Africa Contributes Least To Climate Change But Suffers Most — Tinubu Demands Fair Deal At BRICS Summit

President Bola Tinubu has urged global leaders to adopt a fairer climate framework and restructure international financial and healthcare systems to address long-standing inequalities that continue to harm Africa and other developing regions.

Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tinubu called for the inclusion of low-income and emerging economies in global decision-making processes. He stressed the need for equitable access to climate financing, technology transfer, and healthcare solutions.

“Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS,” Tinubu said, emphasizing the urgency of reevaluating the world’s financial and governance structures.

The summit marked Nigeria’s debut as a BRICS partner country, following its official admission in January 2025, alongside Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

President Tinubu was invited by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the BRICS gathering, where he delivered a strong appeal for climate justice. He reiterated that while Africa has contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, it suffers the worst consequences from desertification to flooding and food insecurity.

Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to climate initiatives, Tinubu cited the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall project. He added that Nigeria’s Vision 2050 aims to strengthen resilience through renewable energy, urban sustainability, and universal healthcare.

Tinubu also stressed the urgency of South-South cooperation in tackling the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, urging BRICS to evolve beyond an economic bloc into a platform for global solutions rooted in solidarity and sustainability.

“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” Tinubu said.

“We need a new path of justice one built on fairness, sustainable technology transfer, and accessible financing, so that emerging economies can fully benefit from global efforts.”

“We cannot remain passive participants in global conversations about debt forgiveness, climate action, and healthcare equity,” he added.

“BRICS must become a beacon for shared prosperity.”