15th May, 2018
The Lagos State Government has urged entrepreneurs in the state to harness budding business opportunities inherent in the climate change challenge.
Giving this charge was the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti during the launch of the C40 Climate Action Planning Africa Programme where he represented the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in Ikeja on Tuesday.
He said that efforts to combat climate change would receive a boost when entrepreneurs recognise and seize opportunities in areas such as food security, waste reduction and renewable energy in conformity with current adaptation and mitigation measures.
He said that the Lagos State Government was committed to harmonizing its economic policies with environmental policies, adding that it was such consideration that informed the massive greening progemme, landscaping and establishment of Parks and Gardens as well as the transport sector reform among others.
The Commissioner also identified initiatives of the State Government in other areas as strong environmental advocacy, reform of the solid waste management system, improved transportation system to reduce vehicular emission as well as the promotion of the use of renewable energy.
Representing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Environment Commissioner praised the C40 group for the laudable initiative to implement meaningful and sustainable climate related actions in Africa, stressing that the initiative was structured to support 10 megacities in Africa to develop and implement climate action plans that address the goals of the Paris Agreement that aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
He emphasised that climate change had far reaching effects on sustainable development of developing countries, because they had fewer resources to adapt socially, technologically and financially.
“Capacity building at local, national and regional levels is therefore vital to enable developing countries adapt effectively to the effects of climate change” he said.