The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and Standard Chartered Bank have partnered to plant 250 Queen Palm Trees along the Ahmadu Bello Way median on Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mrs. Adetoun Popoola, General Manager of LASPARK, spoke at the ceremonial tree planting event held on Wednesday at Standard Chartered Bank’s Head Office in Victoria Island, noting that the financial bank’s motion was part of its sustainability agenda and a demonstration of its dedication to the “Accelerating Net Zero” strategy.
“The ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission’ campaign, being propagated the world over, is essential to strike a balance between greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere and the greenhouse gases that are being removed. One of the simplest and cheapest ways to do this is by Planting Trees”, she said.
Popoola, represented by Mrs. Funto Aina, Head, Tree Planting and Maintenance Department, emphasised that trees absorb greenhouse gases and release oxygen, thereby stabilising the planet’s environment.
Her words: “Climate Change poses danger to the human race and ecosystem as the planet is continuously heating up by many of our daily activities including travel and energy production, which may lead to disastrous consequences if left unchecked”.
“As much as transport, electricity and food are essential, we must collectively play our parts to mitigate the negative effects they have on our environment; this is why we are happy that Standard Chartered Bank identifies with what we do at LASPARK and has chosen to support our mandate as well as protect the environment”, she added.
The General Manager, on the other hand, urged individuals, public and commercial organisations, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to follow Standard Chartered Bank’s lead in beautifying and protecting the environment.
Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who was represented by Dr. Adebola Odunsi, also spoke, emphasising the importance of planting trees to address the urban heat wave effect, saying, “Trees are responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide and harmful substances that may negatively impact the environment.”
Fasawe also praised the partnership between LASPARK and Standard Chartered Bank and urged residents to uphold the LASPARK law, which requires all tenement owners and occupiers in Lagos State to landscape and improve the exterior of their buildings.
Lamin Manjang, the CEO of the Bank, reiterated the need for everyone to assist the environment by saying that the period of global warming had been anticipated long ago.
Planting trees, according to Manjang, is one approach to lessen the impact of climate change on the environment, indicating that environmental sustainability is the organization’s main goal.