Climate Change! What YOU can do.

The global warming and climate change phenomenon is no longer a novelty. The world over, countries have been faced with the challenge of drastic changes in climatic/weather conditions. All the hitherto predictable signs that accompany the seasons from winter to fall or around here the wet and dry seasons have spiralled into never-before-seen heights of harshness.

Scientists have variously blamed these tendencies on the depletion of the Ozone layer which is caused largely by the ever increasing emission of green house gasses resulting in more direct heat from the sun.

Ice mountains in the Alps keep melting at alarming rates, discharging more water into the oceans the world over, rain fall has increased in volume resulting in oceans and rivers braking their banks which in turn lead to floods.

Due to Nigeria's geographical situation and topography, the effects of climate change and Global warming will be more likely felt via floods related to the sporadic increase in water levels. Presently floods have ravaged Lagos, Kano, Benue, Edo to mention a few and more floods are to be expected as the August break has just come to an end.

In an article released online, by Jekwu Ikeme, "projections suggest that Nigeria will experience massive "environmental refugee" migration. For a 1-m rise, more than 3 million people are at risk, based on the present population. The estimated number of people that would be displaced ranges from 740,000 for a 0.2-m rise to 3.7 million for a 1-m rise and 10 million for a 2-m rise"

The climate change will also affect Farmers and Agriculture due to the expected inconsistency in
Rainfall patterns and attendant floods, which would severely affect the availability of food in the country.

The Government through the Ministry of works, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other ancillary parastatals is trying its best to mitigate the effects of the floods however these efforts by the government are only an aspect of what can be done to mitigate the hardships that are to be expected from the new climatic tendencies.

It is suggested that:

» Community Service Groups be formed by the citzenry to identify what effects of climate change their vicinity would be most prone to.

» Communities should ensure that their gutters, sewers and water channels are Kept clean and free flowing to enable the easy discharge of excess water.

» Fill up Disposable Sand Bags to serve as standards/ partial dams, placed at strategic areas especially for those living in riverine areas.

» Farmers are also advised to use sad-bag-walls to protect vulnerable and strategic areas of their farm lands. To reduce the access of flood waters or divert the course to other channels.

» Where the meteorological agencies advice a complete vacation of such environment, the advice should be strictly adhered to, to forestall loss of life.

Everybody has a duty to join hands with the government to make sure that the effects of Climate change are reduced to the barest minimum.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.