Sanwo-Olu, California Governor Newsom Take Lagos Climate Action Message to UN
.states, regions ready to deliver, says Lagos gov
By Our Reporter
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stronger partnerships and increased investment in subnational governments to accelerate climate action and build resilience against the effects of climate change.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Wednesday while addressing Heads of State and Government at the United Nations High-level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition, held at the UN Headquarters in New York as part of activities marking the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Governor Sanwo-Olu shared the stage with California Governor Gavin Newsom at the meeting, which was organised by the Office of the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed.
The meeting, opened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of Türkiye, focused on three major areas: energy transition, climate adaptation and financing.
Sanwo-Olu said the climate crisis required collaboration across governments and regions, stressing that no jurisdiction could address the challenge alone.
“I am particularly proud to stand here alongside Governor Newsom of California. We need strong partnerships and collaborators. No one can do it alone,” he said.
Responding to questions on how Lagos was responding to flooding, rising sea levels and extreme urban heat, the governor said climate action was inseparable from the state's development plans.
“For Lagos, climate action is about turning ambition into opportunity: protecting our people, strengthening our economy and building a more resilient and prosperous State for generations to come.
“Climate action is not separate from development. It is central to how we build our future,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He noted that Lagos, with a population of more than 22 million people, faced significant climate and urbanisation pressures, adding that the state was pursuing cleaner and more efficient transportation as well as measures to derive economic value from waste.
According to him, the transition to cleaner transport is particularly important given the more than 5.2 million vehicles operating on Lagos roads.
He also highlighted the state's efforts to process more than 5,000 tonnes of solid waste daily through recycling, circular-economy initiatives and clean-energy solutions.
“These are not abstract climate policies. They are decisions that can create jobs, improve services, strengthen resilience and make everyday life better for millions of people,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu further called for greater access to affordable and long-term financing for states and regions seeking to implement climate-related infrastructure and programmes.
He urged development finance institutions, investors and private-sector organisations to recognise the investment opportunities presented by climate action in emerging markets.
“Our message from Lagos is simple: States, Regions and subnational governments are ready to deliver. We have the ambition. We have the responsibility. And increasingly, we have the solutions.
“Now we need to build the partnerships and mobilise the investment that will allow us to deliver them at scale,” he said.
The governor's appearance at the UN came less than a week after his visit to Sacramento, California, to mark the California Legislature's Sister State Resolution with Lagos.
The joint appearance with Newsom placed the partnership between Lagos, described in the statement as Africa's largest urban economy, and California, the largest state economy in the United States, on the international stage.
The UN climate meeting formed the centrepiece of Sanwo-Olu's engagements at UNGA 81 and Climate Week NYC.
During the programme, Governor Sanwo-Olu also participated in the Global Renewables Summit Leaders' Dialogue, the Gates Foundation Goalkeepers event and the UN Global Compact Africa-Caribbean session.
The governor was accompanied by members of the Lagos State Executive Council.
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