Spotlight on the C²REST Project : Nigeria’s Local Response to Climate & Lung Health

What Is the C²REST Nigeria Study?

The Climate Change and Respiratory Health (C²REST) Nigeria Study is a cutting-edge research initiative led by Prof. Davies Adeloye (co-Principal Investigator) and a consortium of Nigerian and international health experts. It aims to map how climate change impacts respiratory health in communities in Lagos and Ogun States. (ccrest.org)

Launched in 2024, the three-year project involves:

• Population surveys on air pollution exposure and lung health.
• Community interviews to understand local knowledge and coping strategies.
• Stakeholder engagement (government, health workers, community leaders) to identify barriers and opportunities for climate action. (ccrest.org)

The study team brings together disciplines including public health, pulmonology, biostatistics, microbiology, and clinical practice — creating a uniquely multidisciplinary approach to climate and health. (ccrest.org)

Key Early Findings

Initial stakeholder engagements revealed:

• The most vulnerable groups include the poor, elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions.
• Sociocultural beliefs (e.g., climate change seen as spiritual act) often hinder climate response.
• Financial and awareness barriers limit effective community mitigation and adaptation efforts. (ccrest.org)

Why C²REST Matters

This study is one of Nigeria’s first to directly link climate forces with respiratory outcomes using community-driven data. It will:
➡ Provide evidence on air quality exposure patterns.
➡ Shape targeted respiratory health interventions.
➡ Empower communities with data to engage leaders.
➡ Inform national and regional climate-health strategies.

Implications for Research

The C²REST project highlights:

• The importance of integrating social, environmental, and clinical data in climate health research.
• The need for longitudinal surveillance systems tracking climate exposures and lung health trends.

Future research must expand beyond Lagos and Ogun to capture regional variations across Nigeria’s diverse ecosystems.

Implications for Policy

C²REST evidence can inform:
✔ Local air quality regulations and enforcement.
✔ Climate adaptation plans tailored for health.
✔ Community-based climate risk communication frameworks.

Such data can bridge the gap between environmental policy and public health action.

Implications for Practice

Clinicians and primary care workers should integrate climate information into respiratory assessments and educate patients about environmental triggers. Community health programs can tie climate education to everyday health promotion.