President Bola Tinubu has again been absent from the World Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
His absence marks the third consecutive year he has not
personally attended the high-level climate gathering.
The two-day Antalya Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for November
11 and 12 in Turkey, brings together presidents, prime ministers and heads of
government to outline their countries’ climate priorities, announce commitments
and provide political direction for international climate negotiations.
The summit is one of the most politically significant events
of the annual climate conference, offering world leaders an opportunity to
influence discussions on climate finance, adaptation, energy transition and
support for vulnerable countries.
However, while several world leaders arrived in Antalya for
the high-level engagements, Tinubu, alongside several other world leaders were
absent from the gathering.
Tinubu’s absence from the leaders’ summit continues a
pattern that began at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. He had attended COP28
in Dubai in 2023.
At COP28, Tinubu was physically present at the World Climate
Action Summit but did not deliver his scheduled national statement. He,
however, addressed a high-level meeting on methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse
gases, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to tackling methane emissions.
At COP29, Nigeria’s national statement was delivered on his
behalf by Balarabe Lawal, then minister of environment and ecological
management.
The pattern continued at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025.
Although Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the conference,
the president did not personally attend the leaders’ engagements.
At COP31, Tinubu is again absent from the high-level
gathering, with Nigeria missing from the list of countries scheduled to deliver
national statements during the opening segment on November 11 and 12.
However, countries whose leaders do not deliver statements
during the first segment can still do so when the high-level segment resumes on
November 17 and 18.
TINUBU’S CAMPAIGN COMMENT
Tinubu’s repeated absence comes against the backdrop of
questions about his personal commitment to climate action, dating back to his
presidential campaign.
In October 2022, while responding to a question about
climate change at an interactive session organised by the Arewa Joint Committee
in Kaduna, Tinubu questioned Nigeria’s ability to meet with international
climate obligations without financial support from developed countries.
“We need to tell the West; if you don’t guarantee our
finances and work with us to stop this, we are not going to comply with your
climate change,” Tinubu had said.
The remarks drew criticism, with some questioning Tinubu’s
understanding of the climate crisis and his choice of words, —”your climate
change”.
However, his supporters defended his position, arguing that
Nigeria should not be expected to meet international climate obligations
without adequate financial support from developed countries.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu’s administration
has made climate-related commitments, including advancing Nigeria’s energy
transition and advocating increased international climate finance.
However, his repeated absence from the high-level climate
change conferences has raised questions about the importance he personally
attaches to the climate action and the level of political attention his
administration gives the issue.
The timing is also significant as Nigeria prepares for its
January 2027 general election.
SEVERAL GLOBAL LEADERS SKIP COP31
Tinubu is not the only prominent political leader missing
from the COP31 leaders’ summit.
United States President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi
Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also absent.
Several European leaders, including French President
Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni, are also missing. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are among other prominent leaders not
attending.
While China is represented by Vice-President Han Zheng,
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is attending the summit.
Trump’s absence is particularly significant given his
administration’s position on climate change.
The US president has repeatedly dismissed climate science,
describing climate change as a hoax. He also initiated the country’s withdrawal
from the Paris Agreement for a second time. The withdrawal took effect in
January 2026.
The United States is one of the world’s largest greenhouse
gas emitters and the biggest historical contributor to cumulative carbon
dioxide emissions, making its political position consequential for
international climate action.
The absence of these leaders has also drawn attention to the
level of political commitment from countries with significant influence over
global emissions, energy markets, investment and climate finance.
‘AFRICA CAN’T AFFORD TO BE ABSENT’
Michael David, founder and executive director of the Global
Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said the
absence of influential political leaders from COP31 raises questions about the
seriousness with which governments are treating the climate crisis.
David said the absence of African leaders, including Tinubu,
was concerning given the continent’s vulnerability to climate impacts.
“At a time when the world is experiencing escalating climate
emergencies, from devastating floods and prolonged droughts to extreme heat,
food insecurity and biodiversity loss, the world needs stronger political
leadership, not diminished representation,” he said.
He described climate diplomacy as more than an environmental
engagement, arguing that it is also economic, development, food security and
national security diplomacy.
“Africa cannot afford to be a passive observer while
decisions affecting its future are being negotiated,” he said.
David urged African governments to demand predictable and
accessible adaptation finance, increased investment in renewable energy,
stronger support for climate-resilient agriculture and adequate funding to
address loss and damage.
He also called for technology transfer, local manufacturing,
skills development and green job creation, adding that Nigeria must demonstrate
stronger presidential leadership and translate its climate commitments into
concrete national action.
The environmental expert noted that attendance alone should
not be the measure of climate leadership, saying countries whose presidents are
absent must ensure their delegations are adequately empowered to defend
national interests and deliver meaningful outcomes.
“The climate crisis will not wait for political convenience.
Neither should our leaders,” he said.
The absence of African leaders is particularly concerning
because the continent remains highly vulnerable to climate change despite
contributing relatively little to historical global greenhouse gas emissions.
Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt are among the African countries
whose presidents are missing from the opening high-level engagements. For
Nigeria, the effects of climate change are increasingly visible through
flooding, desertification, drought, extreme heat, declining agricultural
productivity and threats to livelihoods.
The country also faces climate-related risks associated with
changing rainfall and temperature patterns.
In August 2026, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
confirmed the onset of a strong El Niño event, warning that it would influence
global climate patterns.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)subsequently
projected that the event could persist through February 2027, with significant
implications for rainfall and temperature patterns and increased risks of
extreme weather.
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