The Polytechnic University, in coordination with other higher education institutions and scientists, can play a very important role in raising society's level of understanding of risk by creating research centers that produce knowledge that can be applied to preventing the effects of climate change.

The suggestion was made on Wednesday, April 17, in Maputo, by the coordinator of the Disaster Risk Management and Resilience Program in Mozambique, António Queface, during the inaugural lecture of the Higher Institute of Management, Sciences and Technologies (ISGCT), an organic unit of the Polytechnic University.

At the event, which took place under the theme: "Climate Change - Prevention is better than cure", António Queface pointed to changes in the way food is produced, the establishment of resilient infrastructures by engineers and the preservation of the ecosystem, protecting it from cyclonic events, as possible solutions to the problems arising from changes in the state of the climate.

"I see great potential in the university, because it can carry out advocacy for the community," explained the speaker.

For his part, Narciso Matos, rector of the Polytechnic University, said he believed that the beneficiaries of the inaugural lecture, in particular the environmental engineering students, had taken note of the challenges and solutions emanating from the speaker.

"It's good that the environmental engineering students took part and I'm grateful that the speaker showed us the things we can do on a daily basis to help combat the effects of climate change. Every step, however small, is big when the challenge is greater," concluded the rector.

It should be noted that António Queface has been actively involved in studies on climate change and its impact on disaster risk in Mozambique for over 20 years.