By Ajibola Adedoye
Lagos State emerged the top ranked state in Nigeria with 182 points at the just concluded first-ever climate governance performance ranking of Nigeria’s subnational. This was revealed during the launch of the report which was supported by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in close collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC), Federal Ministry of Environment, at the Abuja Continental Hotel on July 25th, 2024.
The announcement of the Climate Governance Performance Standing and Ranking (CGPRR) of Nigeria’s 36 States 2024 result was concertedly made by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, the Honourable Minister of State for the Environment, Dr Iziak Salako and the President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke at the official launch event.
Lagos State was the only state rated as “outstanding” among the 36 states of Nigeria reflecting their feat in exceptional performance in the five criteria used for the ranking videlicet, Climate Institutions and Governance, Climate Policy and Action Plan, Climate perpetration of Project and Online Visibility.
Lagos was one point short of Gombe State in the overall score and ranking for institutional arrangement and executive structure among the 36 states. It participated the top position with 5 other states in the total score and ranking for having in place climate change policy and action plans which set emigration reduction targets that contribute to the public efforts reflecting crucial commitments of the state to global climate ambition
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Lagos State emerged the top in the thematic standing for climate change systems’ perpetration and having in place a system for effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) of climate impact and/or conduct ahead of other states. Lagos also went ahead to partake the top spot with 8 other states on online visibility regarding climate change conditioning, having functional websites (or links on the state sanctioned website) for the Ministry of Environment/Climate Change and with several runners showing dynamic web conditioning.
In terms of popular allocation for climate action, Lagos participated alternate position with 19 other states behind Gombe among the states that considered climate change in their separate 2024 periodic budgets with proper trailing of climate change projects
There’s no incertitude that Lagos State plays a vital part in the Nigerian economy as the nations’ marketable hub with record of nearly 30 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 a profitable imperative pushing the state government for greater climate action.
Dubbed the Centre of Excellence, Lagos demonstrates inspiring climate action which prioritizes zero-carbon development goals in several sectors including transport, agriculture, energy, and waste management. In its uninterrupted drive for greater ambition, the state has engaged with transnational associations and frameworks, similar as the C40 metropolises Climate Leadership Group, which supports metropolises in developing and enforcing climate strategies all of which may have contributed to the countries outstanding performance.
In his signed statement via X (formerly twitter), the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, Honourable Tokunbo Wahab wrote “I’m pleased to announce that Lagos State came 1st amongst the 36 States and FCT in Climate Governance Performance ranking conducted by the Federal Ministry of Environment and Society for Planet & Prosperity”.
“This great feat is as a result of the Lagos State government’s deliberate commitment and unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability and its visionary approach to addressing climate change challenges.”
While admitting the Lagos State Governor in his post, the Commissioner wrote “Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Government has prioritized climate action as a foundation of its development agenda. Through strategic planning, robust programs, and innovative enterprise, we have made significant strides in mollifying the impacts of climate change while fostering a sustainable future for our residents.
“This prestigious recognition is a confirmation of our grim efforts to produce a cleaner, greener, and more resilient Lagos” he concluded
The report which recognises and recommends that there are still loads of work to be done across all the 36 states, acknowledges that Lagos has taken a quantum leap ahead of others in effective climate governance and action.
The subnational Climate Change Governance Performance Standing and Ranking design estimated the extents of climate change governance and performance in Nigeria’s thirty-six states using five crucial ranking criteria videlicet climate institutions and governance; climate policy and action plan; climate budget and finance; climate change systems perpetration and monitoring; and climate online visibility. The winners were blazoned at a high-position event chaired by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Thursday, 26 July, 2024
The complete report is available via the link https//sppnigeria.org/subnational-climate-governance-performance-ranking-report/
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