The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE) are planning to institutionalise circular economy and advocacy as veritable strategies to subdue the rising threat of climate change in the state.
The group said climate change poses a severe challenge to the people and economy of Lagos state.
According to the Lagos State Climate Action Plan 2020 – 2025, more than half of Lagos’s 21 million residents live in informal settlements, which renders them highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Lagos State Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP) estimates the effects of climate inaction at $22-29 billion, 11 times the state’s 2022 annual budget.
Speaking during a meeting between management of LAWMA and OCCE, the managing director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said, circularity is one of the sustainable ways of addressing the increasing impact of climate change on the environment and the economy of the state.
He explained that climate change is scientific and that all stakeholders must continue to seek ways to simplify it, noting that, because of its hands-on nature, the Circular Economy is one of those ways of simplification.
Gbadegesin stressed that LAWMA programmes are to increase awareness and education. He welcomed the collaboration from OCCE, saying that it would accelerate the required behavioural changes in the state.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs Titi Oshodi, thanked the LAWMA team for the warm reception and open arms of collaboration.
She said, the goal of OCCE is to ensure that it continues to enable and collaborate players in the climate and circular economy ecosystem to achieve the governor’s vision of a zero-carbon Lagos by 2050.
She said: “The threat that climate change poses to all of us is a testament that no one person or institution can solve the problem.
If it threatens us all, we must work together to tackle it. And this visit is in the spirit of driving a collective front to face a common challenge.
“Energy, waste, and transportation are three sectors with the highest emitters of greenhouse gas in Lagos. So, we plan to work with all stakeholders within the sectors to drive advocacy and explore the economic opportunities within the space.
“So, our visit here today at LAWMA is in furtherance of our goal and conviction that collaboration is what we need and circularity can be our tool to turn the tide and explore the threat of climate change to create more jobs and increase the wealth and well-being of the people of the state. And we are glad and grateful to the team, led by the visionary Dr. Gbadegesin, for the audience and commitment to partner with us.
“If we have to address the issue of climate change and the threat it poses on us, solid waste is fundamental. And we are extremely excited about the nods we have from the leadership of LAWMA today.”,
With a shared vision and aligned commitment towards circular economy and environmental sustainability, both teams look forward to fostering a collaborative workforce. (Leadership)