Lagos partners Climate Action UK to drive Sustainable Finance at London Climate Week 2026. Lagos State Government, through the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy, is strengthening its global climate leadership through a strategic partnership with Climate Action for London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026. This is as the state government reinforced its commitment to advancing innovative climate finance solutions and accelerating the transition to resilient, low-carbon and inclusive economies across Africa and the Global South. Discover more Established in 2007 and headquartered in London, Climate Action is a leading international organisation that convenes leaders across business, policy and finance through high-impact forums, digital platforms and the Climate Action Coalition to drive practical climate solutions and mobilise investment towards a net-zero, just and sustainable world. Leading the State's delegation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will participate in the Local Climate Action Summit, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies at Guildhall, London. Recognised as the flagship gathering for subnational governments during London Climate Action Week, the summit will bring together governors, premiers, presidents, ministers and senior regional leaders to advance multilevel collaboration and accelerate climate implementation ahead of COP31. Further underscoring Lagos State's growing global climate leadership, Governor Sanwo-Olu is expected to formalise the State's intention to join the Under2 Coalition, the world's largest network of states and regions committed to achieving net-zero emissions and climate resilience. The proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Climate Group, which serves as the Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition, represents a non-binding commitment that aligns with Lagos State's existing climate ambitions and priorities. The milestone would position Lagos alongside more than 180 states and regions worldwide and provide an important platform for showcasing the State's climate leadership and strengthening collaboration with subnational governments driving climate action globally. Discover more Nigerian Culture Magazine Digital Newspaper Subscription Also as a Supporting Partner, Lagos State will contribute to the Sustainable Finance Stage, hosted in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), a dedicated platform bringing together senior leaders from banking, investment, policy and development finance to advance investment-led climate solutions. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE), Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, will participate in the high-level session, "Unlocking Sustainable Finance Opportunities in Emerging Markets," where she will present Lagos State's pioneering State-Determined Contributions (SDCs) framework as a practical model for translating climate ambition into investment-ready opportunities. Mrs Oshodi will join an esteemed panel comprising Trevor Manuel, Chairperson of the Africa Expert Panel; Sean Kidney, Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Bonds Initiative; and Jamie Fergusson, Global Director for Climate at the World Bank Group, for discussions on mobilising private capital, improving project bankability and strengthening local financial ecosystems across emerging markets. As part of the State's engagements at London Climate Action Week, the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy, (OCCE) will host an invitation-only executive roundtable titled, "Financing State-Determined Contributions: Connecting Climate Capital to Africa's Most Investment-Ready Cities," on 22 June from 14:00 to 15:00. The high-level session will bring together investors, development finance institutions, climate funds, corporates, policymakers and technical partners to explore practical pathways for mobilising capital and accelerating the implementation of Lagos State's climate priorities through its pioneering State-Determined Contributions (SDCs) framework. Joining the discussions will be Mr Ope George, Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Lagos State, and Mrs Olayinka Ojo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, reflecting the State's whole-of-government approach to climate action and its commitment to integrating climate priorities into broader fiscal and economic planning frameworks. The roundtable will showcase investment opportunities across clean energy, low-carbon mobility, circular economy, carbon markets, climate resilience and nature-based solutions, while facilitating direct engagement between project owners, investors and strategic partners capable of supporting implementation. The session further reinforces Lagos State's ambition to position itself as one of Africa's leading platforms for subnational climate investment and sustainable growth. Speaking ahead of the engagements, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said: "Lagos State is committed to demonstrating that climate action and economic growth are mutually reinforcing. "Through strategic partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms, Newtelegraphonline is building a resilient and sustainable future while positioning Lagos as a leading destination for climate investment and implementation. "Our participation at London Climate Action Week reflects our determination to collaborate with global partners and deliver measurable outcomes for communities and economies." Also speaking, Mrs Oshodi, said, "Climate leadership is no longer measured by commitments alone. "Through our State-Determined Contributions framework, Lagos is building a transparent and scalable model capable of unlocking capital, strengthening partnerships and accelerating climate implementation across Africa and the Global South." As the world shifts from ambition to implementation ahead of COP31, Lagos State continues to champion innovative governance and financing mechanisms capable of accelerating climate delivery, improving climate finance performance and creating shared prosperity. Please follow and like Newtelegraphonline:

June 2026 global monthly newsletter. 8 June 2026 Photo credit: Kate Holt/AusAID, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Recognizing world Environment day 2026. Solutions to protect nature. Climate change disproportionately affects people living in poverty and threatens to reverse decades of development progress. Leaders around the world need stronger evidence on which technological and policy innovations can address climate change and poverty. The King Climate Action Initiative, launched in partnership with King Philanthropies, and its Environment, Energy, and Climate team are tackling some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges, from reducing deforestation to strengthening families' resilience to climate shocks. Its Air and Water Labs, launched with support from Community Jameel, partner with governments in India, Egypt, and South Africa to generate evidence-informed solutions for countries on the front lines of the global air and water crisis. Later this month, Povertyactionlab'll be at London Climate Action Week presenting on the labs' flagship programs, including free basic electricity, emissions markets, and approaches to strengthening farmers' resilience to climate disasters. Turning data into insights: How Cape Town is building a smarter, more equitable city Read the blog" Growing evidence-informed climate policy: Five scaling stories from the King Climate Action Initiative Read the blog" Featured publication. Emergency financial assistance (EFA) programs in North America. Policy Issue: Eviction is one of the leading drivers of homelessness in the United States, and can reduce people's earnings and increase hospitalization rates. Intervention: J-PAL North America studied whether EFA, which provides people at risk of eviction with one-time or short-term payments to cover rent and other housing expenses, can lead to housing stability. Results: EFA programs can keep people housed and reduce eviction risk. In one study, EFA recipients were 88 percent less likely to become homeless after three months compared to those who did not receive assistance. Evidence to policy. Star power for public good: How celebrity messages can support public health efforts. Policy issue: During widespread health crises, people can feel bombarded by public health messages from multiple sources and may not know whom to trust or what to do. In 2020, West Bengal's government wanted to inform 91.3 million citizens about Covid-19 and encourage critical prevention practices - social distancing, handwashing, and mask wearing - but initial campaigns were not translating into behavior changes. Evaluation: Could celebrity endorsements overcome this communications barrier? In May 2020, J-PAL affiliated researchers partnered with West Bengal officials to test whether messages delivered by a well-known public figure could drive behavior change more effectively than standard government communications. They sent text messages featuring video messages from a trusted public figure to 25 million cell users across the state. Results: People who received the video messages were more likely to report symptoms like fever or cough, were 20 percent less likely to travel, and more likely to wash their hands after travel. Research in action: Encouraged by these findings, the government scaled up their efforts. Before the Durga Puja festival, West Bengal partnered with telecom company Airtel to conduct a similar campaign, this time reaching 7.3 million new cell phone users with the same evidence-informed approach. Research by: Abhijit Banerjee (MIT), Marcella Alsan (Harvard University), Emily Breza (Harvard University), Arun G. Chandrasekhar (Stanford University), Abhijit Chowdhury (John C. Martin Centre for Liver Research and Innovations), Esther Duflo (MIT), Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham (Yale University), Benjamin A. Olken (MIT) Featured blogs. Addressing menstrual stigmas and empowering girls in Madagascar. In Madagascar, a school-based program transformed girls' confidence and academic outcomes by addressing menstrual stigmas. The intervention trained teachers, improved sanitation facilities, formed committees involving parents, and distributed reusable pads produced by trained local seamstresses. Equally important, it empowered girls to lead peer-to-peer conversations about menstruation, building both knowledge and community support. J-PAL Africa and the Madagascar Ministry of Education are now working to scale the program in other regions. Read more" Reducing crime, violence, and conflict: Updates to GCCI's Evidence Wrap-up. What does the latest evidence say about building safer communities? Its Governance, Crime, and Conflict (GCCI) team has synthesized over 50 additional studies into the latest edition of their wrap-up, covering topics like policing reforms, court efficiency, peacebuilding, and more. A new blog post gives a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. Read more" Featured evaluation summary. Protecting agricultural households against floods through flexible microfinance. Bangladesh Policy issue: Extreme weather events are common and growing threats that can destroy crops, assets, and homes. Families may try to save money by reducing their investments, eating less food, selling assets, or taking their children out of school. Traditional credit and loan programs may not provide a safety net because financial institutions may not want to lend to vulnerable households, and farmers may not want to pay up-front premiums. Evaluation: Can an emergency loan help farmers invest more before floods and stabilize their lives after, improving their welfare? In partnership with BRAC, J-PAL affiliate Gregory Lane co-designed a financial product that guarantees access to credit when floods occur. Researchers randomly assigned 200 BRAC branches to either offer the new emergency loan or continue standard services. Results: The new emergency loan increased eligible households' agricultural investments prior to flooding and increased consumption after a flood occurred. The loans were also profitable for the lender. Research by: Gregory Lane (University of Chicago) Welcoming its new affiliated professors. In summer 2025, Povertyactionlab welcomed 29 talented researchers to the J-PAL network. Povertyactionlab feature a few of them here each month. Featured multimedia. "The ultimate goal is to build long-term capacity in Armenia and also the culture of evidence-based policymaking to make sure that every [Armenian] dram we spend generates the highest possible value for society." GEVORG MINASYAN Director of Dilijan Training and Research Center, Central Bank of Armenia Strengthening evidence-informed policymaking in Armenia. J-PAL Europe recently partnered with the Central Bank of Armenia for a second time to train government decision-makers on the principles of evidence-informed policy design. The training brought together policymakers from the Armenian government, UNICEF, UNDP, and beyond, strengthening both technical skills and cross-sector collaboration. J-PAL Europe Executive Director Cillian Nolan and Director of Dilijan Training and Research Center Gevorg Minasyan discuss J-PAL's collaboration, reflecting on how this training equipped Armenia's leaders to design more effective evidence-informed policies. Watch the video" Featured event. Celebrating the DEDP class of 2025. The 2025 class of Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) master's students returned to MIT on May 28 to celebrate a major milestone: graduation. Surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and fellow classmates, graduates received their diplomas and reflected on their journey through the program. The festivities culminated with remarks from Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Sara Fisher Ellison, and Ben Olken, the faculty directors who taught and mentored students throughout their DEDP experience. Learn more about the master's program, and how you can start your DEDP journey with online MicroMasters courses"