Climate and environment stakeholders have stressed the need for more efforts towards mitigating the devastating impact of climate change.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos during an event to mark World Environment Day 2026, the Federal Controller of the Environment, South-West, Adenaike Oladunni, said the world was already witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change, especially the rise in sea level temperature, flooding, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and increasing pressure on the urban system and natural resources.

Reflecting on the theme, “Inspired by nature, for climate, for our future,” during the event organised by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Oladunni said these realities are reminders that climate action was no longer optional but a shared responsibility requiring immediate and sustained commitments from governments, institutions, communities and individuals.

She said the forum was carefully designed to promote dialogue, awareness, collaboration and innovative thinking towards achieving sustainable environmental practices, just as she advanced need to inspire meaningful conversation and practical solutions capable of driving positive environmental change.

In the meantime, the former Federal Controller, Ministry of the Environment, Lagos, Adeyemi Adefule, said climate change, which is a shift in earth’s average weather patterns and an increase in its surface temperature, is linked to the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, into the atmosphere, affecting human survival.

He explained that, as a result of human activities, there has been the burning of coal, oil and gas for electricity, transport, and industry, just as there have been deforestation and farming.

“Global warming is causing more heat waves, fewer cold snaps, heavier rainfall and drought,” he noted. “It affects food production, water supply, health, coastline and economies.

Nevertheless, Adefule said the solutions lie with individuals, the government at all levels, business organisations, academia and civil societies, stating that salvaging the earth as a common heritage is a collective responsibility.

Also, a town planner, Mrs Yemisi Alaska, said the environment needed to be preserved for a sustainable future, adding that a better climate is a planning, governance, infrastructure and human development issue.

She lamented the encroachment on wetlands and flood zones, as well as the weak implementation and enforcement of regulations, and poor integration of climate risks due to overriding interests and economic issues.

On his part, the Founder and Senior Partner, Samson Agbator Consulting, Dr Samson Agbator, listed the major challenges to developers in adopting green design, to include green building as an alien reality to the Nigerian environment, high costs, weak and unimplemented policies.

Equally speaking, a sustainability expert at the Bank of Industry, Mrs Yemi Ayeni, urged Nigerians to work towards leaving the environment and the world better than they met it.