Africa’s climate response is entering a critical implementation phase as governments, businesses, investors and development institutions converge in Abuja next week to confront the persistent gap between climate commitments and tangible results on the ground.
The shift from pledges to delivery will dominate the Africa Climate Forum (ACF) 2026, scheduled for October 13 and 14 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, where stakeholders are expected to examine how climate policies can be translated into bankable projects, stronger institutions, jobs and measurable improvements in communities.
The fourth edition of the Forum, organised by the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE), will be held under the theme, “Implementing in Lockstep: Public-Private Action for Green Outcomes.” It is expected to bring together policymakers, business executives, investors, climate practitioners, development institutions, academics and other stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
At the heart of the gathering is the growing recognition that Africa’s climate ambitions cannot be achieved through government commitments alone, particularly as countries continue to grapple with inadequate financing, weak coordination, energy challenges, food insecurity and the increasing impact of climate-related disasters on vulnerable communities.
Convener of the Africa Climate Forum and Director-General of GCLBE, Prof. George Nwangwu, said the continent must move beyond ambition by strengthening partnerships among governments, businesses and financial institutions capable of converting climate commitments into practical interventions.
According to him, climate action requires collective movement, stressing the need for institutions to refine existing partnerships, establish new ones and make commitments capable of producing meaningful outcomes.
The two-day Forum will therefore focus on some of the most pressing questions confronting Africa’s transition, including how private capital can be mobilised for climate projects, the future of carbon markets, energy access and the role of natural gas, food security and adaptation, community-led climate action, human rights and the just transition.
It will also examine the growing role of artificial intelligence, data and digital technologies in climate planning, monitoring and implementation, reflecting the increasing demand for better information and technology-driven solutions to climate challenges.
A major feature of the Forum will be the ACF Deal Room, designed to bring climate project developers and green businesses face-to-face with investors and financial institutions. The initiative is expected to provide a platform for connecting viable climate solutions with potential funding and strategic partnerships.
Among those expected at the Forum are UNIDO Director and Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson; Senior Partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Company, Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN; North East Development Commission Governing Board Member, Hon. Sam Onuigbo; former Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru; and Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye.
The Forum will also draw international and pan-African contributions from climate and sustainability experts including Dr Forster Boateng, Managing Director of C4Impact Advisory Group; Dr Gloria Boamah Kusi, Senior Sustainability Officer at the Jospong Green Transition Office; Dr Debany Fonseca Batista, Research Associate at Dalhousie University’s CERC.OCEAN Laboratory and Executive Director of the DOTCAN Institute; and Claudette Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer and AI Implementation Architect at Owning My.
Also featuring prominently will be a Pulitzer Centre side event on Journalism, Climate Action and Civic Space Engagement, which will examine how public-interest journalism can strengthen climate accountability, improve public understanding and ensure that the experiences of communities bearing the greatest burden of climate change are reflected in policy decisions.
The Abuja gathering follows climate conversations hosted by ACF in Accra earlier this year and builds on the Forum’s activities since its establishment in 2023, with the 2026 edition placing a sharper emphasis on implementation, investment and coordinated public-private action.
With Africa facing mounting pressure to deliver climate-resilient development while simultaneously addressing poverty, energy deficits and unemployment, the Abuja Forum is expected to test whether existing climate commitments can be converted into finance, projects and measurable outcomes for the continent.
