Al Gore, Global Leaders Back Onuigbo’s Vision as He Leads GLOBE Into New Era

Former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and sponsor of the country’s landmark Climate Change Act 2021, Rt. Hon. Sir Sam Onuigbo, has formally assumed office as President of GLOBE Legislators following his inauguration at the UK Parliament during the organization’s 35th anniversary celebration.

The inauguration brought together lawmakers, climate advocates, development partners and global leaders who reaffirmed the critical role of parliamentarians in advancing climate action and sustainable development through effective legislation and oversight.

Reflecting on the ceremony, Onuigbo described the event as a defining moment in the history of GLOBE Legislators and a celebration of the organization’s remarkable contributions to global climate governance over the past three and a half decades.

He said the occasion featured inspiring goodwill messages from some of the world’s foremost climate leaders, including GLOBE co-founder and former United States Vice President Al Gore; Governor of Tokyo and former President of GLOBE Japan, Yuriko Koike; Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.

Benjamin Kalu; the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kamal Kishore; Founder and Chair of London Climate Action Week, Nick Mabey; and Head of the NDC Partnership, Pablo Vieira.

According to Onuigbo, the messages reinforced the urgent need for sustained global collaboration in addressing climate change and strengthening democratic institutions to deliver lasting environmental solutions.

“The charge is simple: we will not let this light dim,” Onuigbo declared, pledging to build on GLOBE’s legacy by deepening international cooperation and promoting stronger climate legislation across member countries.

He expressed gratitude to former UK Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Rt. Hon. Graham Stuart MP, for hosting the event, while also acknowledging the support of his wife, Pastor Dame Princess Chinyere Onuigbo, family members, friends, parliamentarians from across the world and development partners who attended the historic ceremony.

Delivering a keynote message to commemorate GLOBE’s 35th anniversary, former US Vice President Al Gore congratulated the organization and paid tribute to its outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Malini Mehra, for over a decade of dedicated leadership.

Gore, a founding member and former chairman of GLOBE, recalled that the organization was established to unite legislators across the world in crafting legislative responses to the climate crisis.

He warned that the impacts of climate change have become increasingly severe, with rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events threatening lives, infrastructure and economies worldwide.

He stressed that while the challenges have intensified, the solutions are already available through renewable energy, electric vehicles and clean technologies. However, he argued that effective public policies remain the key to accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuels.

Calling on lawmakers to demonstrate bold leadership, Gore urged GLOBE Legislators to remove policy barriers to clean energy, resist undue influence from fossil fuel interests and strengthen democratic institutions. He reminded participants that “political will is itself a renewable resource,” encouraging parliamentarians to champion policies that promote economic prosperity, public health and environmental sustainability.

Also speaking, Tokyo Governor and former President of GLOBE Japan, Yuriko Koike, congratulated the organization on its 35th anniversary and praised its longstanding commitment to environmental protection and climate governance.

Koike noted that climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of storms and floods, compelling governments to adopt more resilient approaches to disaster preparedness. She highlighted Tokyo’s efforts to safeguard lives through innovative climate resilience programmes, including the Global Network for Empowered Cities (G-NET), which recently convened leaders from 55 cities worldwide to advance urban resilience.

She expressed optimism that the anniversary celebration and leadership transition would strengthen international partnerships and inspire renewed collaboration in confronting the global climate crisis.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from GLOBE Legislators and its international partners to expand climate action through stronger legislation, democratic accountability and global cooperation under Onuigbo’s leadership.