A Professor of Process Systems Engineering at the University of Lagos, Mohammed Usman, says the climate crisis is getting worse mainly because people waste resources—not just because of carbon emissions, which are usually blamed in global discussions about the environment.
Speaking during his first official lecture titled “Carbon Truly as Guilty as Charged? The Perspective of a Process Systems Engineer on Sustainability”, Usman explained that using resources carelessly is the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to climate change.
He said, “It’s very clear that the real problem is not carbon, but the way we use resources.”
He added that our wasteful habits are to blame—not the type of resource we use, and certainly not carbon. He believes the best way to achieve sustainability is by using resources more efficiently, instead of just switching from one type of energy to another.
He said people should always ask: “What is the least amount of resource needed to get this job done?” before using any resource. This should apply to everyone—individuals, businesses, and governments alike.
He encouraged people to learn how to use resources wisely and to stop wasting them in every form.
Usman said true sustainability depends on knowing the minimum amount of resources needed and having the right technology to use them efficiently.
He urged individuals, businesses, and governments to stop all forms of wasteful behavior, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12, which promotes responsible consumption and production.
To make this happen, he said strong policies are needed at all levels of government, including regular checks on how policies affect resource use.
He explained that these checks would help find better solutions and stop environmental problems from simply shifting from one type of resource to another.
Usman also asked lawmakers to support these ideas by creating strong laws. He advised the UN Climate Change Commission to stop seeing carbon as the enemy and instead recognize it as a useful resource.
He said governments need to fully align their policies to ensure resources are used efficiently. They should regularly check how their plans affect resource use and make sure laws are in place to support this. He believes this is the only way to get the most out of any resource and achieve sustainability.
Usman suggested changing terms like “decarbonisation” to “100% carbon utilisation” or “recarbonisation.” He said similar ideas should be applied to other materials used in clean energy, like silicon and lithium.
Talking about education, Usman said lecturers are underpaid and the education system in Nigeria is in crisis and needs urgent help.
He said universities should be treated like a “fourth arm” of government—just as important as the courts—and professors should be paid accordingly.
He also called for stronger connections between universities and industries. He said the government should create policies that encourage using local knowledge and skills in various sectors.
He believes that better cooperation between universities and industries will boost research, help companies stay competitive, and revive the education sector.
He said, “We should stop being afraid of carbon. Instead, we need to understand it, control it, and use it well.” He added that process systems engineers should lead in this area and should be supported with research funding and professorial positions.
Usman also urged the University of Lagos to manage its own utilities, like power and water, so it can be more self-reliant. He said waste should not just be managed but turned into useful resources.
He suggested creating a Centre of Excellence for Biomimicry at the university to help it become a leader in Africa for nature-inspired technology.
While agreeing that climate change is a serious global issue, Usman argued that blaming carbon alone ignores the real problem.
He ended his lecture by saying: “Carbon is not guilty as charged. It should be declared innocent.”
