Town planners move to mitigate rising challenges of climate change

Worried by the adverse challenges constantly thrown up by a changing climate as it affects human settlements and their development options over the next 100 years or more, town planners have resolved to initiate measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change effects.

The resolution was reached at a workshop recently organised by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Lagos State chapter, as part of activities to commemorate its 30th anniversary.

Eugene Itua, chief executive officer, Multiple Development Services, noted that climate change was one of the most important issues facing the global community worldwide.

Presenting a paper titled “Town Planning and Changing Climate”, Itua said there was no doubt that human settlements in Nigeria would be affected by climate change in a variety of ways, including population displacement and migration, and accelerated rise in sea level in low-lying coastal regions such as Lagos.

He was, however, optimistic that town planners could play a significant role in curbing some of the challenges posed by climate change.

“One major way to curb the challenges of climate change is to reduce the sources of greenhouse gases or enhance the sinks that remove them from the atmosphere,” he said.

“Planners must adjust their development options to minimise the potential future adverse impacts of climate change and to take advantage of opportunities that may arise,” he added.

To combat these challenges, Itua said a planner must understand the causes, range and options for communicating and addressing climate change in order to be effective in whatever sector or geographic scale he operates.

He also highlighted the need for a planner to be at the cutting edge of best practice, acquire knowledge and skills he needs, and be as informed as possible if his developments must match the rising challenges posed by climate change.

Leke Oduwaye, a lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, reiterated the need for physical planning on climate protection to be encouraged, through land uses that result in reduced emission of green house gas and minimize the risks posed by developments.

In his paper titled “Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Areas in Nigeria: Possible Physical Planning Interventions”, Oduwaye said it was also important to develop more compact cities, improve transport management, and re-zone land use planning. He also advised that compact developmental patterns, urban forestry, and conservation of natural resources should be encouraged.