Confronting Climate Challenges: Lagos Commissioner Highlights Urgent Risks Ahead

Lagos State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, recently highlighted serious climate threats facing the state during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. Lagos, home to about 25 million people, sits along the coast and faces pressing challenges like rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and intense heat waves.

Wahab emphasized these issues as “severe climate risks,” affecting both the infrastructure and the lives of people in Lagos. “As a coastal state, we are dealing with these serious threats, but we’re taking action,” he stated on X.

Every day, Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste. To combat this, the state is transitioning from traditional waste disposal methods to a circular economy. This means focusing on recovery, recycling, and converting waste into energy. Such efforts aim to minimize environmental damage and create sustainable job opportunities.

The Commissioner also spoke about broader initiatives to protect the coastline and invest in long-term sustainability. “We are committed to building resilient infrastructure and improving our drainage systems,” he said. Additionally, they are changing how plastic waste is managed.

According to a 2022 survey by the World Bank, over 60% of cities in developing countries face waste management challenges similar to Lagos. This makes the city’s shift toward a circular economy even more crucial.

The UN Ocean Conference itself serves as a global platform to address ocean protection and climate action. For the 2025 conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the motto will be “Accelerating Action and Mobilising All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.” The aim is to further Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on life below water, by creating a strategic Nice Ocean Action Plan.

As cities like Lagos tackle these pressing issues, their actions could inspire other coastal regions facing similar challenges worldwide.



Source link

lagos state,Mr. Tokunbo Wahab,United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference