Lagos launches five-year climate action plan to reduce carbon emission

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has unveiled the ‘Climate Action Plan 2020-2025’ to reduce emission in the energy, transport, and waste management sectors. 

The new action plan was launched in Lagos on Tuesday at the 8th Lagos State International Climate Change Summit organised by the ministry of environment and water resources.

Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the governor, in a statement, said the state government hopes to — through the new document — respond to the major gas emitting sectors threatening the state’s zero-carbon ambition.

Sanwo-Olu said it had become necessary to update the climate action plan, because the increased impact of natural disasters across the world showed that climate change was no longer a speculative danger, but a real threat to humanity and safety of the environment.

“The updated Climate Action Plan reveals three main areas of threat to our zero-carbon ambition in Lagos, which are energy, waste and transport. They account for 90 percent of our total greenhouse gas emission,” he said. 

“We are now more adept at incorporating climate-friendly thinking into everything we do as a government. Our goal is to entrench the action plan across the entire state, and get Lagosians to imbibe the culture of climate-awareness in their homes, workplaces and lifestyles.”

He said his government’s public transport reform seeks to reduce the number of personal vehicles on the roads, by providing alternative transportation models in form of low-emission buses and rail connections.

He also said the state will adopt composting, recycling and waste-to-energy as part of the strategies to improve the quality of waste management in Lagos.

In the energy sector, Sanwo-Olu said the government will roll out opportunities in the usage of off-grid solar systems to connect public schools, hospitals, government offices, and public facilities. 

Tunji Bello, commissioner for environment and water resources, said the state needs to be more intentional on projects and programmes to adapt to climate change. 

 “Around the world, governments and businesses are planning for climate instability. From flood defences to foreign aid, climate change is now part of policy and public discussions. The theme of this summit cannot be more apt than now because we have reached a point where Lagos needs to be intentional on projects and programmes that will be climate change compliant,” he added.