepts; alongside diplomats, business executives, government officials and sustainability leaders from around the world.

The strong international response to the 200 million tree initiative reinforced the summit’s role not only as a platform for dialogue but also as a catalyst for tangible global partnerships capable of delivering measurable environmental and socio-economic impact.

The 5th Global Sustainability Summit & Awards once again strengthened its reputation as one of the world’s leading platforms for sustainability leadership, international cooperation and transformative action.