Experts have told the Lagos state government to do more to combat climate anxiety.
TOP MEDIA reports that speaking recently during the January Technical Session of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), Lagos State Chapter, Michael Bankole, the Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, quantified the cost of climate inaction.
At the event, Bankole examined the topic, ‘Climate Actions; Key Lessons from COP28‘.
He pointed out how unchecked global warming would impact the government’s budgets, looking at its potential to dampen the economy as a whole, and balloon the costs of climate-related programmes over time.
The environmental expert stated that climate change is affecting local communities either a great deal or some, noting that the realities of climate change are issues that impact every Lagosian.
According to Bankole, the government must pay attention to climate change because it holds financial repercussions for investors and corporations, deep social consequences for vulnerable or marginalised populations, and poses grave threats to both food and water security and planetary viability.
He said:
“We might be losing N80 billion worth of property along the Lekki axis if we do nothing about climate change (Lekki is home to Dangote Refinery).
“Lagos requires 39 billion dollars if we don’t do anything about climate change, but if we do something we only need 10 billion dollars.
“The cost of inaction on climate change is ten times bigger than the budget of Lagos.”
Furthermore, Bankole listed Lagos’ climate impact drivers to include three elements. He enumerated them thus:
1. Sea-level rise
2. Extreme temperature rise
3. Extreme rainfall
In his speech, NIEE Lagos Chairman, Engr. Yusuf Majolagbe, mentioned that the current ban of Styrofoam and some Single use Plastics (SUPs) would help Nigeria improve on its target to meet Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action).
This, he said, is a right step in the right direction which would save citizens from styrene.
