As the world confronts record-breaking temperatures, deadly heatwaves, devastating floods and a looming overshoot of the Paris Agreement target, World Environment Day 2026 has become a rallying point for urgent climate action. In this special report, DARE AKOGUN examines global and local responses to climate change, the growing threat of extreme heat in Nigeria, and why experts insist that the time for action is now
From the global stage in Baku, Azerbaijan, to climate-focused events in Lagos and Edo State, stakeholders stressed that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat but a present-day emergency affecting economies, public health, food systems and national security.
The global commemoration came against the backdrop of rising temperatures, worsening floods, droughts, biodiversity loss and increasing concerns that the world is drifting further away from achieving the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
In his message to mark the day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the warning signs of climate change are now visible everywhere.
“The past eleven years have been the hottest on record. The world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees,” Guterres said.
He called for immediate and coordinated global action, including rapid emissions reduction, accelerated transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, methane reduction, protection of forests and oceans, and the fulfilment of climate finance commitments to developing countries.
“Our task is to make that overshoot as small, as short and as safe as possible, and rapidly bring temperatures back down.
This year’s World Environment Day, commemorated on Friday, June 5, was hosted by Azerbaijan under the campaign theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”, with the rallying call “Now for Climate.”
Speaking during the official commemoration in Baku, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Rashad Ismayilov, said no country is immune from the consequences of climate change.
“The science is clear: every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives, livelihoods and ecosystems,” he said.
Ismayilov highlighted his country’s commitment to climate action, including plans to nearly double renewable energy capacity by 2030 and implement a climate action plan aligned with the 1.5-degree target.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Inger Andersen, also described climate change as one of the defining challenges of the century.
“The planet has, for years, been sending signals that its limits are approaching,” she said.
Andersen stressed that wealthy nations, major polluters, grassroots activists and ordinary citizens all have a role to play in preventing further environmental degradation.
More than 2,000 climate events worldwide
Across the globe, governments, businesses, schools, civil society organisations and communities organised over 2,000 events to commemorate World Environment Day.
Cities including Lagos, Paris, Melbourne, Antalya, Mendoza and Yangzhou joined UNEP’s newly launched 50@50 initiative, a global campaign designed to help cities prepare for temperatures reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius.
The initiative seeks to promote sustainable cooling solutions, urban greening, improved infrastructure and public awareness to address one of the world’s fastest-growing climate threats: extreme heat.
UNEP also used the occasion to launch a policy brief titled Cheaper. Cleaner. Unstoppable, highlighting how clean technologies such as solar energy, electric mobility and sustainable cooling systems are becoming increasingly affordable and scalable.
The agency further launched the world’s first Climate Dance Challenge, encouraging young people across social media platforms to raise awareness about climate change through creative engagement.
Lagos responds to growing urban heat challenge
In Nigeria, one of the most significant World Environment Day events took place in Lagos, where state officials unveiled ambitious plans to combat rising temperatures and promote environmental sustainability.
Speaking during a celebration at Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park in Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olalekan Rotimi-Akodu, announced a N2.5m tree-planting prize aimed at encouraging residents to embrace environmental stewardship.
The initiative, tagged “Me and My Tree,” will provide free seedlings to participants, who will nurture and maintain them for one year.
The owner of the healthiest and best-maintained tree will receive a cash prize of N2.5m.
The Lagos State Government also announced plans to plant 500 trees across the state as part of activities marking World Environment Day.
According to Rotimi-Akodu, the initiative aligns with Lagos’ participation in UNEP’s 50 Cities at 50°C programme.
“This year’s celebration is particularly important because Lagos is among the cities identified as being vulnerable to extreme heat and rising temperatures,” he said.
He warned that rapid urbanisation, population growth and climate change were creating enormous environmental pressures.
“Extreme heat affects every aspect of urban life. It impacts public health, labour productivity, energy demand, air quality and overall quality of life,” Rotimi-Akodu noted.
The official disclosed that over seven million trees had been planted across Lagos since 2009 through the efforts of government agencies, schools, businesses and community groups.
Lagos temperatures rising despite interventions
Despite ongoing environmental efforts, climate experts say temperatures in Lagos continue to rise.
Assistant Chief Meteorologist at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Benson Levi, revealed that climate data covering the period between 1991 and 2025 showed a steady increase in minimum temperatures across Lagos.
“The minimum temperature we are recording in Lagos is on the rise. It has not declined over the years,” he said.
Levi attributed the trend to rapid urbanisation, loss of wetlands, population growth and increasing emissions from vehicles and generators.
Levi urged residents to complement government efforts by embracing public transportation, reducing carbon-intensive activities and participating in tree-planting initiatives.
The Global Chief Heat Officer for UNEP, UN-Habitat and the Atlantic Council’s Climate Resilience Centre, Dr Eleni Myrivili, also warned that extreme heat is already shaping lives and economies around the world.
“Extreme heat is no longer a future scare. For some cities, it might be 50°C and for others, it might be lower. Whatever it is, we must prepare for it,” she said.
Climate justice takes centre stage in Edo
While policymakers in Lagos focused on urban heat adaptation, renowned environmental activist and Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey, used the World Environment Day commemoration at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, to deliver a far-reaching critique of global climate governance.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Now for Climate: Nigeria’s Moment, Edo’s Opportunity — Universities at the Vanguard of the Climate Transition,” he said that climate change must be viewed through the lens of justice.
According to him, Africa contributes only about two to three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears a disproportionate share of climate impacts.
“This is one of the greatest injustices of our time,” Bassey said.
He stressed that communities suffering the most severe climate impacts are often those least responsible for causing the crisis.
For this reason, he said climate change discussions must always include questions of accountability, equity and historical responsibility.
“The climate crisis did not emerge by accident. It is rooted in an economic model built on excessive extraction, overconsumption and the treatment of nature as an endless source of raw materials and an unlimited sink for pollution,” he noted.
Fossil fuels remain at the heart of crisis
Bassey criticised continued dependence on fossil fuels and warned against what he described as false solutions to climate change.
He called for an immediate halt to gas flaring, oil pollution and destructive extractive practices, especially in the Niger Delta.
“Nature clearly shows the interdependence of all beings. A rapid shift from dependence on fossil fuels is the key way of averting the climate crisis,” Bassey stated.
The environmentalist also warned that the global shift to renewable energy could create new forms of exploitation if not properly managed.
According to him, some renewable energy projects and carbon offset schemes risk becoming forms of “green colonialism” that benefit wealthy nations while displacing vulnerable communities.
“The transition away from fossil fuels is necessary, but it must be just,” he said.
Universities must lead climate transition
A major focus of Bassey’s address was the role of universities in addressing climate change.
He argued that institutions of higher learning must move beyond academic discussions and become active drivers of climate solutions.
“Universities occupy a unique position in society. They produce knowledge. They train professionals. They influence public policy,” Bassey said.
According to him, climate literacy should become an integral component of education across all disciplines, including law, medicine, journalism, engineering and economics.
He urged universities to focus research efforts on solving local climate challenges such as renewable energy access, food security, water management, biodiversity conservation and community resilience.
Bassey also challenged universities to serve as demonstration centres for sustainability through renewable energy deployment, waste reduction, water conservation and ecosystem restoration projects.
“Students should be able to see sustainability in practice, not merely read about it in textbooks,” he said.
Young Nigerians must drive climate action
For Nigerian climate advocate and environmental policy expert, Olumide Idowu, World Environment Day 2026 should serve as a wake-up call for governments, institutions and citizens to move beyond rhetoric and embrace practical climate solutions.
Idowu, who has represented African youth at several international climate negotiations, said the impacts of climate change are already evident across Nigeria and require urgent action at all levels.
According to him, climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue but one that affects public health, economic development, food security and national stability.
“We are already seeing the consequences around us. Communities are experiencing floods, prolonged heatwaves, changing rainfall patterns and threats to livelihoods. Climate change is affecting agriculture, health, education and economic productivity,” he said.
Idowu noted that while global leaders continue to negotiate climate commitments, local action remains critical in determining whether communities can withstand future climate shocks.
“The climate crisis is global, but adaptation happens locally. Communities must be empowered with information, resources and opportunities to build resilience,” he added.
The climate advocate praised efforts by cities such as Lagos to expand urban greening initiatives and promote climate adaptation strategies, but stressed that such interventions must be scaled up across the country.
According to him, Nigerian cities are increasingly vulnerable to the urban heat island effect, where concrete structures, asphalt roads and shrinking green spaces combine to raise temperatures above surrounding rural areas.
“Tree planting is important, but it must be strategic. We need urban planning that prioritises green infrastructure, sustainable transportation and climate-smart development,” he said.
Climate education remains a missing link
Idowu also echoed concerns raised by environmentalists over the limited level of climate literacy among young Nigerians.
He argued that climate education should become a core component of learning at all levels, from primary schools to universities.
“The future workforce will be operating in a climate-constrained world. Whether you are studying medicine, law, journalism, engineering or business, climate change will affect your profession. We need to prepare young people accordingly,” Idowu said.
He called on educational institutions to incorporate climate science, sustainability and environmental responsibility into their curricula.
According to him, universities have a special responsibility to develop practical solutions to local climate challenges through research and innovation.
“Universities should become centres of climate innovation. They should not only study climate problems but also develop solutions that communities can implement,” he added.
While acknowledging increasing global attention to climate issues, Idowu said access to climate finance remains one of the biggest obstacles confronting African countries.
He noted that many developing countries continue to struggle with implementing adaptation and mitigation projects due to inadequate funding.
“Africa contributes the least to global emissions but faces some of the worst impacts. Climate finance commitments must move from promises to actual implementation,” Idowu said.
He stressed that climate investments should prioritise vulnerable communities, renewable energy access, sustainable agriculture and resilience-building initiatives.
According to him, achieving climate justice requires wealthy nations to fulfil their obligations under international agreements.
“The conversation about climate justice is not charity. It is about responsibility. Those who contributed most to the crisis must support those who are bearing the greatest burden,” he stated.
Why the next decade matters
Experts warn that the coming decade will determine whether the world can avoid the most severe consequences of climate change.
Scientific reports indicate that global temperatures are approaching dangerous thresholds that could trigger irreversible environmental changes, including sea-level rise, ecosystem collapse and more extreme weather events.
For Nigeria, the implications are profound
The country faces multiple climate threats, including coastal erosion in the South, flooding across river basins, desertification in the North, biodiversity loss and increasing heat stress in urban centres.
Environmental experts say these challenges could worsen existing social and economic pressures, including food insecurity, unemployment, migration and resource-based conflicts.
As World Environment Day 2026 concluded, a common message emerged from global leaders, climate scientists, policymakers and environmental advocates: the time for incremental action has passed.
With temperatures rising, ecosystems under pressure and climate-related disasters becoming more frequent, stakeholders insist that governments, businesses and citizens must act urgently.
For Nigeria, experts say the challenge is especially critical.
From flooding of coastal communities and desertification in the North to rising temperatures in Lagos and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, climate change is already reshaping lives and livelihoods.
As governments pursue climate adaptation and renewable energy strategies, environmental advocates argue that the success of those efforts will depend not only on policy commitments but also on public participation, climate justice and sustained investment in resilience.
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