The Clock is Ticking: Experts Warn of Climate Change Consequences

By: Destiny Tamunoala Emmanuel

Rivers State University's Centre for Climate Change and Forest Resources recently hosted a thought-provoking interactive session on climate change, bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss the pressing issue. 

The forum, held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at the Vice Chancellor's Conference Hall, featured keynote speakers and panel discussions on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and journalism.

In his welcome address, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing the climate crisis. 

He welcomed participants to the forum and expressed his gratitude for their presence, underscoring the significance of collaborative efforts in tackling the complexities of climate change.

Prof. Patricks E. Chinemerem, Head of EMT International Projects Team, introduced the fundamental realities of climate change in his opening remarks, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the issue. 

He noted that Earth's surface temperature has reached 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, underscoring the urgency of climate action and the need for immediate attention to this global challenge. "The main reason for this discussion forum is to interact with our students and the resource persons and to give good publicity to the center," he said.

In his presentation, Prof. Chinemerem delved into the critical role of leadership in climate action, discussing seven fundamental questions about leadership impact on climate resilience. 

He stressed the necessity for clear, coherent, and globally aligned strategies in addressing climate change, emphasizing that effective leadership is crucial for developing and implementing these strategies. Prof. Chinemerem also differentiated between regular leaders and climate leaders, highlighting the importance of both intrinsic and extrinsic values in guiding climate leadership.

A video presentation featuring UN Secretary-General António Guterres's message described climate change as a "ticking time bomb" and emphasized the urgent need for global action. He outlined specific targets for developed and developing nations regarding net-zero emissions and called for immediate action across all sectors to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Prof. T.K.S Abam, Dean of the Postgraduate School, shed light on the peculiar vulnerability of delta regions to climate change impacts in his presentation. He emphasized the unique position of the university's Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Development Studies, noting its recent name change from the Center for Climate Change and Forest Resources. "The center was created just because of that; we are supposed to interact with resource persons not only from the university or the academia but also from the industry because of their experience and other exposures," he said.

The forum identified several key action items to address the challenges posed by climate change. These included developing research themes to investigate greenhouse gas reporting and accountability in industries, a crucial step toward reducing emissions and promoting transparency. 

Other action items encompassed implementing community-based forest governance programs for carbon trading benefits, which can provide economic incentives for sustainable forest management, and promoting climate-resilient development to create safer and more sustainable futures for humanity and ecosystem support units. The participants also advocated for inventorization of communities at risk from climate change impacts, recognizing the need for targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations, and incorporating climate change impacts on reproductive health into the centre's curriculum to ensure a comprehensive understanding of climate change's effects on human health.

In an interview with journalists, Prof. S.A Abere, Centre Director, highlighted the centre's mission to provide a think tank for solving climate change problems. "We believe that governments are aware of climate change, but they may not be aware that there are institutions that can bring out solutions to these problems," he explained. 

He further stated that; the centre offers a range of academic programs, including certificate, diploma, postgraduate, and PhD programs in climate change studies, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address climate change effectively. 

Prof. Abere also encouraged students to take advantage of these programs to acquire a deeper understanding of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. "We have certificate programs, we have diploma programs, postgraduate, and PhD programs. The university will issue the certificate, and the knowledge acquired from that will be something we believe will be of use to whatever establishment you are representing," he said.

Prof. Patricks E. Chinemerem also emphasized the importance of climate journalism, noting that the communication and dissemination of climate change information rely heavily on media professionals. "The centre's course on climate journalism can help media practitioners report accurately on climate change issues," he said, highlighting the role of journalism in raising awareness and promoting informed discourse on climate change. "We need to promote the context of climate-resilient development. So it means that all development trajectories that we are going to consider in the future will take into consideration mitigation, adaptation, that will bring about massive opportunities and also create safer and sustainable futures for humanity and also our ecosystem support units," he added.

The forum concluded with a call to action, encouraging participants to promote climate change awareness and education. As Prof. Abere noted, "Climate change is a phenomenon that is very, very important. It has come to stay. To think of it