By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja
As Africa’s climate ambitions increasingly confront the realities of financing, coordination and execution, attention is shifting to a harder question: how can commitments be translated into action that delivers measurable results for the continent?
That question will be at the centre of the Africa Climate Forum (ACF) 2026, which will bring together policymakers, business leaders, climate practitioners, development institutions and other stakeholders on 13-14 October 2026 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Organised by the Global Centre for Law, Business and Economy (GCLBE), the fourth edition of the Forum will be held under the theme _”Implementing in Lockstep: Public-Private Action for Green Outcomes.”_ With both in-person and virtual participation from across Africa and beyond, the Forum will focus on how policy, investment, enterprise and institutions can work together more effectively to move climate priorities from commitment to delivery.
The Forum will draw a broad mix of high-profile executives, policymakers, climate leaders and industry experts. Among those expected are Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson, Director and UNIDO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS; Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN, Senior Partner at Africa Law Practice NG & Company; Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Governing Board Member and Chairman of the Committee on Security, Special Interventions and Climate Change at the North East Development Commission; Dr Salisu Dahiru, former Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change; and Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, alongside other leaders from government, business, development institutions, academia and the climate community.
Its pan-African and international rech will also be reflected in contributions from 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 http://CERC.OCEAN Laboratory and Executive Director of the DOTCAN Institute; and Claudette Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer and AI Implementation Architect at Owning My, alongside other climate, sustainability, development and institutional voices participating physically and virtually.
According to Prof. George Nwangwu, Convener of the Africa Climate Forum and Director General of GCLBE, the emphasis on implementation reflects the need for stronger coordination among institutions responsible for turning ambition into results.
“Climate action requires more than ambition. It requires governments, businesses and financial institutions to move together. We have an opportunity to refine our partnerships, forge new ones, and make bold commitments that can translate into meaningful action,” Nwangwu said.
Across the two days, plenary discussions will examine the practical issues shaping Africa’s climate transition, including the role of private enterprise, the future of carbon markets, energy access and natural gas, food security and adaptation, community-led climate action, human rights and the just transition, as well as the use of artificial intelligence, data and digital technologies to improve climate planning and delivery.
Beyond the plenaries, the ACF Deal Room will provide a direct meeting point for climate project developers, green businesses, investors and financial institutions. Running across both days, the initiative is designed to connect promising climate solutions with potential partners and capital.
The programme will also feature a dedicated Pulitzer Centre side event on Journalism, Climate Action and Civic Space Engagement, examining how public-interest journalism can strengthen climate accountability, improve public understanding and amplify the experiences of communities affected by climate change.
The Abuja Forum follows ACF climate conversations held in Accra earlier this year, where stakeholders examined climate partnerships, finance, just transition and public-private collaboration.
Since its first edition in 2023, the Africa Climate Forum has brought together perspectives from policy, business, investment and development around the continent’s climate response. The 2026 edition builds on that foundation by placing implementation more firmly at the centre of the conversation.
