Investigating the Interplay between Climate Change and Sustainable Environment Development: Challenges, Strategies and Future Directions

Climate change is associated with the long-term effects of adverse weather patterns which could be natural or human-driven. Studies show that human activities in the atmosphere contribute over 95% of the global climate change. Sustainable environment management; a path towards a resilient future for every society finds its root in the benefits of tackling the challenges of climate change. The drivers of climate change pose quite a number of challenges for communities globally such as deforestation, desertification, greenhouse gas emissions, construction and industrial activities which alters the ozone layer and creates extreme weather conditions. This eventually results to disruption in weather events such as bio- diversity loss, rising sea levels and disruptions in agricultural activities and water resources. However, a transitioning to the use of renewable energy sources could help sustain environment management. Research has shown that engaging in sustainable agricultural practices and building climate resilient infrastructure and adaptation measures such as forest management, resource efficiency and a halt in bush burning would help communities to cope with the impacts of climate change. This paper therefore provides an overview of the key causes and consequences of climate change and emphasizes the need to explore the significant approaches that will help mitigate against the unprecedented challenges that hinder sustainable environment management. Additionally, the paper delves into the environmental, social and economic dimensions through which policy frameworks aimed at reducing emissions and adapting to climate change can be integrated into communities in order to enhance sustainable environment management. Finally, the paper spells out practicable recommendations for scientists, governments and communities on how climate change can be slowed down to ensure a sustainable environment management. Using the Sustainable Development and the Resource-resilient World Theories as a framework of analysis, this paper argues that the complex interplay of climate change and sustainable environmental development is a factor of man’s interaction with his environment which eventually leads to ecological, social and economic consequences. The paper identifies a mix of policy, education, innovation and sustainable climate-oriented policies as the keys to promoting sustainable environment development. It therefore recommends that the Nigerian Government should factor in climate adaptation and mitigation as the main stream of its development policies; more investment be made into greenhouse technologies such as renewable and climate-smart infrastructures; and local participation be encouraged by increasing climate change awareness at the grass-root level.