Climate Issues in Nigeria

From whatever perspective one chooses to look at the environment, nature is no longer friendly with us. Climate conditions are rapidly changing, inner cities are rusting away and the luxuriant vegetations around us are disappearing. These have been attributed to the high concentration of Green House Gases in the environment through the use and misuse of environmental resources resulting in rising sea level, altered stream regimes, thawing of the polar ice, rising sea surface temperature, violent winds, threat to food security as well as socio-economic loss. With no shred of dubitation, climate change is one development issue that has won my heart. The reason behind this may be the same with the reason an average African would give. As a Nigerian, I am directly and indirectly being affected by the consequences of the unfavourable changes in climate conditions. For example, we are now experiencing extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and desert encroachment. There are now real threats to the gains of our many centuries of civilization.

I am personally worried and interested in this development issue because it's a critical change that is taking place in earth's climate system and is so significant that it has become a global political and economic issue. It is political because the community of nations has to organize and re-organize itself to address the emerging issues and economic because the causes as well as the proven actionable responses to the consequences of the changes adversely affects the economies of nations. A full scale climate change which now appears inevitable is obviously affecting everyone.

Nonetheless, those who suffer most from the effect of climate change are the local/rural communities including my household. Besides, my short stint in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria during one of my volunteer services has exposed me to more clearer emerging threats posed by our changing world. The oil deposit region of Nigeria is now under a fresh threat of 'mass displacement of people' which is as a result of series of floods giving no room to recover from one before another sets in. Strange as it may be, it is not unconnected from our adversely and rapidly changing environment.

Having examined my altered habitat including the causes and effects of climate change on me as an individual and on the global community, I am convinced that in the absence of aggressive measures, we are in for real climatic troubles. But behind every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. We only need to be eco-friendly!

In the spirit and letters of the famous Kyoto Protocol, I want to posit that the life span of our threatened world can be made longer and we can all thrive peacefully in our severely damaged habitat if only we can give way for 'Green Revolution'. To make this a reality, you and I have vital roles to play. The much awaited 'Green' Revolution' begins with you. It is possible!