Why Lagos emerged top in climate governance ranking, by officials

The Lagos State government said that it came first at the just-concluded climate governance performance ranking of Nigeria’s subnational due to its deliberate commitment and unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability and proactive approach to addressing climate change challenges.

The State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state has prioritised climate action as a cornerstone of its development agenda through strategic planning, robust policies, and innovative initiatives.

“We have made significant strides in mitigating the impacts of climate change, while fostering a sustainable future for our residents. This prestigious recognition is a validation of our relentless efforts to create a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Lagos,” he said.

The report, championed by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in close collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, acknowledged that Lagos has taken a quantum leap ahead of others in effective climate governance and action.

The Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking (CGPRR) of Nigeria’s 36 States 2024 results were jointly released by the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of State for the Environment, Dr Iziak Salako, and SPP President, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke.

According to the ranking, Lagos State was the only state rated as “outstanding” among the 36 states, reflecting their feat in exceptional performance in the five criteria used for the ranking, namely climate institutions and governance, climate policy and action plan, climate implementation of the project and online visibility.

Lagos was one point short of Gombe State in the overall score and ranking for institutional arrangement and administrative structure among the 36 states. It shared the top position with five other states in the total score and ranking for having in place climate change policy and action plans, which set emission reduction targets that contribute to the national efforts reflecting key commitments of the state to global climate ambition.

It also emerged at the top in the thematic rating for climate change projects’ implementation and having in place a system for effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) of climate impact and/or actions ahead of other states.

The states shared the top spot with eight other states on online visibility regarding climate change activities, having functional websites (or links on the state’s official website) for the Ministry of Environment/Climate Change.

In terms of budgetary allocation for climate action, Lagos shared second position with 19 other states behind Gombe among the states that considered climate change in their respective 2024 yearly budgets with proper tagging of climate change projects.

The state plays a pivotal role in the Nigerian economy as the nation’s commercial hub with a record of almost 30 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite this status, Lagos has continued to grapple with serious climate change-related challenges.

“Over the years, the state has recognised that climate action is not only an environmental necessity but also an economic imperative pushing the state government for greater climate action. Lagos demonstrates inspiring climate action which prioritises zero-carbon development goals in several sectors including transport, agriculture, energy, and waste management,” the report said.