The WED theme in Liberia this year was "One World, Our Environment". And the national slogan was :Save the Planet, Enjoy Nature. Living within planetary boundaries is the most promising strategy for ensuring a healthy future. Human prosperity need not cost the earth because nature doesn't really needs us but we need nature. Living sustainably is about doing more and better with less. It concerned about knowing that rising rates of natural resource use and the environmental impacts that occur are not a necessary by-product of economic growth. I was privileged to have been selected among over 1000 young environmentalist to preside and serve as Master of Ceremony over the National World Environment Day program in Liberia and the Workings of TUNZA ECO GENERATION was greatly appreciated and as of the end of the program, TUNZA ECO GENERATION Liberia along with the Natural Resources Research Initiative will be hosting a National Student Environment Conference planning is already in progress. During the WED event certain basic global information were disclosed for public consumption which focused around water, Energy and Food. Water Even though households are relatively low consumers of water, population growth and expanded water use have outweighed the effect of water saving technology and behavior. • Less than 3% of the world?s water is fresh (drinkable), of which 2.5% is frozen in the Antarctica, Arctic and glaciers. Humanity must therefore rely on 0.5% for all of man?s ecosystem?s and fresh water needs. • Man is polluting water faster than nature can recycle and purify water in rivers and lakes. • More than 1 billion people still do not have access to fresh water. • Excessive use of water contributes to the global water stress. • Water is free from nature but the infrastructure needed to deliver it is expensive. Energy Despite technological advances that have promoted energy efficiency gains, energy use in OECD countries will continue to grow another 35% by 2020. Commercial and residential energy use is the second most rapidly growing area of global energy use after transport. In 2002 the motor vehicle stock in OECD countries was 550 million vehicles (75% of which were personal cars). A 32% increase in vehicle ownership is expected by 2020. At the same time, motor vehicle kilometers are projected to increase by 40% and global air travel is projected to triple in the same period. • We can shift our consumption patterns towards goods and services with lower energy and material intensity without compromising quality of life. • Households consume 29% of global energy and consequently contribute to 21% of resultant CO2 emissions. The cost of renewable energy is increasingly competitive with that derived from fossil fuels. One-fifth of the world?s final energy consumption in 2013 was from renewables. • Globally, energy consumption grew most quickly in the transport and service sectors, driven by rising passenger travel and freight transport, and a rapid expansion in the service economy. Food While substantial environmental impacts from food occur in the production phase (agriculture, food processing), households influence these impacts through their dietary choices and habits. This consequently affects the environment through food-related energy consumption and waste generation. - 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year while almost 1 billion people go undernourished and another 1 billion hungry.
- Over consumption of food is detrimental to our health and the environment.
- 1.5 billion people globally are overweight or obese.
- Land degradation, declining soil fertility, unsustainable water use, over-fishing and marine environment degradation are all lessening the ability of the natural resource base to supply food.
- The food sector accounts for around 30% of the world?s total energy consumption and accounts for around 22% of total Greenhouse Gas emissions.
- Increased consumption adversely affects food security.
- Increase in food prices.
- Upsurge in production methods that use more resource-intensive food products.
- Resource-intensive foods deplete the agro-ecological resource base, affecting its ability to produce plentiful food.
Finally, the Environmental Protection Agency has promised to work with TUNZA Eco Generation and support some of its outreach program and its Eco-Green Clubs.
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7 Comments
Great job Liberia
Posted 12-06-2015 21:05
Thanks guys for the kind words, really appreciate them
Posted 09-06-2015 02:11
Dear Samuel, Wow! Congratulations for being selected and serving as Master of Ceremony over the National World Environment Day program in Liberia.
Thank you sharing with us some key facts relating to food, energy and water which was shared during WED event :)
Posted 08-06-2015 21:21
Congrats on your selection. Thanks for sharing some of the eye -opening facts like food sector alone accounts for world's 30% of energy consumption & 20% of GHG emissions.One important finding from your report is about resource intensive food. Countries must discourage the production of such resource intensive foods which deplete the agro-ecological resource base, affecting its ability to produce plentiful food.
Posted 07-06-2015 00:36
Congrats for being selected!!!
Thank you for the great report Samuel
Posted 06-06-2015 19:22
WOW Samuel
Posted 06-06-2015 17:45
Congrats Samuel & keep up this good work.
I fully agree with your report & findings. Our consumption pattern, if shifted a bit without changing the lifestyle may positively affect the environment.
Posted 06-06-2015 16:37