Environmental experts have stressed the need for governments and institutions to adopt practical and systematic approaches to climate change management, noting that many people struggle to relate with the technical and political presentation of climate issues despite supporting environmental protection.
Dr. Abiola Bashorun of the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme said climate change management remains one of the most misunderstood environmental concepts globally because communication, economics, policy implementation and public perception often overshadow the science itself.
According to her, countries operating within Nationally Determined Contributions face difficult trade-offs between environmental sustainability and pressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, industrial growth, food security, energy access and economic stability.
She explained that sustainability efforts must move systematically by introducing climate action through practical environmental challenges that communities can easily understand. Bashorun noted that pollution control, waste management, recycling, erosion control and cleaner urban environments are easier for citizens to connect with because they directly affect public health, flooding, sanitation and ecosystem wellbeing.
The environmental expert also pointed to the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme as an example of how climate action can support food security, sustainable agriculture, land restoration and economic resilience. She said farmers and rural communities are more willing to embrace environmental initiatives when they improve productivity, livelihoods and soil quality.
Bashorun further stated that funding opportunities become more accessible when environmental initiatives are presented clearly with measurable outcomes, community participation and long-term sustainability. According to her, governments, development agencies, investors and donor institutions are more likely to support projects linked to renewable energy, pollution control, recycling, ecosystem restoration and resilience-building when the benefits are practical and understandable.
She added that in countries such as Nigeria, environmental issues like flooding, deforestation, desertification, waste disposal, pollution and food insecurity are often more relatable to citizens than technical climate negotiations, making simplified environmental communication essential to achieving sustainability goals.
According to Bashorun, the future of environmental sustainability will depend not only on scientific reports and international agreements, but also on the ability to build public trust and create climate solutions that people can see, understand and benefit from directly.
