Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam with other personalities during an Exhibition as part of events to celebrate World Environment Day in Abuja
Calls have been made from various quarters on the need to plant trees. But many wonder why it is so necessary to do so. The advocacy became so intense, that the United Nations agency on environment proposed an idea where individuals who fell trees, pay fines as sanction. As Nigeria joined other nations of the world to celebrate the 2014 World Environment Day (WED) set aside by the UN, the global campaign to show that climate change is real and has come to stay, has been taken a notch higher. The impacts of climate change in the country manifests by way of erosion and landslides in the east, drought and desertification in the north, rising sea levels in the coastal areas and flooding across
the nation. These factors are no doubt contributing to the depletion of our ecosystem. According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), climate change is a trend that has come to stay. The 5th Assessment Report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released recently, also confirmed increase in global average temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice as well as rising sea level. The report,put together by over 1500 scientists around the world, provides strengthened evidence that human influence is the dominant factor in observed changes in the climate system. Laurencia Mallam, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, at commemoration of WED, noted that the changes are already impacting and are likely to continue to impact on human societies through extreme events as well as low onset events such as drought and changing rain patterns. However, tree planting remains one of many measures approved scientifically to mitigate global warming. The REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is another veritable measure to address the situation. It simply means compensating individuals to plant and protect the forests. Others are reducing emissions from agriculture as well as using climate-friendly environment. Interventions No doubt, climate change cannot be stopped, it can only be reduced. Among nations of the world, the US, China and Brazil are reported highest contributors of carbon monoxide to the atmosphere, a situation that affects the African continent, which contributes just a meagre percentage to the effect. America alone contributes about 56 per cent, while 12 per cent of the carbon is contributed by the African continent. This is why the United State Government last week approved establishment of a task force to trim effects of climate change by 30 per cent before 2050. As part of measures to further mitigate effects of climate change in the country, the Federal Government on its part embarked on several projects including the Great Green Wall Programme where trees are planted in the 11 front line states. There is also the Nigeria Erosion Problems and Water Shed Management Project (NEWMAP) as well as Flood Early Warning Systems, to alert the people ahead of likely flooding. This is part of three globally accepted approaches aimed at checking the menace apart from adaptation and resilience. The Special Assistant to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor on Sustainable Banking, who was also present at the WED Dr. A'sha Mahmood emphasised on the need for sustainable development such that efforts toward economic and social wellbeing are driven without jeopardizing future generations. Issues of environmental protection are such that reflect little or no attention from policy makers especially in the political arena.Stakeholders in the industry once lamented that despite efforts made to reposition the country through the on-going national conference, issues relating to achieving sustainable environment hardly captured delegates' interest. Obviously, it is least on the priority list, they say. President of the Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Chief Akerele Olusegun described climate change, which is a result of environmental degradation as the most challenging problem bedeviling the continent. There is flooding, erosion, oil spillage, gas flaring, drought, desertification, landslide among others. These scourges keep increasing and they will never stop until the people turn the right attitude to sustain the environment. Tracing the situation downward, Akerele attributed the dwindling climatic condition to increasing upsurge of insecurity in the north eastern part of the country. There is no doubt that the northern part of the country in the 1960s was predominantly known for farming and exportfarm produce but that has become history. The effect of desertification has no bound the region in a tragic cycle. Their farmlands have been overtaken by drought while pastoral farmers hardly make their ends meet. Not less than 12, 000 kilometres of land are lost to the trend annually in the region affecting thousands of the inhabitants. The 11 front-line states among Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa and Kano are currently engaged in three planting across the region. This is part of measures to combat the trend. Apart from desertification, there are host of other causes of climate change, which needs urgent attention. Meanwhile, obvious and unquestionable impact of climate change can be seen on lakes all over and rising sea levels. According to NES, over the past 40 years, waters of the lake have shrunken by 90 per cent and will continue to diminish. This in turn has affected aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, the quantity and quality of fresh water availability as well as the entire environment. The alarming impacts include reduced fish stocks, loss of vegetation and depletion of grazing lands. Nigeria in particular is endowed with low-laying coastline of about 853 kilometres long. These coastlines play a significant role in developing the country's economy. It accounts for most of the country's industrial establishments and energy infrastructure while major settlements such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri are located along the coast line, thus very sensitive to sea level rise and storm upsurge. Studies show that with an accelerated sea level rise of 0.5 meters, 35 per cent of the Niger Delta landmass will be lost and with accelerated sea level rise of 1.0 meters, 75 per cent of the Niger Delta will be gone under water. Given this scenario, it implies that nearly 32 million people, who accounts for 22.6 per cent of the nation's population residing by the coastline are at risk of becoming environmental refugees. This could cause forced migration, which may result in social disorder. In a speech delivered by the environment minister, Mallam called for practical actions, through reduction of emissions. She emphasized need to create massive awareness, prepare for extreme events and also adapt to the impacts of climate change. "We need to plan for the changes that are expected to occur. We need to adjust ecological, social and economic systems and change the way we do things. "Our processes, our practices and our structures must be properly aligned to reduce the impacts of, and vulnerability to climate change now as well as increasing the social, economic and environmental resilience to future impacts." She listed other moves geared to reducing challenges of the situation. They include: development of National Policy on Climate Change, National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN); Green Economy pathway in the context of Climate Change Adaptation and Assessment of Gender Sensitive Climate Change Initiatives among others. According to the Minister, main objective of the policy on climate change is to ensure effective mainstreaming of climate change into the nation's development plans and strategies. Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr. Mrs. NgeriBeneboenjoined the media to support the campaign against climate change. "The best way to implement government programme is to get everybody on board, including the media. The media have a lot to play in making sure the environment is secured. You are the ones to educate and enlighten everyone. Every Nigerian will understand the consequences of degrading the environment. "All the regulations by NESREA are been enforced. All our laws are being obeyed because they are not ambiguous," she said. Chairman House Committee on Environment, Hon. Mrs.UcheEkwunife lamented increase in gas flaring in the country among other environmental degradation. However, expectations are high and the demand to protect the ecosystem keeps increasing but it is imperative for the federal government to dedicate more of its resources and funding to public enlightenment in order to make significant impacts and protect the environment.
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