With technical and funding support from Green Growth Africa in Partnership with the University of Waterloo – WISE (Canada) and Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability (USA), University of Ibadan, Nigeria hosted its Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice Event on Friday 31st March, 2023 and 1st April, 2023. The two-day event recorded 391 participants including staff members, students, and non-academic staff, and lasted for five (5) hours. Highlights of the activities carried out during the event include a debate session, career fair and a networking session.
During the debate session, the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources and Faculty of Agriculture debated on the topic “Should governments prioritize economic growth over environmental protection in order to achieve green growth?” While the faculty of Agriculture argued that economic growth should be prioritized. the faculty of Renewable Natural Resources argued that environmental protection should be prioritized. Specifically, the faculty of Agriculture pointed out that agriculture and other industries contribute significantly to the country’s GDP, which in turn benefits the citizens through job creation, increased incomes, and improved standard of living. They also argued that economic growth is necessary to fund research and development of sustainable agriculture practices. On the other hand, the faculty of Renewable Natural Resources emphasized that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and that protecting the environment is critical to preserving natural resources for future generations. They also argued that investing in renewable energy and sustainable practices would create new jobs and drive economic growth.
During the discussion, several questions were raised, including:
- What are the long-term economic and environmental impacts of prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection?
- How can we balance economic growth and environmental protection to achieve green growth?
- What policies and incentives can governments put in place to encourage sustainable practices and investment in renewable energy?
- What role can technology play in achieving green growth?
Although no clear consensus was reached on whether economic growth or environmental protection should be prioritized for achieving green growth, the debaters however agreed that both economic growth and environmental protection are important, and that finding a balance between the two is necessary for long-term sustainable development.
Interestingly, the debate sparked a lively discussion among the undergraduate students. They were able to critically analyze the different arguments put forward by the faculty of Agriculture and the faculty of Renewable Natural Resources. The debate opened up the minds of the students to think as policymakers and consider the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection. It allowed them to consider the long-term implications of their decisions and to think about the importance of sustainable development.
Additionally, at the career fair, it provided the students the opportunity to listen to top speakers in the climate and agricultural sector speak about career opportunities in these fields. The speakers provided insights into the different career paths available, the skills required, and the future prospects for growth in these sectors.
Overall, the activities carried out at the event provided the students with a valuable learning experience. They were able to gain insights into the different career paths available in the climate and agricultural sector and to think critically about important policy issues related to sustainable development.
