The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday stated that the State Government aligns with the urgency for actions in mitigating the effects of climate change and championing adaptation initiatives at the local and international levels.
The Governor, who spoke at the flag-off of the Three-Day 10th Lagos International Climate Change Summit held at Continental Victoria Island, stated that the government understands that the issue of climate change is not a distant threat but a present reality that requires immediate solutions.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, also launched the Lagos Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP) and Lagos Climate Change mainstreaming strategy as part of strategies to reduce emissions and mitigate Climate Change challenges.
He said that Lagos today stands on the threshold of history as a state-driven not by what some people see as challenges but by what it considers its greatest prospects and attributes.
According to him, as a city of aquatic splendour, Lagos is vulnerable to climate vagaries and stands tall among the committee of nations defying the odds to make appreciable gains.
He recalled that several years ago, the atmospheric elements threatened to take over the Victoria Island part of the state, saying the State tamed the raging Sea by constructing the Great Wall of Lagos out of which came the Lagos Atlantic City thereby restoring and revitalising surrounding businesses.
He mentioned that Lagos has gone through the implementation of a multi-modal Transit BRT System, adding that these initiatives and more have improved the health and safety of Lagosians and have reduced carbon emission from transportation by about 15%.
He stressed that in 2015, the Comity of Nations reached a landmark agreement to keep global temperature below 1.5 degrees centigrade, adding that Lagos responded by developing a second five-year Climatic Action Plan outlining goals and strategies for emission reduction.
The Governor said with the unveiling of the first Nigerian Electric Car in Lagos in November 2020, the state intends to replace 50% of the public transportation fleet with Electric Vehicles by 2030.
“The red and blue line projects recently launched are crucial for reducing the carbon footprint, decreasing vehicular emission, cutting down travel times and promoting a sustainable low carbon future for Lagos”, he said.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the state has successfully signed partnership deals with a private Waste Consortium to build a waste-to-energy plant that will provide electricity for about 40,000 homes and convert 2,250 tonnes of waste daily.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab noted that the solution to climate change lies in climate resilient development which involves integrating adaptive measures with actions to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in ways that provide wider benefits.
He highlighted that the summit theme: “Accelerating Climate Finance and Championing Local Adaptation Initiatives”, aims to explore ways of attracting climate finance into the adaptation space as well as to create livable and resilient infrastructure.
He said from the inaugural summit to the 10th edition, the state had witnessed a transformative shift in global consciousness towards climate action, adding that each summit had been a stepping stone, building upon the achievements of the last, propelled forward by the tireless efforts of countless climate heroes.
He stated that over the past decade, the Lagos International Climate Change Summit has served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in addressing climate-related issues in the State.
He said amidst the celebration of past achievements, the state is also confronted with the stark realities of the present situation saying the global 6th Assessment Report (AR6) of the IPCC serves as a sobering reminder of the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.
He emphasized that this year’s summit is therefore not just a forum for discussion, but a clarion call for action saying that everyone must accelerate the efforts to mobilize climate finance and channel it towards projects that prioritize local adaptation initiatives.
Wahab reiterated that the aforementioned means investing in infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change, empowering communities to develop climate-resilient livelihoods, and enhancing our capacity to respond to climate-related disasters.
In a special session titled “Climate change Initiatives; the journey so far” the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola(SAN) said Climate Change is triggered majorly by human conduct and sometimes natural causes.
He said the International Climate Change Summit championed in 2009 has proved its effectiveness, adding that the convocation of the 10th edition of the Summit is a reassertion of the Leadership role Lagos State plays in Climate Change Initiatives.
He maintained that Lagos is a place of innovation and not a place of experimentation, adding that most initiatives in Lagos State’s Environmental sector over the years are targeted at reducing carbon emission and ways to combat climate change.
