The Lagos State Government has launched the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP) and Climate Change Mainstream Strategy as part of strategies to reduce emissions and mitigate Climate Change challenges, at the just concluded 10thInternational Climate Change Summit taking place at Continental Victoria Island in Lagos.
The Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, 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.
He said that the state understands that the issue of climate change is not a distant threat but a present reality that requires immediate solutions.
Sanwo-Olu further 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 the nation defying the odds to make appreciable gains.
He emphasized 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, Tokunbo Wahab noted that the solution to climate change lies in climate resilient development which involves integrating adaptative 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 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.
His words, “From promoting renewable energy to implementing sustainable waste management practices, we have made significant strides in integrating Climate Actions in Lagos State Development Investment Opportunities and building resilience in the face of climate variability.”
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 problem and the need for immediate action.
The Commissioner emphasized that this year’s summit is 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, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) said Climate Change is triggered majorly by human conduct and sometimes natural causes.
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 emissions and ways to combat climate change.