By Oluwakemi Kindness
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on African parliaments to back climate policies with dedicated funding, warning that legislation alone cannot effectively address the continent’s growing environmental challenges.
Speaking on Thursday at the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons in London, Kalu said climate action would remain ineffective without adequate budgetary support and stronger legislative capacity.
The event also marked the inauguration of former Nigerian lawmaker, Sam Onuigbo, as the new President of GLOBE.
Kalu urged African governments and legislatures to move beyond passing climate laws and ensure sufficient resources are allocated for adaptation and mitigation programmes that directly benefit vulnerable communities.
He stressed that many lawmakers across Africa and the wider Global South still require greater understanding of climate issues, making education and capacity building essential for effective climate governance.
According to him, even where climate legislation exists, its impact could be limited if parliamentarians and implementing agencies lack the expertise to interpret and enforce it properly.
The Deputy Speaker called on GLOBE to prioritise training for legislators across the continent, noting that improved parliamentary capacity would strengthen oversight, enhance policy implementation and bolster national responses to climate change.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s progress, Kalu said the enactment of the Climate Change Act, 2021, had elevated environmental issues within national policy discussions, while the establishment of the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change demonstrated growing legislative commitment.
He also congratulated Sam Onuigbo, sponsor of Nigeria’s landmark Climate Change Act, describing his emergence as GLOBE President as a recognition of his longstanding contributions to climate advocacy and legislation.
Kalu expressed optimism that African lawmakers would increasingly insist on clear climate allocations in national budgets, arguing that governments must commit a defined share of public spending to climate action if they hope to achieve measurable and lasting results.
Founded in 1989, GLOBE is an international network of parliamentarians from more than 80 countries working to advance legislative solutions to sustainable development and environmental challenges.
