MASTERCLASS Series — Climate Change: How much can the planet earth support in a sustainable manner?

Date: May 18th, 2019

Facilitator: Olumide Idowu

Moderator: Oghenekevwe Christopher Oghenechovwen

Attendance: 158 individuals



The masterclass session commenced at 7:30pm with the moderator Oghenekevwe Christopher Oghenechovwen giving a brief introduction on climate change. Oghenekevwe mentioned that climate change has an impact on almost every aspect of our lives. Our ecosystems suffer biodiversity and habitat loss, and human systems like health will be negatively impacted. An example is by the spread of disease vectors like mosquitos. Climate change also challenges us to rethink our urban systems (including transport and buildings), and the way we do business (including green business opportunities). He added that, the impacts of climate change might also result in conflict (over a drying water source, for example) or force people to migrate (for example from low-lying coastal areas).



In the face of strong opposition and denial, people and institutions are more united than ever, aiming to address the impacts of climate change. He emphasised that the burden for leading countries and communities through this crisis is for youth and young professionals to bear. This leadership is expressed when we remain optimistic and imagine a resilient tomorrow; learn about issues; share ideas, knowledge, and experiences; as well as collaborate and organise into communities for action.



Oghenechovwen’s Profile;



He is completing a Bachelor’s programme in Meteorology and Climate Science at the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. Oghenechovwen has 4 years of experience in the environmental and development space at different levels, with emphasis on youth engagement, and the ocean-climate science and policy interface. He is driven by his commitment to reduce knowledge-gaps of the physical environment and have his voice stand up for communities facing environmental risks. He also contributes research and stories on environment, conservation, gender, governance and socioeconomic rights to; YourCommonwealth, Wellbeing for Women Africa, YNaija!, and Impakter. He can be contacted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oghenekevwe-oghenechovwen/ and Twitter: @ChovwenKevwe.



Olumide Idowu’s Profile;

Olumide has over 10 years of experience working on Communications, Environment Sustainability, Climate Change, Agro-ecology, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Sustainable Development issues. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Abuja in 2010. Olumide is a communication and digital expert and trainer with extensive experience in creating, facilitating and managing projects. He has represented Nigeria and Africa at over 25 high-level global governance and environment meetings on sustainable development and has served as the African Youth Champion for UNISDR. He was selected as a facilitator for UNISDR in Japan 2014 and Mexico 2017 for his strong interest in Youth and Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as serving as an Expert of the Week by UN environment and UNISDR. Olumide is the recipient of the 2015 Save the Children Award of Contribution toward Sustainable Development in Nigeria and Commonwealth Youth Climate Fellow. Olumide has co-founded two organizations: the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition, the biggest youth environmental movement in Nigeria, and the International Climate Change Development Initiative, which identifies key environment-based issues affecting development across Africa. Olumide currently works as the Youth Lead Author for Global Environmental Outlook of the UN Environment and was selected by the US Embassy in Nigeria for International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), where he spent almost 3 weeks in the United State learning about Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation. Executive Director @ClimateWed Social Media & Rec. Fellow @createITFutures.





Summary of discussion held;



Olumide stated that we see climate change everywhere: in weather patterns, across farmland, throughout plant and animal habitats. The largest single threat to the ecology and biodiversity of the planet in the decades to come will be global climate disruption due to the buildup of human-generated greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is abundantly clear that climate change is already having an impact on human rights, and this impact will only intensify in coming years.



He said that in the late 18th century, philosopher Thomas Malthus wrote these ominous words in an essay on what he saw as the dire future of humanity. Humans' unquenchable urge to reproduce, Malthus argued, would ultimately lead us to overpopulate the planet, eat up all its resources and die in mass famine. But, what is the maximum "power of the Earth to produce subsistence," and when will our numbers push the planet to its limit? More importantly, was Malthus' vision of the future correct?

Overpopulation and its effect of climate change

You often hear people citing overpopulation as the single biggest threat to the Earth. But can we really single out population growth in this way? Are there really too many people on our planet? How is climate change contributing to this?

It is clear to all that the planet is not expanding. There is only so much space on Earth, not to mention only so many resources: food, water and energy, that can support a human population. So a growing human population must pose some kind of a threat to the wellbeing of planet Earth, must not it?

Question: How do you think overpopulation is making the earth more insecure?

Aisha Bubah responded that too many excesses that come with the high population

Oluwafunmi Boriowo said that overpopulation makes it difficult for everyone to access the good things of life. Mr. Olumide added that population growth has been so rapid that there is no real precedent we can turn to for clues about the possible consequences. In other words, while the planet might hold over 11 billion people by the end of the century, our current level of knowledge does not allow us to predict whether such a large population is sustainable, simply because it has never happened before.

Ugo mentioned that overpopulation effect becomes noticeable due to increasing rural to urban migration.

Bella responded that overpopulation was not just a contributor but, the main cause of climate change. The climate is changing as a result of global warming and global warming is largely attributable to human activities.

Bibira stated that our earthly resources are not infinite, and we haven’t managed what we have/had very well. Presently, those resources are diminishing and making resources scarce, unable to go round our teeming population.

Olumide mentioned that millions of people were already suffering from the catastrophic effects of extreme disasters exacerbated by climate change. People living in high-income nations must play their part if the world is to sustain a large human population. This simples explain the gaps between the poor and the rich - and this is why the poor needs to start working on their consumptions and how they treat the earth and the rich people will keep making money off them. The more poor people get aware - the lesser the number of effect and impact on human.

He added that if we change our consumption habits, this would have a drastic effect on our environmental footprint as well. Creating a sustainable population is as much about boosting women’s rights as it is about reducing consumption of resources. If some or all of us consume a lot of resources, the maximum sustainable population will be lower. If we find ways to each consume less, ideally without sacrificing our creature comforts, Earth will be able to support more of us.

He elaborated that changes in technology, which are often wildly unpredictable, will also affect the maximum population. In the early 20th Century, the global population problem was as much about the fertility of soil as the fertility of women. Earth is our only home and we must find a way to live on it sustainably.

To conclude the session, Olumide stated that for the foreseeable future, earth is our only home and we must find a way to live on it sustainably. Scaling back our consumption, in particular a transition to low-carbon lifestyles, and improving the status of human/women worldwide will support in estimating how many people our planet can sustainably hold.

Question 1:

Nonso Obi: I have heard a lot about climate change. I am still sitting on the fence about it. In what way or ways, is Nigeria seeing the impact of climate change or are the impacts expected in the future?



Response: I will rather recommend that you all look around where you stay and tell me how you feel when rain start falling.

Question 2:

Aisha Bubah: On a very basic level, what changes can one make to adopt a sustainable lifestyle? And how does this influence the status of women like you said?

Response: Our contributions to the earth determines how we want to live it and woman been vulnerable makes it more bad. They need more attention in terms of decision making and participation in politics

Question 3:

Manla Isabella: Human use more natural resources at a rate that far exceeds the planet’s ability to keep up. Deforestation rate is alarming. How then can we be manage to be sustainable knowing that population growth will continue?

Response: It is not the number of people on the planet that is the issue – but the number of consumers and the scale and nature of their consumption.

Question 4:

Funmilola Awosanya: You stated that high income earners are to play their part in helping to create a sustainable earth but, the people mostly damaging the planet earth are the poor. How they can they be sensitized about preserving the earth?

Response: To preserve the earth we need to start looking at our contribution to our surroundings. Are we really making sure we dump refuse in a good manner? The rich will never see this as a problem rather the poor people will be the one affected.

Question 5:

Jennifer K: How can young people like me and my friends help address these issues raised?

Response: Join a group that can help you to learn and grown. This is the time for #InnovativeVolunteerism



Report written by:

Tinuola Aina

Assistant National Secretary

YALI RLC Alumni Nigeria Chapter