Sterling Bank Joins Push for Global Climate Financing as COP 31 Opens Today

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Sterling Bank is strengthening its commitment to sustainable development through strategic engagements with Lagos and Ondo States at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place from 9 to 20 November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.

The Bank’s participation will focus on advancing climate investment opportunities, supporting access to sustainable financing and connecting state-led development priorities with international investors and development finance institutions.

The engagements reflect the growing importance of subnational governments in Nigeria’s response to climate change, particularly as states confront the dual challenge of developing climate-resilient infrastructure and protecting communities already experiencing environmental losses.

While financing remains critical to accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition and infrastructure development, the worsening impact of coastal erosion, flooding and other climate-related threats has increased the urgency of directing capital towards practical adaptation measures.

Sterling Bank will participate in the Lagos State Government’s COP31 programme, which seeks to advance an estimated US$25–50 billion climate investment opportunity spanning more than 300 potential projects. Led by the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCE), the initiative will bring together global investors, financial institutions and strategic partners to explore opportunities across renewable energy, sustainable transportation, waste management, climate-resilient infrastructure, agriculture and green enterprise.

A major highlight of the State’s participation will be Lagos Climate Investment Day, scheduled for 13 November 2026. The event will provide a platform to present the State’s investment pipeline, engage prospective financing partners and explore structures capable of moving priority projects towards implementation. Sterling Bank will contribute its financing expertise to discussions on project bankability, sustainable investment and opportunities for private-sector participation in Lagos’s climate development agenda.

On Ondo, Sterling Bank is supporting the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in drawing international attention to the growing environmental crisis affecting Aiyetoro and other coastal communities in Ilaje Local Government Area. The COP31 sideline engagement, organised under the theme ‘Saving the Vanishing Coast,’ will highlight the impact of rising sea levels, coastal erosion and environmental degradation while seeking partnerships to support long-term coastal protection, infrastructure development and economic recovery.

The urgency of the intervention is underscored by research into shoreline changes along the Ilaje coast, which found that approximately 86% of the coastline studied had experienced erosion. Aiyetoro, once a thriving fishing community, has suffered extensive land loss, damage to residential and public infrastructure, and disruption to traditional livelihoods.

The situation illustrates the increasing economic and social costs of climate inaction, particularly for communities with limited resources to withstand repeated environmental shocks.

Through its programme at the Nigeria Pavilion, OSOPADEC will present a coastal-resilience roadmap covering shoreline protection and land reclamation, climate-resilient infrastructure, clean water and energy access, restoration of fisheries and blue-economy livelihoods, and early-warning systems. Sterling Bank’s involvement will support engagements aimed at identifying potential financing structures and development partnerships for these priorities, including proposed discussions with institutions such as the Green Climate Fund and the World Bank, particularly its West Africa Coastal Areas programme.

Commenting on the Bank’s participation, Dele Faseemo, Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking at Sterling Bank, said:

“Climate change is already changing the way our cities function and how communities earn a living. Lagos has identified significant opportunities to invest in infrastructure that will support its long-term growth, while the situation in Aiyetoro shows what happens when vulnerable communities are unable to protect themselves against environmental threats. These are different challenges, but both require financing, credible projects and sustained collaboration. Our focus at COP31 is to work with the states and development partners to identify practical financing arrangements that can support implementation. The measure of progress will be what we are able to deliver beyond the conference.”

Sterling Bank’s participation builds on its HEART strategy, which prioritises investment in Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation. Through the strategy, the Bank continues to support sectors central to Nigeria’s economic development and climate transition, including clean energy adoption, sustainable agriculture and low-emission mobility.

This commitment was recently reinforced through a US$30 million senior credit facility signed with Proparco, the private-sector subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, to expand financing for renewable energy projects and small and medium-sized enterprises across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. The arrangement reflects Sterling’s efforts to work with development finance partners to increase access to capital in sectors where financing can support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Beyond COP31, the Bank’s engagement with OSOPADEC is expected to support continued dialogue on the Ilaje coastal-resilience agenda, including preparations for an international conference proposed for March 2027. The conference is intended to build on discussions in Antalya and advance potential partnerships and financing commitments for coastal interventions.

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About Sterling Bank
Sterling Bank Limited is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group. With a heritage of more than 60 years, the bank has evolved from Nigeria’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a trusted provider of retail, commercial, and corporate banking services.
Sterling is a forward-thinking financial institution committed to transforming lives through innovative solutions, exceptional service, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast focus on its HEART strategy, which centers on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. As pioneers in digital banking and financial inclusion, Sterling continues to lead by example, showing how purpose-driven leadership can deliver transformative outcomes for individuals, businesses, and society at large.
Guided by a culture of innovation and a passion for excellence, Sterling Bank remains dedicated to redefining the banking experience for millions of customers across Nigeria.