Tinubu calls for equitable climate and finance agreement at BRICS summit

President Bola Tinubu has called for a more equitable global framework on climate action, finance, and healthcare, urging BRICS nations to take the lead in promoting inclusive development and fairness for emerging economies.

Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development, noting that the country is making significant strides in expanding renewable energy, addressing environmental degradation, and working towards universal health coverage.

He emphasized that Nigeria is integrating climate action into its national policies, advancing nature-based solutions, enhancing urban resilience, and aligning its development agenda with global sustainability goals to promote inclusive growth and environmental stability.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed in the early hours of Monday.

Tinubu said, “We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with the global renewal framework and achieve universal health coverage for all.”

The President called for a reevaluation of the current global governance structure and the financial and healthcare systems, urging greater equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies, particularly in Africa.

He said environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare inequalities should receive more attention, as they contributed to slowing growth and development.

Tinubu, invited to the summit by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, stated that Nigeria supported the BRICS position on the need to focus on collective, fair, and equitable global development.

Nigeria became the ninth partner country of BRICS in January 2025, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024 created the partner-country category.

At the Brazil summit, Tinubu said, “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS.

“The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.”

He noted that environmental degradation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.

“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he added.

President Tinubu emphasised the need for a new path of justice, anchored in fairness, sustainable technology transfer, and accessible financing so that emerging economies could fully benefit from various initiatives.

He explained, “The African continent is creating the path through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall.

“We believe that COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to adopt a strategic approach to achieving a healthy global environment.”

According to the President, Nigeria strongly believed in South-South cooperation. Therefore, it cannot be a passive participant in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare.

“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria.

“Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution,” he stated.

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized that tackling non-communicable diseases must remain a shared global health priority.

“As we approach COP-30 and work to strengthen the global health system, BRICS must go beyond being a bloc of emerging economies to becoming a source of innovative solutions—built on solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and the shared prosperity of a common future,” Tinubu stated.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strategic partnerships that foster sustainable and inclusive development for all.

President Tinubu was accompanied to the summit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.

During its pro tempore presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government announced that Nigeria will be formally admitted as a partner country on January 17, 2025.

As the sixth most populous nation in the world and one of Africa’s leading economies, Nigeria shares aligned interests with other BRICS members.

“Nigeria plays a vital role in promoting South-South cooperation and advocating for the reform of global governance—key priorities under Brazil’s current leadership of BRICS,” said presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.