Education
BUK conference: Experts urge inclusion of informal settlements in climate action plans – EnviroNews
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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 ensure sustainable and resilient communities.
The experts made the call on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in Kano at the conference organised by the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University Kano (BUK), with the theme: “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 often the most affected by climate change impacts but remained largely excluded from climate policies and interventions.
The dean described the theme of the second international conference as apt, adding that more than one billion people globally live in informal settlements, making them among the most climate-vulnerable populations in the world.
Raji said Nigeria’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2035 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 cannot be realised without addressing the challenges facing informal communities.
The don noted that many informal settlements were 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 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 that would support community-led climate action.
Raji announced that the faculty had established a Sustainability Lab Research Group and Cluster 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 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ahmed Tsauni, he called for community participation in climate action, saying residents of informal settlements should be regarded as partners in identifying challenges and developing solutions.
He urged stronger collaboration among government, universities, communities and the private sector to promote climate resilience through improved urban planning, flood management, water supply, sanitation and sustainable waste management.
Speaking also, the Vice-Chancellor of Baba Ahmed University, Kano, Prof. Adamu Tanko, warned that the rapid growth of unplanned informal settlements could worsen the impact of climate change in urban areas.
He said many informal settlements lacked basic infrastructure such as roads and drainage systems, making residents more vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
