Increasing energy demand arises from increasing urbanisation and industrialisation. If this energy is from traditional energy sources, then this translates into increased greenhouse gas emissions which lead to accelerated global warming and climate change. Sustainable development could avert this. This paper discusses the link between urbanisation, economic development and climate change through a review of literature examining this nexus in a global and the Nigerian context. The findings lead to the reiteration of the old call for economic diversification in Nigeria and other similar countries to shift urbanisation from a rural push mode to an urban pull mode. More important is that the shift should be powered by the efficient use of both non-renewable and renewable energy sources.
Human Sciences Research Council (2026) studied this question.