Lagos, building for a green future

"If any city in Africa is feeling the full force of pollution and the effects of climate change, it’s Lagos, Nigeria’s megacity of more than 23 million people that is predicted to become the world’s largest city by 2100." The rapid growth of Lagos has threatened an uptick in environmental threats within the city, which has "inspired Lagos’s authorities to introduce policies and initiatives to help mitigate the effects of climate change and pollution and to adapt, where possible . . . In October 2022, Lagos published an ambitious 30-year development plan that highlights how the city can expand sustainably by upgrading and greening its transportation, power and energy, digital, water, and sanitation and waste management infrastructure . . . Lagos is also pursuing a public transport strategy to help cut congestion and emissions on its crowded roads. In 2008, Lagos introduced Africa's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, which has since been expanded to three BRT corridors and standardized bus routes, and today serves more than 200,000 passengers daily with 300 buses." The city's "growth, which is expected to accelerate, is badly straining the city’s energy supply, forcing millions to rely on fuel- or diesel-burning generators. One solution already making an impact is renewable energy, specifically solar power. In fact, Nigeria aims to generate 30 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2030 . . . In 2023, Lagos is expected to adopt Nigeria’s new National Building Code, which incorporates guidelines for resource and energy efficient green buildings."