A former member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, has been inaugurated as President of GLOBE Legislators, a global network of parliamentarians dedicated to advancing climate action and sustainable development across party lines.
Onuigbo, who sponsored Nigeria’s landmark Climate Change Act, was inaugurated during the 35th anniversary celebration of GLOBE Legislators held at the Churchill Room of the House of Commons, Parliament of the United Kingdom, in London on Wednesday.
A statement he personally signed on Thursday said the former lawmaker, after his inauguration, pledged to strengthen parliamentary engagement in climate action globally and build on the organisation’s three-and-a-half decades of work in promoting legislative responses to climate change.
“As we now enter a new era, it is my firm commitment that we will continue to build on the ideals and visions of this great organisation. We will build to support parliamentary efforts to progress climate action globally,” he said.
Describing climate change as one of the defining challenges of the modern era, Onuigbo said legislators must play a central role in driving effective responses through policy-making, legislation, oversight and public mobilisation.
“Climate change remains one of the defining challenges of our time, and effective responses require informed and empowered legislators who can champion robust policies, enact progressive legislation, exercise leadership and fairness in ensuring that adequate appropriations are made for climate change, provide effective oversight and mobilise public support,” he stated.
The new GLOBE President said his administration would focus on promoting green investments, climate education and stronger collaboration among governments, development agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector.
“Under my leadership, GLOBE aims to enhance opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity development, and peer learning, while also strengthening collaborations with governments, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector,” he said.
According to him, the organisation would work to ensure that climate commitments made at international forums translate into practical actions within communities across the world.
“Our goal is to ensure that climate actions are not only discussed at international legislative forums but also translated into tangible initiatives and actions within communities worldwide,” he added.
Onuigbo also announced plans to champion climate education globally, arguing that future climate action depends on the awareness and leadership of younger generations.
“We will establish essential frameworks to promote climate education across all educational levels. Since the future of climate action relies on the knowledge, awareness, and leadership of the next generation, it is crucial to integrate these elements into educational curricula,” he said.
He noted that GLOBE would expand programmes such as the Student-MP Climate Surgery initiative, which he previously supervised in Nigeria.
Reflecting on the organisation’s history, Onuigbo said GLOBE was established in 1991 by prominent lawmakers, including former United States Vice President Al Gore and former US Secretary of State John Kerry, ahead of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
He said the founders recognised that international climate agreements could only achieve meaningful impact through legislative action at national and sub-national levels.
“For thirty-five years, GLOBE has championed and led the way in promoting parliamentary involvement in climate action and sustainable development across party lines, making it the first organisation to do so,” he said.
The former lawmaker also highlighted GLOBE’s role in inspiring Nigeria’s climate governance framework, noting that participation in the organisation’s summit during COP21 in Paris motivated his push for climate legislation in Nigeria.
“The COP21 GLOBE Legislators Summit at the French National Assembly in Paris was the catalyst for the Nigerian Climate Change Act. At that summit, we were charged with going back home and pushing for legislation to advance climate action. I returned from the summit and never looked back,” he said.
“Today, Nigeria’s climate action journey has progressed significantly because of the Climate Change Act, which I sponsored,” Onuigbo added.
He further called on legislators, governments, development banks, donor agencies, academics and young people to support parliamentary engagement in climate governance.
“Without parliaments, we cannot achieve anything,” he said.
Reiterating the organisation’s belief in the importance of legislatures, Onuigbo declared: “Parliaments Make COPs Count. Indeed, there will be no headway in climate action without parliaments.”
GLOBE Legislators is an international organisation that brings together parliamentarians from across the world to promote legislative action on climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
The body also serves as the focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change parliamentary group.
