The Lagos State Government on Friday called for stronger and genuine coalitions between vulnerable cities and global institutions to address real life issues around climate change and global warming.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab made the call while speaking as a panelist “ Protecting Rights in the Face of Sea Level Rise” at the 2nd Berlin Climate Mobility Forum 2026 holding in Berlin.
Wahab spoke alongside a panel consisting of the Prime Minister of Saints Kitts and Nevis, H.E. Dr Terrance Drew, Vice President of the Republic of Maldives, H.E Uz Hussain Mohammed Lateef, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability of Ghana, Mr. Seidu Issifu, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the UN Declaration on Sea level rise, H.E Tania Serafim Romualdo and Mayor of Livorno, Hon Luca Salvetti.
The Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Adekunle Adeshina, made this known in a statement made available on Friday.
“The West must show more than rhetorics but strong commitment to climate funding and not just for coastal cities but the Global South to address real life issues around climate change and global warming, financing and the flow of financing matters,” Wahab was quoted as saying.
The Commissioner added that there must also be wholesome coalitions, localized climate finance, technology transfer and direct partnership between vulnerable cities and global institutions.
He stated that the international community must also facilitate technology transfer for flood modeling and coastal engineering whilst also supporting knowledge exchange between vulnerable cities.
More so, the commissioner emphasized that climate crisis does not respect borders and that all coastal cities across the globe share a common and existential threat.
He stressed that the international community must be ready to invest in resilient infrastructure that protects lives and livelihoods as Lagos is ready to lead but cannot do it alone.
