Oxfam Urges Nations to Fulfill COP27 Climate Finance Pledges

Oxfam Pressures Nations to Honor COP27 Climate Finance Commitments
Global humanitarian organization, Oxfam, has urged nations to fulfill their financial pledges made during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) on climate change.

The call was made at a two-day workshop organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) in Port Harcourt, with support from Oxfam.

At COP27, developed countries pledged $100 billion annually to assist low- and middle-income nations in their climate action efforts. However, much of the actual funds delivered have been in the form of loans, worsening the debt burden on vulnerable countries rather than offering genuine support.

Nigeria’s Climate Action Plan and the Need for Funding

Henry Ushe, Oxfam’s Program Manager for Accountable Governance in Nigeria, emphasized that while Nigeria has made progress in aligning with climate goals—including developing a Gas Master Plan and committing to net-zero emissions by 2060—financial backing is still lacking.

“What we haven’t seen is the financial commitment to drive these policies forward. We need the funding to make these plans a reality,” Ushe stated.

Nigeria has also passed the Climate Justice Act and established a dedicated secretariat to oversee implementation.

However, without the promised financial support, these initiatives remain largely on paper.

Experts Call for Stronger Climate Action

• Lawrence Dube, Head of the Community Environmental Legal Desk of Natural Justice in Nigeria, called on regulatory agencies to enforce energy security policies and bring investors to the table.
• Harry Udoh, Chairman of the Civil Society National Regulation Council of Nigeria, criticized the slow pace of implementation since 2007, urging the government to fast-track gas infrastructure development and improve access to energy.
• Ayo Omowu, Programme Lead at CISLAC, stressed the need for renewable energy investments and the proper execution of Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2060.

What’s Next?

With global temperatures rising and extreme weather events worsening, climate finance is more crucial than ever.

Oxfam continues to push for accountability—both from wealthy nations to fulfill their promises and from developing nations to ensure transparent use of climate funds.

As the world gears up for the next COP summit, the question remains: Will these financial commitments finally be honored, or will climate-vulnerable nations continue to wait?