The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has raised fresh concerns over the escalating health consequences of climate change, describing the crisis as an immediate public health emergency rather than a future environmental threat. The Academy called on governments, communities and the media to work together to reduce the growing risks facing Nigerians.

The appeal was made during a media roundtable themed “Climate Change, Health, and the Nigerian Reality,” held recently at the Academy’s secretariat in Lagos. The event brought together scientists and journalists to examine the relationship between climate change and Nigeria’s increasing health challenges.

Representing the President of the Academy, Professor Abubakar Sambo, the Public Affairs Secretary, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, said scientific knowledge must extend beyond research institutions and become a tool for shaping government policy and improving everyday life.

“This roundtable is one of the key ways the Academy publicises the impact of science on our daily lives. Science must not remain in journals and laboratories. It must speak to policy, to business, and to the Nigerian people,” Babalola said.

He pointed to the country’s growing exposure to climate-related disasters, including repeated flooding, cholera outbreaks, prolonged heatwaves, worsening air pollution and declining food security.

“The World Health Organisation(WHO) describes climate change as the single biggest health threat of the 21st century. For Nigeria, with our population size, infrastructure gaps and double burden of disease, the impacts are direct and immediate,” he added.

Babalola noted that addressing climate-related health threats supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 on good health and well-being and SDG 13 on climate action, while also contributing to goals focused on sustainable cities and clean water.

Drawing from discussions at the recent FITC Sustainability and ESG Conference, he stressed that sustainability should be treated as an ongoing process rather than a short-term initiative. According to him, institutions should measure progress by improvements in people’s lives instead of focusing only on remediation costs.

He also advocated climate strategies designed around Nigeria’s unique realities instead of depending entirely on approaches developed in advanced economies.

Delivering the keynote address, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Lagos and environmental scientist, Prof. Babajide Alo, described climate change as one of the most significant development challenges confronting both Nigeria and the wider global community.

He said rising temperatures, coastal erosion, flooding, desertification and changing weather patterns continue to threaten livelihoods, food production, public health and national security. According to him, the burden falls most heavily on poor communities, women, young people, farmers and fishing communities.

Alo explained that human activities, particularly fossil fuel consumption and deforestation, have disrupted the Earth’s natural carbon cycle, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and driving global temperature rise.

He warned that without immediate adaptation and mitigation efforts, climate-related disasters would continue to intensify.

While acknowledging that Nigeria has introduced several climate initiatives, including the National Climate Policy, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Great Green Wall initiative and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, Alo said implementation remains concentrated at the federal level, leaving many states insufficiently prepared despite facing the greatest impacts.

“The states need help,” he said, calling for stronger climate governance at the sub-national level, dedicated budgetary allocations, increased public awareness and enhanced institutional capacity to implement climate policies.

He further advocated locally led adaptation, saying indigenous knowledge, community participation and inclusive decision-making are vital for building long-term climate resilience.

Among his recommendations were expanding renewable energy, promoting rainwater harvesting, restoring forests and wetlands, encouraging sustainable agriculture and improving access to climate finance.

Highlighting Nigeria’s international climate commitments, Alo said the country’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) targets a 29 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 32.2 per cent by 2035, while aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.

He added that the plan includes reducing deforestation, expanding renewable energy, promoting electric mobility and delivering 2,000 climate-resilient primary healthcare facilities by 2030. However, he noted that implementing these measures would require an estimated 337 billion dollars between 2026 and 2035.

Speaking on the topic “Reporting Climate Change, Health and the Nigerian Reality,” science journalist Wale Fatade urged stronger collaboration between scientists and journalists to improve public understanding of climate issues.

Fatade said climate change contributes directly to heat-related illnesses, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, while also increasing malaria, cholera, dysentery, food insecurity and malnutrition through changing rainfall patterns and worsening environmental conditions.

He encouraged scientists and journalists to strengthen mutual trust, reduce communication barriers and make greater use of science communication platforms and research grants that support media engagement.

The Nigerian Academy of Science concluded that empowering communities, strengthening institutions and improving science communication remain essential to securing Nigeria’s climate future. Babalola also urged journalists to continue translating scientific evidence into information that promotes informed policymaking and inspires public action.

Source: ThisDay