Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has called for increased access to affordable, long term financing to enable states and regions implement climate projects capable of protecting communities and supporting economic growth.
Sanwo Olu made the call while speaking alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom at a United Nations High level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition at the UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting was convened by the Office of the UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina J. Mohammed.
The governor said the engagement came shortly after the formalisation of a Sister State partnership between Lagos and California, describing their joint appearance at the UN as an example of how subnational governments can collaborate on climate and development challenges.
Addressing the need to protect more than 22 million Lagos residents from flooding, rising sea levels and extreme heat, Sanwo Olu said climate action and economic development were closely connected.
He highlighted Lagos’ efforts to transition towards cleaner transportation, noting that the state has more than 5.2 million vehicles on its roads. He also pointed to the state’s waste management activities, saying more than 5,000 tonnes of waste are processed daily, with opportunities being developed around recycling, clean energy and job creation.
Sanwo Olu said governments could not address climate challenges alone and stressed the importance of financial support for states and regions seeking to translate climate plans into practical projects.
He said Lagos was prepared to contribute to global climate action but needed the international financial community to provide investment commensurate with the scale of its challenges and opportunities.
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