Chiagozie Chima Udeh

Chiagozie Chima Udeh is a Nigerian climate policy specialist, youth advocate and environmental campaigner whose work has focused on climate change, renewable energy, climate finance, loss and damage, youth participation and sustainable development. He has held leadership positions in international youth climate networks and has worked with organizations including Plant-for-the-Planet and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Early activism

Udeh became involved in environmental advocacy as a young person. From 2014 to 2017, he served as a TUNZA Eco-Generation ambassador, where he worked on climate action, environmental education and biodiversity protection in Nigeria. He also produced reports and educational materials on environmental.

In 2015, Udeh became a programme coordinator for Plant for the Planet in Nigeria. The organization's Nigerian programme organized academies designed to train children and young people as Climate Justice Ambassadors and conducted tree planting activities in cities across the country.

Udeh later joined the organization's global leadership. In 2016 he became a member of the global executive board, and he subsequently served as secretary before being elected chairperson of the executive global board in 2019. He completed his chairperson role in November 2020.

His work with Plant for the Planet included involvement in the organization's Trillion Trees campaign, an initiative aimed at encouraging large-scale tree planting as part of global efforts to address climate change.

Youth and international development

Udeh has represented young people in international development and climate policy discussions. He has participated in United Nations processes dealing with climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy and youth engagement.

In 2018, he contributed to a United Nations High-Level Political Forum thematic review on Sustainable Development Goal 15, speaking on behalf of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth.

Climate policy interests

Udeh's areas of professional and advocacy interest have included:

• Climate change policy
• Renewable energy
• Climate finance
• Loss and damage
• Climate adaptation
• Energy access
• Energy democracy
• Just transition
• Youth participation
• Gender-responsive climate action
• Sustainable development
• Environmental education

The UNFCCC has described him as a Nigerian expert working on global climate policy and African politics, with particular interests in renewable energy, loss and damage and climate finance.