Today, as nations across the globe commemorate World Environment Day 2026 under the theme “Climate Action,” attention is focused on the urgent need for collective efforts to address one of humanity’s greatest challenges, climate change.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality affecting communities, economies, ecosystems, and livelihoods across the world. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, land degradation, flooding, drought, and desertification continue to threaten food security, public health, and sustainable development.
For Gombe State, located within Nigeria’s semi-arid belt, these environmental challenges are particularly significant. The state has, for decades, battled desert encroachment, severe soil erosion, declining vegetation cover, and the devastating impacts of climate variability on agriculture and water resources. These challenges directly affect the well-being of citizens, especially farmers and rural communities whose livelihoods depend on the environment.
Yet amid these challenges, Gombe State has emerged as a shining example of environmental stewardship and climate resilience.
Long before the global community adopted this year’s theme, the administration of His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, popularly known as the Green Governor, had already begun implementing bold and visionary policies aimed at protecting the environment and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
One of the administration’s most celebrated interventions is the Gombe Goes Green Initiative, popularly known as the 3G Project, launched in 2019. What began as an ambitious environmental campaign has today evolved into a model for climate action in Nigeria.
Through the 3G initiative, more than five million trees have been planted across the state, setting a national afforestation record and earning Gombe recognition as one of Nigeria’s leading states in environmental restoration and climate change mitigation.
But the 3G Project is about much more than planting trees.
It represents a comprehensive strategy for ecological restoration, environmental education, job creation, biodiversity conservation, and community participation. It has mobilized traditional institutions, youth groups, women’s associations, local governments, schools, civil society organizations, and development partners to take ownership of environmental protection efforts.
A special task force under the leadership of His Royal Highness, Mai Tula, Alhaji Abubakar Buba Atare II, has continued to coordinate awareness campaigns and community engagement programmes designed to educate citizens on the dangers of climate change and the importance of sustainable environmental practices.
The positive impact of these efforts is increasingly evident.
Independent research published in the Nigerian Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology found that the initiative has contributed significantly to poverty reduction, improved food security, enhanced public health outcomes, and strengthened environmental infrastructure within participating communities.
Beyond afforestation, the administration has demonstrated unwavering commitment to addressing one of Gombe State’s most persistent environmental challenges, soil erosion and gully expansion.
Through strategic partnerships with international development agencies and intervention programmes such as the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL), the state has achieved remarkable milestones in land restoration and erosion control.
More than 1,000 hectares of degraded land have been reclaimed and restored, while three major erosion sites stretching nearly 50 kilometres have been brought under control. These include the Gombe State University Gully Erosion Site, the Federal College of Education Gully, and the ongoing intervention at the Government Girls’ Mega College Doma Gully Erosion Site.
These projects have not only protected infrastructure worth billions of naira but have also safeguarded homes, farmlands, roads, schools, and public facilities from environmental destruction.
Equally commendable is the transformation taking place in waste management across the state.
Under the ACReSAL Project, a former dumpsite has been converted into a modern waste-to-wealth facility, turning environmental challenges into economic opportunities. Through recycling and resource recovery initiatives, jobs are being created while reducing pollution and promoting a cleaner environment.
In addition, the Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA), working in collaboration with ACReSAL, has established 203 waste collection centres across the metropolis. These facilities have significantly improved municipal waste management and encouraged households to adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
The state’s climate action agenda also recognizes the importance of reducing pressure on forest resources. To this end, energy-efficient cookstoves are being distributed to households and communities, helping families reduce firewood consumption, lower carbon emissions, and protect forest ecosystems from further degradation.
The achievements recorded thus far demonstrate that climate action can produce tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits when backed by strong political will and community participation.
However, government action alone is not enough.
The fight against climate change requires the active involvement of every citizen. Every tree planted, every tree protected, every piece of waste properly disposed of, every effort to conserve water and energy, and every environmentally responsible decision contribute to building a safer and more sustainable future.
As the world marks World Environment Day 2026, one important step forward for Gombe State is the domestication and implementation of Nigeria’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP). Such a framework would further strengthen the state’s capacity to anticipate, respond to, and mitigate climate-related risks while accelerating sustainable development.
Today, Gombe State stands as a compelling example of what can be achieved when visionary leadership, committed institutions, development partners, traditional rulers, and citizens unite around a common purpose.
Under the leadership of His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, the Green Governor, the state has demonstrated that climate action is not merely an environmental obligation; it is an investment in economic prosperity, social well-being, and the future of generations yet unborn.
As we commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, let us all renew our commitment to protecting our environment.
Plant a tree.
Protect a tree.
Reduce waste.
Conserve energy.
Support environmental policies and initiatives.
Together, we can build a greener, healthier, and more resilient Gombe State.
Happy World Environment Day 2026.
This special commentary was written by the Overseeing Director of Information, Richard James