Headline

UN Backs Global Carbon Pricing Scheme For Shipping Industry

Published

5 months ago

April 17, 2025

In a landmark move, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed on a global carbon pricing mechanism for the shipping industry, marking a significant step toward tackling emissions from one of the world’s most polluting sectors.

The policy, expected to be formally adopted in October 2025, is projected to generate between $30–40 billion in revenues by 2030—roughly $10 billion annually. These funds will be ringfenced exclusively for decarbonising maritime transport, rather than contributing to broader climate finance for developing nations.

While hailed as a major breakthrough, the agreement is expected to deliver only a 10% absolute emissions reduction in the shipping sector by 2030—well below the IMO’s own revised strategy from 2023, which calls for at least a 20% reduction by the same year, and a stretch goal of 30%.

From 2028, vessels will either have to adopt lower-carbon fuel mixes or pay for excess emissions. Ships continuing to use conventional fossil fuels will face a charge of $380 per tonne for the most carbon-intensive portion of their emissions, and $100 per tonne for the remainder above a set threshold.

The agreement, supported by 63 countries—including Brazil, China, the EU, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, and Namibia—sets a global precedent. However, the policy faced strong opposition from oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Russia, and Venezuela, who challenged both the substance and process of the deal. Despite the resistance, a compromise proposal championed by Norway, which chaired the negotiations, passed in the final vote.

Notably, the United States delegation was absent during the vote, having earlier circulated a proposal urging countries to withdraw from negotiations—a move that drew criticism from multiple quarters.

A bloc of over 60 nations, led by Pacific Island states, had advocated for the revenue to support broader climate resilience efforts in vulnerable nations. Speaking on behalf of the Pacific, Tuvalu expressed frustration at the lack of transparency and inclusion in the talks, warning that the new plan may fail to incentivise cleaner fuel adoption effectively.

While the agreement allows initial use of fossil-based liquefied natural gas (LNG), the pricing mechanism is designed to gradually penalise such fuels over time.

Minister Antony Derjacques of the Seychelles criticised the limited ambition of the deal.

He said, “The developing countries with the greatest need came here and offered a solution. How can the other major economies ask us to take a weak deal home to our people, who are suffering as a result of the climate crisis?”

Maria Ogbugo of the African Future Policies Hub viewed the outcome more positively.

She said, “The best possible outcome was achieved. African delegations, including Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa, must be commended. The shipping industry has taken the lead in showing that climate action is possible—even for hard-to-abate sectors.”

The Executive Director at the same organisation, Faten Aggad added “Reaching consensus on decarbonisation measures was never going to be easy. Yet the result still puts a price on emissions, which is a crucial starting point—especially for vulnerable economies.”

The maritime advisor at the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport, Eldine Glees, highlighted the link between climate levies and sustainable development.

The advisor said, “Several African delegations showed exemplary leadership by tying the levy to food security, resilience, and equitable revenue distribution. Maintaining unity will be vital as implementation begins.”

The CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris Agreement, Laurence Tubiana, said the agreement was a step forward but not enough.

The CEO said, “The lack of a broader shipping levy is a missed opportunity. The world needs more cooperation, and progressive partners can still push for breakthroughs in climate finance.”

Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu said, “Let us be clear about who has abandoned 1.5°C. Saudi Arabia, the US, and other fossil fuel allies blocked progress at every turn. This was a chance to fund climate-vulnerable nations. It was lost.”

Ambassador Albon Ishoda of the Marshall Islands concluded with a note of resilience.

Headline

Netanyahu’s Plane Takes Unusual Route To UN Summit

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane took an unusual route to New York on Thursday, skirting several European countries en route to the United Nations General Assembly.

Although France had authorised Israeli use of its airspace, according to a French diplomatic source who spoke to AFP, flight-tracking data showed Netanyahu’s aircraft instead took a southern path.

It crossed Greece and Italy, then veered south through the Strait of Gibraltar before heading across the Atlantic.

Britain, France and Portugal were among a string of countries to recognise a Palestinian state this week, a move Netanyahu bitterly opposes. Ireland and Spain announced their recognition in May.

Israeli media, meanwhile, reported that the detour by Netanyahu’s plane was intended to avoid countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, which could enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in case of an emergency landing.

The ICC in November issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, over alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Spain last week announced it would support the ICC investigation and had set up a team to probe alleged human rights violations in Gaza, as part of its broader push to pressure Israel to end the war.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday. He is also slated to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House next week.

AFP

Headline

Japan Scraps ‘Africa Hometown’ Project After Visa Confusion

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has cancelled its ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ initiative, citing “misunderstandings and confusion” over the programme.

JICA announced the withdrawal in a statement on its website on Thursday, weeks after reports claimed Japan would create a special visa category for Nigerians who wished to relocate to Kisarazu, a city designated as “hometown” to Nigerians and other Africans under the scheme.

On August 26, the Japanese government denied the visa plan after the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, issued a statement relaying that Japan would introduce a “special visa category” for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work.

Clarifying its position, JICA said the use of the term “hometown” and the idea of “designating” Japanese municipalities as such led to “misunderstandings and confusion within Japan, placing an excessive burden on the four municipalities.”

The statement read, “Originally, under this initiative, it was envisioned that exchange programs would be coordinated and implemented among the Japanese local governments, relevant African countries, and JICA. The specific details were to be determined later.

“However, JICA believes that the very nature of this initiative—namely, the term “hometown” and the fact that JICA would ‘designate’ Japanese local Governments as “hometowns”—led to misunderstandings and confusion within Japan, placing an excessive burden on the four municipalities. JICA sincerely apologizes to the municipalities involved for causing such situation.

“JICA takes this situation seriously. After consulting with all parties involved, JICA has decided to withdraw the “JICA Africa Hometown” initiative.”

The initiative was launched in August during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development with the goal of promoting exchanges between four Japanese municipalities and four African countries through cultural and educational programmes.

JICA, however, stressed that it had never undertaken initiatives to promote immigration and has “no plans to do so in the future,” adding that it would continue supporting other forms of international exchange.

In August, confusion arose after the State House announced that Japan had designated Kisarazu city as the “hometown” for Nigerians and would introduce a special visa category for young, skilled Nigerians wishing to live and work there.

However, the Japanese government quickly dismissed the claim.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan clarified that while the JICA Africa Hometown initiative aimed to promote cultural and developmental exchanges between selected African countries and four Japanese cities, it did not involve immigration benefits or special visas.

The clarification came after Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Japan, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu’s Mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, publicly received a certificate naming the city the “hometown” of Nigerians, further fuelling reports of migration opportunities.

Headline

17 African Countries Back Electricity Reforms—World Bank

Published

8 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The World Bank said seventeen African governments have committed to reforms and actionable plans to expand electricity access as part of Mission 300, an ambitious partnership led by the lender and the African Development Bank Group that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

The lender said in a statement on Wednesday that governments from Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, the Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, and Togo endorsed National Energy Compacts at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum.

The Bank described the compacts as policy blueprints intended to guide public spending, drive reforms, and attract private investment, while serving as a model for the rest of the world.

Nigeria was not part of the latest group; it had joined earlier this year alongside Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia. Collectively, those countries pledged more than 400 policy actions to strengthen utilities, reduce investor risk, and remove bottlenecks.

“Electricity is the bedrock of jobs, opportunity, and economic growth.

“That’s why Mission 300 is more than a target; it is forging enduring reforms that slash costs, strengthen utilities, and draw in private investment,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said.

Since the launch of Mission 300, 30 million people have already been connected, with more than 100 million in the pipeline.

African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah said, “Reliable, affordable power is the fastest multiplier for small and medium enterprises, agro-processing, digital work, and industrial value-addition.
“Give a young entrepreneur power, and you’ve given them a paycheck,” he added.

National Energy Compacts are at the core of Mission 300, developed and endorsed by governments with technical support from development partners. Tailored to each country’s context, these practical blueprints integrate three core tracks: infrastructure, financing, and policy.

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group are working with partners, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Sustainable Energy for All, and the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program trust fund, to align efforts in support of powering Africa. Many development partners and development finance institutions are also supporting Mission 300 projects through co-financing and technical assistance.

President of Botswana, Duma Boko, said, “This National Compact is our shared pledge to ensure accessible, reliable and affordable energy as a basic human need, to transform our economy and create jobs, and to electrify our journey to an inclusive high-income country.”

President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, said, “The government of the Republic of Cameroon is committed, through its Energy Compact, to a determined transition towards renewable energies, promoting inclusive universal access and sustainable development based on partnerships and ambitious reforms to build a low-carbon future.”

President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, noted, “The Comoros Energy Compact is a call for collective action to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030, to ensure the country’s emergence in dignity, equity, and shared progress.”

President of Ethiopia, Taye Atske Selassie, noted, “Our National Energy Compact exemplifies Ethiopia’s unwavering dedication to ensuring universal, affordable, and sustainable energy access for all.

“By unlocking our vast renewable resources and strengthening regional interconnections, we aim to foster inclusive growth domestically and propel Africa’s collective momentum toward ending energy poverty. Together, we are committed to building a resilient, equitable, and sustainable energy future for generations to come.”