Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for affordable, long-term financing to enable subnational governments to implement climate projects capable of protecting communities and infrastructure from rising environmental risks.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Wednesday, September 23, while participating in a United Nations High-level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition in New York, where he shared Lagos’ experience in addressing flooding, rising sea levels, extreme heat, transportation emissions and waste management. The UN meeting brought together national and subnational leaders, financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders to advance practical climate solutions.
The governor appeared alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom during a session involving subnational leaders. Newsom’s participation at the UN climate event was also confirmed by the California Governor’s Office, which said the session focused on the role of states and regions in delivering practical climate solutions at scale.
The engagement came days after Lagos and California formally established a sister-state relationship covering areas including technology, creative industries, trade, climate, infrastructure, health and education. The agreement was signed in Sacramento by Sanwo-Olu and California Assemblymember Matt Haney following the passage of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 129 by the California Legislature.
Speaking on how Lagos is responding to climate threats affecting its more than 22 million residents, Sanwo-Olu said climate action and economic development must be pursued together.
He identified transportation, waste management, urban resilience and clean energy as areas where climate policies could simultaneously address environmental challenges and create economic opportunities.
The governor said Lagos has more than 5.2 million vehicles on its roads, making the transition towards cleaner and more efficient transportation an important component of its climate strategy. He also highlighted the scale of waste management in the state, saying more than 5,000 tonnes of waste are processed daily, with opportunities to turn waste into recycling activities, clean energy and jobs.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that governments alone could not finance the scale of infrastructure required to respond to climate change, particularly in rapidly growing coastal cities.
He called for development finance institutions, private investors and businesses to provide affordable, long-term capital for climate projects in emerging markets, arguing that such investments could deliver both environmental and economic benefits.
The governor’s appeal comes against the backdrop of Lagos’ exposure to coastal flooding, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather. Earlier on Wednesday, he also held discussions with the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Global Compact Networks and regional partners from Africa and the Caribbean on strengthening climate resilience and securing sustainable financing for vulnerable coastal communities.
At the UN meeting, Sanwo-Olu also linked Lagos’ climate agenda to the recently established relationship with California, describing the partnership as an opportunity for subnational governments to work together on investment, technology, climate action and other areas of mutual interest.
The Lagos-California agreement provides a framework for cooperation in technology and digital innovation, creative and cultural industries, climate and environmental matters, education, trade, infrastructure, health, entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos was prepared to take action on climate change but needed the global financial system to provide the resources required to translate plans into infrastructure and practical interventions.
He urged international financial institutions, investors and the private sector to view climate investment in emerging economies as an opportunity to support resilience while creating jobs and strengthening local economies.
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