American Society of Civil Engineers Nigeria Section has called for community engagement and policy frameworks to confront the reality of global climate change that has come to stay, especially in the urban areas. This it said during its annual conference with the theme, “Climate Adaptive Cities: Engineering Solutions For Resilient Urban Future”.
Speaking at the conference, the President, American Society of Civil Engineers, Nigeria Section, Engr. Austin Odibi, said, “This year’s theme addresses one of the defining challenges facing cities today. Rapid urbanisation, climate change, flooding, coastal erosion, extreme weather events and increasing pressure on critical infrastructure require us to rethink how our cities are planned, designed, developed and managed”.
Engr. Odibi said that the conference focuses on four important areas – urban flood control, drainage innovation and coastal protection; green infrastructure and nature-based solutions for urban resilience; climate-smart transport, housing and utility infrastructure etc.”According to him, these themes emphasise the need for integrated solutions that combine engineering innovation with sound planning, effective governance, environmental stewardship and meaningful community participation.
He said, “Globally, ASCE continues to champion resilient and sustainable infrastructure through initiatives such as Future World Vision, engineering standards, research, professional education, policy advocacy and strategic partnerships. These efforts equip engineers with the knowledge and tools required to address climate change, advance innovative infrastructure solutions and contribute to the United Nations sustainable development goals, particularly those relating to resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities and climate action”.
In addition, Global President, American Society of Civil Engineers and Transportation Strategic Advisor for GHD, a global consultancy, Dr. Anderson Bomar said, “ASCE is doing a great job globally, meeting up with the challenges in the industry. They are resilient, founding solutions as you identify the challenges.”Also, President, Chairman-In-Council, The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Alimasuya Rabiu, said, “This conference is much more than an assembly of engineers and professionals. It is a convergence of knowledge, experience and ideas. At a time when cities across the world are expanding at an unprecedented pace and confronting increasingly complex environmental, infrastructural and socio-economic pressures, the responsibility before engineers has never been greater”.
“Our cities are the engines of economic activity, innovation and human development. Yet, they are also increasingly exposed to flooding, extreme weather events, rising temperatures, infrastructure stress, environmental degradation and other consequences of a changing climate”.
President, Council for The Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Prof. Saiq Z Abubakar, represented by Engr Tomide Akinnawo said, “The theme of this year’s conference “Climate Adaptive Cities: Engineering Solutions for Resilient Urban Futures,” is a welcoming idea to deliberate on advanced engineering, digital modeling, and nature-based solutions to protect urban areas from extreme weather, flooding, and rising temperatures. This will require greater collaboration, new funding mechanisms, innovative regulatory regimes, new construction techniques, broader skill sets and more than anything which the country at the moment needs to switch to move from the level we are now.
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