Fashola Wants Improved Technology, Policy To Reduce Gas Emissions

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has called for improved technology and policy that could assist the country to achieve rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Fashola made this call in his address to participants and stakeholders at the 7th Lagos Climate Change Summit which held in Lagos recently.

The theme of the Summit is: “7 Years of Climate Change Governance in Lagos State: Celebrating Success Stories, Reviewing Challenges and Setting Future Agenda.’’

According to him, the Greenhouse gas is the main contributor to global warming and climate change even as we discover newer and cleaner energy sources.

“We have set our hands on the plough and there is no looking back.

“Our goal is to ensure that all our industries and other businesses imbibe cleaner and more environment friendly means of production and packaging.

“We must always remember that as long as the climate change scourge is human-induced, it can be solved by humans, that is, you and l,’’ he said.

The governor said that the world economy largely relied on manufacturing techniques that thrived on releasing greenhouse gases at almost every stage of production, transportation, storage, delivery and disposal.

According to him, our individual use of automobiles also influences the release of high level of carbon dioxide.

Fashola said these linkages between global warming and economic vitality implicated almost every aspect of the global economy.

He said that there was the need for honest measures that would connect corporate interests and environmental realities.

The governor said that there was work ahead to redirect the path of fundamental dependence on fossil fuel to a system of sustainable and renewable energy.

According to him, there is the need also to begin to look for Climatic Finance and Security Fund if we are to mitigate the damage rising greenhouse gas levels are inflicting on the planet.

Fashola said there was the need to develop the technologies, policies and practices that would make it possible.

Also, Mr Tunji Bello, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, said the summit had been used as a principal vehicle for drawing public attention to the challenges climate change posed to humanity.

He said it was also used to explore all available mitigation and adaptation options geared toward making the state more resilient.

According to him, Lagos State with its flat topography, vast coastline and burgeoning population, is most vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change.

Bello said the state’s climate change strategy had produced the draft on Lagos State Climate Change Policy document and Action plan developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He said that when the draft becomes operational, it would ensure a smart city that was vibrant and steadfast.