PROPERTY TRANSACTION GUIDE

How To Tackle Climate Change, By Advocacy Group

Independent, Sunday 16th May 2010

Olusoji Daomi of the Citizens Against Climate Change in Nigeria (CACCIN) suggests that the twin strategy of urban planning practices and the act of tree planting are effective adaptation and mitigation measures to the global climate change menace

We at Citizens Against Climate Change in Nigeria (CACCIN) believe that fighting climate change should also be fought vigorously at the local level - local government being the nearest to the people. However, due to emissions in the past, adaptation to climate change shall be required to address impacts resulting from unavoidable warming. The adverse experiences with weather extremes - floods, storms, extreme heat and droughts - are a clear sign of the severe impacts of climate change. Even if we were to stop all green house gas emissions today, we would still feel the impacts of climate change for decades to come. At the same time if we do not stop increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere we run the risk of changing the climate so severely that we will be unable to adapt. The integration of climate change mitigation and of adaptation and its consequences through urban planning and tree planting is a good way to fight this world scourge. Addressing climate change and its effects through urban planning presents a twofold challenge: on one hand "mitigation", that is limiting further climate change by reducing the production of greenhouse gases; and, "adaptation" on the other hand, which is about preparing for the impacts of inevitable climate change.

The key impacts of climate change on urban areas and building infrastructure within Nigeria, especially Lagos being the only mega city in the country, are related to extreme events such as heat, storm, flooding, as well as sea level rise in coastal areas; more so that Lagos and most Niger Delta states have low lying topography. Urban planning could play a key role in minimising climate related risks in the human environment. Moreover there are many opportunities for local councils to use the urban planning process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is essential that climate change be tackled in an integrated way. There are urgent need to motivate local governments to include climate protection and adaptation in their planning practices. Synergies are created when measures that control greenhouse gas concentrations also reduce adverse impacts of climate change, or vice versa.

Overheating of urban areas can have serious repercussions for human beings such as a rising in the number of excess deaths for particularly vulnerable group of people, a reduction in the comfort of urban residents with further effects on their productiveness and the urban economy. During hot weather, elevated demand for air conditioners leads to enhanced energy requirement and further exacerbates climate change.

In Nigeria, especially in urban cities like Lagos and Abuja the area of sealed land used for settlements, roads and industrial estates etc. has dramatically expanded. Urban sprawl is synonymous to a re-distribution of housing, workplaces, retail and leisure facilities. This means as well loss of prime farmland, lengthens commute times and increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As a result of urban sprawl, road transportation has become the fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Construction on the "green field" and bad energy balance of housing contribute to further CO2 emissions.

The question is how do we mitigation climate change through urban planning? Local governments can take a range of planning decisions related to urban development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They can be proactive in regulatory and educational measures and apply mandatory density and energy efficiency criteria. Cities can make a substantial long-term contribution to prevention of car traffic if they consider this aspect early in the planning process.