4th December 2025
By Peace Ahovi
WASCAL convened policymakers, scientists, development partners, investors, and civil society in Abuja, Nigeria, for the inaugural International Conference on Climate Change and Just Energy Transition (I3C-JET 2025). The conference served as a regional platform to accelerate climate action, strengthen partnerships, and explore practical pathways toward a just energy transition in West Africa.
Opening the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to climate leadership. While noting that Africa contributes the least to global carbon emissions, he stressed the continent’s determination to pursue equitable and sustainable development. Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 while ensuring universal access to modern energy by 2030.
Addressing participants, Prof. Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, the Executive Director of WASCAL, highlighted the organisation’s growing impact in strengthening climate resilience through research, capacity building, and climate services. Since its establishment, WASCAL has trained more than 700 master’s and PhD graduates and established a Competence Centre in Ouagadougou to support regional climate research and innovation.
Alongside the conference, WASCAL also convened a meeting of Directors of its Graduate Studies Programmes (GSPs) from partner universities across West Africa. The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress in the implementation of WASCAL’s academic programmes, strengthen coordination among partner institutions, and discuss strategies for enhancing curriculum development, research collaboration, and the training of future climate experts in the region. The session reaffirmed the importance of higher education and scientific capacity building in supporting long-term climate resilience and sustainable development.
Several side events further showcased collaborative initiatives translating climate science into action. A dedicated session on the Climate Service Centre Germany (GERICS), supported by the CICLES Project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), presented progress in delivering integrated climate services. Through climate bulletins addressing issues such as migration under climate hazards, extreme heat, food security, and public health, the project has informed over 2,800 practitioners, scientists, and policymakers across West Africa.
CICLES has also strengthened resilience in agriculture by training 475 users, including 62 women, on the PlanteSaine digital platform for early detection of crop diseases, and by supporting 380 farmers and extension officers in climate-informed planning through seasonal forecasts. In addition, 37 researchers and practitioners have received training in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and crop modelling to strengthen regional expertise in climate science.
The conference further featured a side event by Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), which explored ways to expand climate-smart agriculture and improve climate information services for farmers across Africa. Another session led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) focused on sustainable water management and the role of climate data in strengthening water security and resilience in the region.
Beyond dialogue, the conference also showcased practical climate technologies. In collaboration with BARANI Design Technologies, WASCAL donated an advanced IoT-enabled automatic weather station to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The solar-powered system, equipped with MeteoHelix, MeteoWind, and MeteoRain sensors, was installed by joint technical teams to enhance climate data collection, improve forecasting, and strengthen early warning systems.
The event also highlighted the importance of international collaboration. Gautier Mignot, Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, emphasized that research and innovation remain central to tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.
By convening regional and international partners, showcasing innovations, strengthening academic collaboration, and promoting science-based solutions, I3C-JET 2025 marked an important step toward advancing climate resilience and a just energy transition across West Africa.
