The continued existence of human beings is currently being threatened by several environmental challenges, chief among them is climate change. The world is faced with this bedevilling yet dynamic and turbulent phenomenon which calls for leadership in order to turn the situation around. World leaders have to migrate from routine strategies but rather, they have to adopt effective strategies in a bid to address issues on climate change. This must be coupled with deliberate commitments and attention on proactive actions towards the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intertwined with capital investments in green technologies and carbon neutral initiatives. It is pertinent to note that there is a need to improve resource efficiency and recycling capacity including the promotion of the circular economy paradigm. Such robust changes call for coordinated International, Regional and National Policy blended with Institutional overhaul and negotiations entangled with coordinated engagements with a sense of urgency. Given the current global status, environmentally conscious and visionary leadership on climate change issues is scarce and remain to be witnessed from the world leaders.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been working and leading the global campaign and advocacy on climate change issues. Although some progress has been realized in terms of challenging countries, especially the industrialized ones to take the leading position in environmental stewardship, much more still needs to be done. Hence, there is a need for regional blocks to be capacitated in order to undertake meaningful negotiations that will convince all parties interested to act. Meaningful negotiations are built upon knowledge and a clear understanding of both climate change issues and the negotiation process. Thus, there is a need for continuous education, capacity building and training of Multilateral Environment Agreements negotiators.

It is important to note that the time to act is now and any further delays have unbearable consequences to the present and future generation and thus it will be a great threat towards sustainability. Current reports from the IPCC indicate that “Climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying, and some trends are now irreversible, at least during the present time frame”. It was noted that in 2019, atmospheric CO₂ levels were higher than at any time in the last 2 million years. Furthermore, the concentrations of CH₄ were higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years. Such trends are mind-boggling and the alarm bells are sounding loud enough for the world to act now. It will be reasonable enough for both the developed and developing countries to take bold decisions during the scheduled upcoming Conference of Parties number 26 (COP26) to be held in Glasgow on 31^st October 2021 to 12^th November 2021. These decisions will determine the future of humanity and will play a major role in supporting global, regional and national sustainability.