The Lagos State Government has reiterated that the state is now positioned as a model for sub-national climate leadership in Africa.

Speaking at the Africa Climate Finance Summit held at the Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said Lagos is deliberately creating an enabling environment for private capital to flow into green investments and build a robust pipeline of green businesses.

Wahab stated that the gap between climate challenges and sustainable opportunities is climate finance, noting that climate financing has become a key component of Lagos State’s development strategy.

He said Lagos recently unveiled a strategic pathway to accelerate the state’s climate ambitions and foster partnerships that unlock green potential.

“This groundbreaking and programmatic initiative to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation—the Lagos State Climate Investment Opportunities Diagnostic (CIOD)—was launched at the 11th Lagos International Climate Change Summit to underscore the seriousness of the State Government in walking its talk on climate change,” he said.

He explained that Lagos, according to scientific data, is impacted by three major climate drivers: rising tides caused by sea-level rise, flooded streets after heavy rain and hotter days due to increasing temperatures. He added that the socio-economic implications of these disruptions underscore the urgency for decisive action.

The Commissioner said that in addressing climate challenges, the state—working with C40 Cities—developed a five-year Lagos Climate Action Plan (LCAP), which sets out a clear pathway towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future with ambitious sectoral targets in energy, transport, waste and water.

“Complementing the Lagos Climate Action Plan (LCAP) is the Lagos Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP), our long-term roadmap designed to strengthen the city’s resilience over the next decade,” he said.