Lagos Seeks Private Sector Partnership On Climate Action Plan

The Lagos State Government has convened the first edition of Lagos Climate Change Business Meeting with the organised private sector, sharing her vision for advancing Climate Action in the State.

Speaking at the roundtable talk held at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the government as an enabler is keen on partnering with the private sector to confront climate change.

He added that the several Mitigation and Adaptation measures adopted by the government should be embraced by the private sector to improve their productivity, profit and make the State more liveable.

Bello, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, said the State Government has deemed it necessary to begin conversations that would co-opt the private sector into the Lagos Climate Action initiative.

He revealed that climate change is now more of a developmental issue which requires the collaborative effort of the Government, the Organised Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations, Academia and all relevant stakeholders.

The Commissioner revealed that the State Government had, in Y2021, launched its Climate Action Plan that is expected to equip the State to take decisive and impact-oriented action to address the development challenges it faces in the pursuit of sustainable low-carbon and climate-resilient socio-economic development.

“In as much as we are aware of the threat that climate change poses to the environment, the economy and livelihoods, we need to begin to view climate change through the prism of the opportunities it presents in the areas of job creation, the attraction of direct investments, healthcare improvements, waste to energy initiatives, sustainable infrastructure development and renewable energy investments”, he advised.

He gave an example of results from the Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory conducted by the Ministry which revealed that the energy sector contributes the highest emission, while Lagos receives less than 12,000MWh daily from the National grid which is about 6.25%.

“Even if we compare the generator cost of N130/ KWh with a grid cost of N50/KWh, the cost associated with burning fossil fuel by residents and businesses in the State for energy generation daily is estimated at a staggering sum of N14.4 billion daily and N5.3 trillion annually. This value currently spent on non-renewable energy sources can be channelled into renewable energy sources with potential savings made”, he asserted.

The Commissioner said this is a decade of action and it is important to collectively begin to mobilise necessary support and resources to embark on transformative actions on Climate Change, adding that this will enable a shift towards green economic growth, develop our adaptive capacity towards climate change and also achieve emission neutrality.

Bello, however, expressed optimism that with the initiation of the meeting, collaboration on Climate Action will be established and sustained to effectively deliver on the goals of the Lagos Climate Action Plan in the Energy, Waste and Transport Sectors.

Also speaking at the event, the Head and General Manager of Sustainability at Dangote Cement, Igazeuma Okoroba, commended the initiative of the State Government on the parley, promising the company’s commitment to its sustenance.

She said when Government shares its vision as an enabler, the private sector will be encouraged to participate actively in such a venture just like Dangote Cement did with the 8th Lagos Climate Change Summit last year.

The meeting also had in attendance representatives from the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), banks, multinational companies and agencies of the State Government.