The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) is taking place from November 9 to 20, 2026, at the Antalya Expo Centre in Antalya, Türkiye.
COP, which stands for Conference of the Parties, is an annual global climate summit organised under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together governments, policymakers, businesses and other stakeholders to discuss climate challenges, negotiate commitments and strengthen international cooperation to address climate change.
With the overarching theme “Turning Climate Promises into Implementation,” COP31 emphasises the need to move beyond climate commitments towards practical action, measurable results and sustainable solutions.
For Nigeria, and Lagos State in particular, the conference provides an opportunity to strengthen climate commitments, build strategic partnerships and advance sustainable development initiatives.
Lagos State is participating in COP31 to advance its climate agenda, engage international stakeholders and explore opportunities for climate action.
The Lagos Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) is a crucial infrastructure for enhancing Lagos State’s climate governance and attracting climate finance to drive the State’s climate agenda. It is well positioned to integrate with the activities of the relevant Lagos State’s Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and private organisations to drive the state’s carbon economy and climate investment initiatives.
Why Does LGHGR Matter?
Addressing climate change requires more than commitments; it requires accurate data, effective monitoring and measurable action.
The Lagos Greenhouse Gas Registry provides a centralised platform for documenting and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors of the state. By providing reliable emissions data, the registry supports informed policymaking, strengthens environmental accountability and helps identify opportunities for emissions reduction.
Beyond its environmental monitoring function, LGHGR builds confidence among investors, development partners, and other stakeholders by providing the data foundation needed to assess climate performance, identify opportunities, measure the impact of interventions, and serve as a dependable ledger for credits generated from Lagos State (public and private sectors).
The LGHGR is more than a compliance-driven MRV platform. It is a fully operational cap-and-trade registry that is positioned to handle both the voluntary and compliance carbon markets. It aligns with national and international registry standards for seamless issuance, transfer, and retirement of credible, high-value carbon credits. The system is designed to establish baselines across sectors, organisations, and emission reduction projects to generate reliable, verifiable credits. Each credit carries a unique serial identity, so its issuance, ownership, transfer and retirement can be traced from start to finish. The currency is “credibility,” and the LGHGR embodies that unreservedly. Therefore, the LGHGR is well positioned to serve as Lagos State’s sole register of records, without prejudice to other emerging MRV systems.
This is particularly relevant as Lagos engages the international community at COP31, where climate finance, sustainable infrastructure and climate resilience remain important priorities.
Connecting Climate Data to Sustainable Development
As one of Africa’s leading economic centres, Lagos faces climate challenges that require transparent, accountable, verifiable, and coordinated data-driven solutions. Through initiatives such as LGHGR, the state is strengthening its capacity to understand its emissions profile, track environmental progress and support the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
The registry demonstrates how technology, data and environmental governance can work together to support climate action and create an enabling environment for sustainable development and an emerging carbon economy.
As global stakeholders gather at COP31, Lagos State’s commitment to strengthening climate governance and attracting climate investments reinforces an important message: building a sustainable, climate-resilient future begins with understanding, measuring, and taking responsibility for our environmental impact.
