Experts at the Second International Conference on Climate Change and Informal Settlements have called for the inclusion of informal settlements in climate action plans to build sustainable and resilient communities.
The experts made the call on Wednesday in Kano at the conference organized by the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The conference was themed, “Resilient Futures, Informal Settlements and Community-Led Climate Action for a Resilient, Livable Environment.”
Prof. Abdulazeez Raji, Dean of the Faculty, said informal settlements were among the communities most affected by climate change but remained largely excluded from climate policies and interventions.
Raji described the conference theme as timely, noting that more than 1 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements, making them among the most climate-vulnerable populations.
He said Nigeria’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent by 2035 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 could not be achieved without addressing the challenges confronting informal communities.
According to him, many informal settlements are located on floodplains and along drainage channels, often without adequate infrastructure to protect residents from climate-related disasters.
Raji said the conference provided a platform for researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop practical solutions for sustainable cities.
He urged participants to produce concrete outcomes, including research collaborations and policy recommendations to support community-led climate action.
The don also announced the establishment of a Sustainability Lab Research Group and Cluster by the faculty to promote research and collaboration, particularly on Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of BUK, Prof. Haruna Musa, said climate change was already affecting communities through extreme heat, flooding, changing rainfall patterns, water shortages and environmental degradation.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ahmed Tsauni, Musa called for greater community participation in climate action, stressing that residents of informal settlements should be treated as partners in identifying challenges and developing solutions.
He urged stronger collaboration among governments, universities, communities and the private sector to improve climate resilience through better urban planning, flood management, water supply, sanitation and sustainable waste management.
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Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of Baba Ahmed University, Kano, Prof. Adamu Tanko, warned that the rapid expansion of unplanned informal settlements could worsen the impact of climate change in urban areas.
He said many informal settlements lacked basic infrastructure, including roads and drainage systems, leaving residents more vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
