Lagos State Government has pledged to mobilise resources at an unprecedented scale to finance the transition to a low-carbon economy as well as support the most vulnerable on the impacts of climate change.
It, however, launched the climate adaptation and resilience plan and climate change mainstreaming strategy to mitigate the effect of climate change in the state.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Commissioner for Environmental, Tokunbo Wahab, said that the administration would continue to collaborate to build the state’s resilience in a bid to reduce carbon emission profile and adapt to climate change for the collective good of all.
They spoke, yesterday, during the opening ceremony of the 10th Lagos International Climate Change Summit, with the theme: “Accelerating Climate Finance and Championing Local Adaptation Initiatives” in Lagos.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, unveiled the Lagos Climate Adaptation and Resilience plan and Lagos Climate Change mainstreaming strategy.
Former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, who spoke on Perspectives on Climate Change through the Lens of High-Level Pioneer Governance, urged the state government not to lose its leadership role in promoting awareness of the opportunities and challenges that come with climate change.
Wahab said the state would commit funds on a large scale to finance the transition to a low-carbon economy, as well as protect the most vulnerable from the impacts of climate change.
He 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.
The commissioner, who said the summit was organised to explore ways of attracting climate finance into the adaption space, urged the residents to avoid flooding by adhering to the physical planning framework as the state was committed to converting waste to wealth.
In their goodwill messages, members of the diplomatic community, partners and stakeholders urged the state to collaborate in addressing environmental issues.
