Lagos leads Africa’s Climate Front, set to host summit on Blue Economy
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing sustainable growth through innovation and investment in resilience as the state prepares to host the 2025 International Climate Change Summit.
The summit, themed “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,” is scheduled to take place from November 6 to 7, 2025, at the Lagos Continental Hotel. It is expected to attract global leaders, investors, climate scientists, and policymakers.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos continues to demonstrate leadership in subnational climate action and the development of practical mechanisms for city-level climate finance.
He noted that the state has been working on innovative instruments such as blue bonds and nature-based coastal protection projects, which are shaping Africa’s next decade of sustainable urban development.
Wahab described the upcoming summit as more than just a conference, but a “declaration that African cities can finance their own future.”
According to him, the 2025 edition—the 11th in the series—will serve as a strategic platform for African and global stakeholders to align priorities, deepen partnerships, and strengthen Africa’s collective voice in global climate negotiations.
The summit aims to accelerate action and investment in Africa’s coastal and ocean economies ahead of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30). Discussions will focus on unlocking investment for ocean energy, sustainable fisheries, mangrove restoration, and coastal infrastructure through green and blended finance instruments.
Delegates expected at the event include representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, and Eko Atlantic.
