Climate change is one of the leading global concerns and headaches. Its effect on biodiversity is a possible threat to human existence and various human activities are the drivers of this imminent threat.
Desert Encroachment |
Industrialization,
urbanization, inorganic agricultural activities, overreliance on non-renewable
energy resources, and the general human culture of handling domestic waste are the most
notable pollutants of the natural environment.
Africa with a population
of over 1.4 billion is at the tipping point of climate change. Even though Africa contributes to less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, reports indicate that the threat of
unprecedented changes in global weather patterns is a worry.
We must also not go without
mentioning that less than ten rich countries in the world release more greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere than all the 54 countries of Africa. Concerning this, Africa has a huge role to play in counter effecting climate change.
Industrial Emission |
Africa believed to be
the cradle of mankind, is quite capable of combatting climate change. With one of
the largest renewable energy potentials globally, Africa must reduce its
reliance on carbon fuel and kerosene by a significant percentage.
The presence of dense natural forests in Africa has played a great role as water catchment areas. Attracting rainfall and maintaining several African rivers that have the much experienced great importance as they pass through several cities.
The Pan-African Concern on climate change
With the increase in population, African states must fasten their seatbelts for the journey of combatting climate change. This must call for proper waste management in African cities.
Africans must realize the importance of environmental
conservation and play the most important role in protecting their own
environment.
Africa Must Take Action Now Before The Damage Is Irreversible |
According to Africa Waste Management Outlook, 2018, the continent is recycling as little as 4% of its waste. The majority of Africa’s waste, especially in dense urban cities lay loosely as unaccounted for.
Africa Union’s vision that “African cities will be
recycling at least 50 percent of the waste they generate by 2023” is still far
from where our cities stand.
Waste management is of critical importance. African cities must have in place proper waste management schemes and employ workable waste management technologies.
However, due to limited
budgets and mismanagement of resources, some African cities have fallen short
of adequately managing their waste. The threat to public health, human dignity,
climate resilience, and environmental preservation is now of concern to the
principles of Pan-Africanism.
Unkempt Dumping site |
As Pan-Africanism calls for an African solution to African problems, it is, therefore, necessary that Africa must take up its responsibility and join the rest of the world to fight negative climate change. African
cities must exploit all available tools to help them do so.
City municipalities must also provide low-cost, appropriate approaches to waste management. This is an area of investment that have provided impressive employment opportunities to citizens and has many exploits as human being produce thousands of tons of waste a day.
Proper waste management that starts from generation to transformation or
processing of waste requires human discipline and efficient technology.
Furthermore, Africans must help reduce the pressure on landfills by properly handling their household, commercial, and municipal wastes.
Recycling, reusing, and composting are critical areas for innovation and investments. African cities must open their doors wide open, to learn from each other.
Common Effects of Climate Change in Africa
Africa has experienced several climatic disasters. Some of these have since been prolonged and people have come to compromise with them. The disruption of global climatic patterns has cost the world great fortunes and Africa has also felt the pain.
Africa has been affected in several ways including:
1. Food and Water Scarcity
Deforestation due to pressure from urbanization and industrialization has led to the loss of natural forests due to human encroachments.
This has consequently reduced or even
disrupt rainfall patterns leading to prolonged dry seasons and increasing acidity in the soil.
(Credits: UNICEF) |
The struggle for human settlement expansion rivals reversely with agricultural activities which the latter provide food for mankind. With these events, agricultural land is seemingly becoming scarce.
The affected cities and those that lack adequate and efficient smart farm technologies might soon start
importing several fresh farm produce.
2. Locust Infestation in The Horn of Africa
The 2020 locust infestation was widely felt as far as North Eastern Kenya. The destruction of
agricultural resources that befell these regions was devastating since many
farmers were counting losses. The losses could be summed up as a plague that
threatened food security in Africa.
(credit: Malteser International) |
Traditionally, the movement of birds and insects was an important weather forecasting technique. Our ancestors used that information to prepare for future events or take caution in their next activities.
The great locust migration was caused by possible prolonged dry seasons and desert conditions or other climatic changes over the horn of Africa. This implies that there are global alterations in the climatic condition of the Horn of Africa.
3. Displacement of People, Loss of Life and Properties
Climatic disasters such as intense floods, prolonged drought, heat waves, and storms tend to alter normal life. Africa is hit frequently by either heavy rains followed by devastating floods or prolonged dry conditions followed by anger and starvation.
These conditions
hinder people from settling and establishing themselves as a community or
society since they are always on the move escaping one climatic disaster to
another.
(Credit: Climate Justice for Africa) |
The April 2006 floods in Kenya were an ordeal that left thousands dead and several others displaced. Intense foods also destroyed important infrastructure and caused great financial losses.
Climate change also
threatens Africa’s wildlife and consequently affects tourism as an economic
activity. These floods and prolonged droughts are plagues contributing to Africa being one of the most wretched continents.
Which Way for Africa?
African leadership must spearhead the war against climate change. Exemplary leaders like Thomas Sankara should act as a motivating factor in this movement.
During his tenure, President Sankara spearheaded the planting of 10.5 million trees, reducing the effects of the encroaching desert in Burkina Faso in just fifteen months and making tree planting a part of Burkinabe culture.
In December 2022, Kenya’s president Dr. Ruto launched a similar program aiming at fifteen billion trees by 2032. A commendable move!
On the other hand, every African citizen
must take responsibility for preserving the environment. Every citizen must
assume the role of environmental activism to help educate and create awareness
of the importance of environmental preservation.
Calling On People From All Walks of Life To Act And Save The Planet Now |
Africa must tap into its highest potential, the renewable energy resource in its stores, to counteract the nonrenewable energy resources that threaten the balance in the ozone layer.
The preservation of the environment is imperative, there is no hallway compromise to it since all human activities rely on the environment for success. The destruction of the environment is death to mankind.
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