The Way Forward...

I will recommend that as we campaign for our rights for a green environment, we should also have and maintain a thorough understanding of the processes that take place and give way to climate change. Climate action is good, but we need to get to the root of the causes why climatic conditions of a city, town or region are altered.

First and foremost, what is climate? What do we mean by climate? Now, in this case, I am not asking about the weather; this is different. Although, a lot of people confuse the two, but there is a large difference between the two. Climate is the atmospheric conditions of a particular region, town or city for a long period of time of say 35 years or more. And so, if Warri in Nigeria, or Leeds in The UK, has a certain pattern of rainfall, or the average is say 30.0cm-35.3cm in both regions for the last 35 years or so, and there is a gradual increase which establishes another pattern of rainfall in the last 3 years and is measured at 45cm per annum, which causes sea level rise and subsequently flooding and erosion, then we can boldly say, there is climate change!

This realization will enable us look at the root causes of this change in the alteration pattern of rainfall in these regions, which could be as a result of an acute air pollution which has over the years resulted in a steady or sharp rise in the earth surface temperatures. And this in turn, has led to rapid evaporation of surface and ground waters leading to the frequent condensation and formation of clouds, and of course when clouds become full on a frequent basis, we experience heavy downpours or rainfall. 

So, in other words, checking the causes of global warming is the first step. I have often said, that the overdependence on fossil fuels has been or almost been the bane of man in this current society we live in today. Still, there are other factors which have contributed to climate change, which in my opinion, are too important to ignore at this point on our climate journey.

 The first of them is deforestation. Deforestation is at least 75% responsible for global warming in Tropical Africa and the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil. Mangrove Swamps across Asia and West Africa also account for most felling of trees for timber and other domestic uses. The more trees we hewn down and more plants we remove from the earth surface, which is also called removal of vegetation cover, the less our forests have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which they use in the process of photosynthesis. When this happens, the carbon dioxide (CO2) traps heat in the atmosphere from solar radiation or radiant energy, that is heat coming in from the sun. The inevitable is what is obtainable right at this time.

Urbanization gives way to deforestation and industrialization. When there is migration, unchecked if I may add, from rural areas, and the suburbs, to the major towns and cities, we run the risk of overpopulation, which is the case right now in major cities like Lagos and Warri in Nigeria. Other major cities around the world include London, UK; Los Angeles, California, USA; Bejing, China; Mumbai, India and a host of others. When the population density of an area is higher than the space per square km, overcrowding becomes the norm. Too many people giving off CO2 (carbon dioxide), and not enough plants and trees to absorb this green gas will cause an increase in the earth surface temperatures as this carbon dioxide traps the heat coming from solar radiation or radiant energy.

Furthermore, the increase in cars running on diesel, fuel or gas give off Carbon Dioxide and Lead IV Oxide. Fumes which are expelled from the exhaust pipes of a large number of cars plying the roads of already densely populated cities and towns pollute the air and also increase surface temperatures. Also, looking at the oil industry whose main activities has contributed largely to global air pollution by the illegality of gas flaring, which is the removal of associated gas through a waste treatment facility, called the flare stacks, continues in oil producing countries like Nigeria, Venezuela, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and the US. All these contributing factors to air pollution and global warming have over the years successfully altered climatic conditions and patterns across key regions in the world today.

The adoption of green energy alternatives cannot be however overemphasized if we are going to gain back appropriate climatic conditions. Solar and wind energy are clean renewable energy systems governments, stakeholders and anyone who has a passion for a sustainable environment needs to invest in. On the other hand, IOCs and oil producing nations need to be held accountable for their carbon emissions and should be taxed accordingly. This carbon tax should be used to finance policies which will constantly rid the atmosphere of green gas emissions.

Green urban city and regional planning is another solution to this growing demise. If cities and urban centres are planned and built in such a way that everything we need to work, school and play is within walking or cycling distances, there will be no need to commute to and from with cars. Spatial analysis and mapping can be done in a more sustainable manner so as to reduce the act of deforestation and the use of energy derived from fossil fuels.

So also, looking at green technology, this is another crucial aspect we surely need to address. The incessant production of electronic gadgets and equipment is another food for thought. We cannot keep on digging up metals from beneath the earth surface to produce electronic equipment and internet mobile devices every waking moment to keep up with the latest technology trends. Such actions leave the land environment degraded, and e-wastes characterize various landfills across the regions of the world most especially in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia especially in India. E-wastes should be recycled reused in the next version of phones or computers, and other electronic equipment.

Finally, a lot has been said to this effect. All the COP conferences since its inception have held talks geared towards reducing our carbon footprint and reducing emissions to the barest minimum! If we put our minds, resources and all to this effect, we can actualize our dream of cutting carbon emissions to Zero by 2030. Or should we say 2050? Well, it is up to you, if you believe, and every one of us does our own collective bit to reduce our own carbon footprint. This will definitely reduce air pollution, global warming and climate change!