Tinubu misses COP31 World Leaders’ Summit for third consecutive year

President Bola Tinubu has again failed to attend the World Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), marking the third consecutive year he has been absent from the high-level climate gathering.

The two-day Antalya Leaders’ Summit, holding on November 11 and 12 in Turkey, brings together presidents, prime ministers and heads of government to announce climate commitments, outline national priorities and provide political direction for international negotiations.

The gathering is considered one of the most significant political events of the annual climate conference, particularly in discussions around climate financing, adaptation, energy transition and support for vulnerable countries.

However, Tinubu was among several prominent world leaders who did not attend this year’s summit.

His absence continues a pattern that began at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024, after personally attending COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2023.

At COP28, Tinubu participated in the World Climate Action Summit but did not deliver his scheduled national statement. He, however, addressed a high-level meeting on methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to reducing methane pollution.

At COP29, Nigeria’s national statement was delivered on his behalf by Balarabe Lawal, then Minister of Environment and Ecological Management.

The pattern continued at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in 2025, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria.

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At COP31, Nigeria was again missing from the list of countries scheduled to deliver national statements during the opening high-level segment on November 11 and 12. However, countries that do not deliver statements during the first segment can still participate when the high-level session resumes on November 17 and 18.

Tinubu’s repeated absence has renewed questions about the level of personal attention his administration gives to climate action, particularly as Nigeria faces increasing environmental challenges.

The issue also revives memories of his controversial remarks on climate change during an interactive session organised by the Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna in October 2022, while campaigning for the presidency.

Responding to questions about Nigeria’s climate obligations, Tinubu had questioned the country’s capacity to meet international commitments without adequate financial assistance from developed nations.

“We need to tell the West; if you don’t guarantee our finances and work with us to stop this, we are not going to comply with your climate change,” he said.

The remarks attracted criticism from some observers who questioned his choice of words and understanding of the climate crisis. However, his supporters defended his position, arguing that developing countries should not be expected to shoulder the financial burden of climate commitments without adequate support from wealthier nations.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu’s administration has maintained commitments to Nigeria’s energy transition and called for increased international climate financing.

Nevertheless, his repeated absence from the leaders’ summits has raised questions about the political priority attached to climate diplomacy under his administration.

Tinubu is not the only major world leader missing from COP31. United States President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also absent.

Other notable absentees include French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

China is represented by Vice-President Han Zheng, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is attending.

Trump’s absence is particularly significant given his administration’s position on climate change. The US president has repeatedly dismissed climate science and described climate change as a hoax. His administration also initiated the country’s second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which took effect in January 2026.

The United States remains one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters and the biggest historical contributor to cumulative carbon dioxide emissions, making its climate policies particularly consequential for global efforts to address climate change.