Environmental institution seeks collaborative efforts on global warming, flooding
By Sulaimon Alamutu, Lagos
The Nigeria Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) has called for collaboration between the federal government, state governments and other stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of food, energy and water nexus on global warming and flooding in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole.
The National Chairman of the NIEE, Eng. Nureni Ogunyemi, made the call in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, at the inauguration of the Institution’s National Executive Committee and his investiture as the 14th National Chairman.
He said this collaboration hold the keys to unlock solutions to the environmental challenges confronting the nation.
Climate change, according to him, is no longer a distant threat; it is a reality that must be confronted head-on, adding that “the nexus between food, energy, and water is at the heart of this challenge, and our ability to manage it effectively will shape the future for generations to come.”
“As stewards of our environment, we have a responsibility to adopt sustainable practices that mitigate the effects of climate change. One of the most visible consequences of climate change is the increasing frequency and intensity of floods. Changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events pose a significant threat to communities worldwide.
“By addressing the food-energy-water nexus, we have the opportunity not only to reduce our environmental impact but also to enhance our resilience in the face of these challenges,”
“Let us begin by acknowledging the intricate relationships within the food-energy-water nexus. The production of food requires water and energy. Energy production demands water resources, and water supply often depends on energy inputs. This interconnectedness is both a source of resilience and vulnerability,” he added.
The Guest Speaker at the event, Professor Ifeoluwa Adewunwi, Head, Dept of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, tasked environmental engineers to be more proactive as their activities impact greatly on the environment.
Discussing the theme, “Food-Energy-Water nexus, their impact on global warming and flooding,” Professor Adewunmi, said almost all engineering activities relating to construction, exploration, mining contributes to environmental degradation.
At this period of economic hardship in Nigeria, Professor Adewunmi said there is the need for a paradigm shift and looking inwards to develop homegrown solutions to the problem.
“The nationwide outcry about high cost of everything from water to food and other essential commodities is more or less a wake-up call to look inward in finding solution to energy, developing our own steel industry to be able to have local access to materials to develop our industries. Individually, we must have a change of attitude and believe in ourselves,” he said.
The National Chairman of the NIEE said tenure would ensure commitment to innovation and collaboration towards developing sustainable solutions to optimize use of resources, promote renewable energy, ensure food and water security.
He also promised to re-establish a climate change committee to ensure the NIEE has good representation in future climate change fora across the world.
The high point of the event was the inauguration of the national executive committee members of the institution as well as the induction of five engineers as Fellows of the NIEE.
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