Environmental experts have emphasized the need for collective action from the government, citizens, and manufacturers in Nigeria to mitigate the impact of climate change.
This message was conveyed during a virtual training program organized by Nestle Nigeria and Lagos Business School (LBS) for journalists.
Dr. Eugene Itua, CEO of Natural Eco Capital and one of the facilitators, discussed the topic of “Exploring the Impact of Industry and Economic Consumption Pattern.”
He stressed that governments, private sector entities, and citizens must collaborate to enhance resource efficiency, minimize waste and pollution, and foster a new circular economy.
Dr. Itua cautioned against food and water wastage as well as excessive consumption, advising individuals to consume only what they need at any given time.
Addressing environmental challenges, Dr. Itua highlighted that unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are the fundamental causes of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution (SDG 12). These crises and associated environmental degradation pose threats to human well-being and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Itua also pointed out the significant contribution of the fashion industry and manufacturing companies to climate change.
He revealed that the fashion industry alone is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions, surpassing the combined emissions from the aviation and shipping sectors. Manufacturing activities have also been identified as sources of environmental impact, including carbon emissions and waste generation.
Additionally, Dr. Itua discussed the adverse effects of plastic pollution, such as air, soil, and water contamination.
He urged manufacturers to shift towards using plant-based materials instead of fossil fuels and encouraged citizens to reduce their consumption of organic and recycled materials.
In another panel session focused on “The Impact of Changing Environment and Climate: Agriculture, Food Security, and Health in Nigeria,” Oreva Atanya, the Lead facilitator and Manager of LBS Sustainability Centre, explained that climate change leads to erratic weather patterns, extreme temperatures, and changes in natural resources, which jeopardize farmers’ ability to sustainably produce high-quality crops.
Amara Nwankpa, the Director of Policy at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, emphasized the importance of employing technology for adaptation to prevent exacerbating the effects of climate change.
He called for a coordinated response that avoids creating additional societal problems.
Nwankpa also mentioned that his organization is actively engaged in raising awareness about the impacts of climate change in local languages.
Some proposed solutions to address these issues include utilizing building technologies capable of responding to climate change and employing mathematical models to calculate water flow, among other strategies.
Adamu Garba, Senior Business Venture Analyst of NCIC, urged the government to exercise caution regarding dredging projects that could adversely affect people’s lives.