Climate change is a word that has been going around lately. Let me help you understand what it is.
Now, whenever there is a shift from the earth equilibrium temperature, climate change has occurred. It can also be said to be a variation from the average weather condition. The variation from average weather condition you may have experienced around you include:
rise in temperature (heat which causes you unrest at night), change in rainfall pattern (excessive rainfall or absence of rain at the beginning of raining season), drought (shortage in water supply or stream and river being dried up), rise in sea level (flooding which causes destruction of properties), stronger hurricane (heavy wind that destroy buildings), shrinking glacier, thawing permafrost. These are some common treats climate change posses to Africans.
Africa however in comparison to other continents is particularly vulnerable to climate change. This vulnerability is evident in the method of food production, health, utilization of water resources and agricultural resources.
You will agree with me that local farmers in Africa have enough food only when there is rainfall. How about if the rainfall arrives late due to climate change? What is the fate of the local farmer?
You may have heard of Nigerians whose houses and properties were destroyed by flood.
Furthermore, 73.5% of Nigerians cannot access improved drinking water. Malaria is sensitive to climate change, and over 90% of malaria cases are recorded from Africa.
Even though it has been established that Africa is not faring well in matters of climate change, the question is what can we do about it?
Ethiopia already has taken a clever move by planting trees; it will help to keep greenhouse
gases low. You too should plant one tree in your compound.
Senegal is dealing with plastic waste; This initiative will help in conservation of our environment and also reduce the impact associated with erosion. You too should dispose used plastic properly.
Further suggestion of ways to reduce climate change include: enacting policies to keep gaseous emission at minimum and strict compliance to the policies, felling down of trees should be discouraged as this will help reduce greenhouse gases.
