Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on development finance institutions, investors, and private-sector players to recognise the opportunities climate investment in emerging markets offers.
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 in New York, United States, according to a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
The meeting, organised by the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, was held during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and focused on energy transition, climate adaptation and financing.
Speaking at the meeting, Sanwo-Olu said States and Regions needed access to affordable, long-term financing to translate climate plans into infrastructure and projects that could improve the lives of citizens.
The Governor, who shared the stage with California Governor Gavin Newsom, said strong partnerships were necessary to address the climate crisis, noting that no government could tackle the challenge alone.
He said Lagos had positioned climate action as part of its broader development agenda, particularly in addressing flooding, rising sea levels and extreme urban heat affecting its more than 22 million residents.
Sanwo-Olu said the State was also pursuing cleaner and more efficient transportation for the more than 5.2 million vehicles on Lagos roads, while seeking to convert the more than 5,000 tonnes of solid waste it processes daily into economic value through recycling, circular-economy initiatives and clean energy.
He said such interventions could create jobs, improve public services and strengthen the resilience of communities.
According to him, States and Regions have the capacity to deliver up to 80 per cent of climate implementation globally, making subnational governments critical to translating international climate commitments into projects on the ground.
Sanwo-Olu urged financial institutions and investors to support climate projects in emerging markets, stressing that Lagos and other subnational governments were prepared to work with partners to deliver solutions at scale.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The Governor’s appearance at the UN came less than a week after his visit to Sacramento, California, where he joined Newsom to mark the California Legislature’s Sister State Resolution with Lagos.
His programme at UNGA 81 and Climate Week NYC also included engagements at the Global Renewables Summit Leaders’ Dialogue, the Gates Foundation Goalkeepers and the UN Global Compact Africa-Caribbean session.
He was accompanied by members of the Lagos State Executive Council.
