Global warming or climate change refers to an increase in average global temperatures. Natural events, human negligence and overconsumption of fossil fuels are believed to be the catalyst for driven agents of global warming or increase in global temperatures.
As global efforts to combat climate change or mitigate it gives momentum globally, Nigeria has an absolutely significant role to play in keeping the increase in global temperature below 1.5°C. Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and biggest importer of fossil fuels generators, contributing heavily to the problem. As reported by Sulaiman and Abdul-Rahim (2018) who opined that However, economic growth was found to be the only long-run CO2 emissions determining factor within the studied periods. However, in the short run, virtually all the explanatory variables and their lags, that is, population growth, economic growth, and energy consumption, were significant in determining CO2 emissions. They also noted that theoretically, population growth is believed to increase greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2 emissions through the increase in human activities. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate this assertion in Nigeria using an autoregressive distributed lag model covering periods from 1971-2000, 1971-2005, and 1971-2010 recursively. The major problem is our readiness to embrace and adopt a transformed lifestyle: Are we ready to make a significant impact in mitigating climate change???
Notwithstanding, obvious it seems that global warming is largely caused by greenhouse gases (GHG), predominantly from industrial, agricultural, and transportation activities. CO2 emissions are the main contributor to the total GHG emissions (IPCC, 2015). Various researchers have pointed out that CO2 is the major contributor to global warming which is a gas we generate on daily basis from our respiration, transport, production etc. everyday. The issue of global warming is just like a situation where we stabbed ourselves, or suicide, is our satisfaction today worth the risk?
Sustainable development can be classified as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations. African countries account for 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with Nigeria accounting for 0.67%, of emissions globally. Comparatively, China is the biggest contributor of GHG emissions at 25.90%, followed by the United States and European Union at 14.75% and 9.33% respectively.
These emissions are results of the global climate change, which we are feeling now in the form of heat waves. Imagine that this heat wave we are experiencing in Nigeria is as a result of our 0.67% contribution to the rise in global temperature, what should we expect when the above value significantly increases? This is as a result of our negligence and daily activities, this is therefore, directly informing us that climate change is real and fast approaching and thus, something needs to be done, something tangible because we need more action and less talk.
Managing the waste generated in our various communities will go a long way in mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane, which are generated as a result of the fermentation of the municipal waste we generate daily.
Climate change mitigation consists of actions to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term global warming and its related effects (Fisher et, al. 2007). Climate change mitigation generally involves reductions in human (anthropogenic) emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (IPCC,2007). Mitigation may also be achieved by increasing the capacity of carbon sinks, e.g., through reforestation (IPCC,2007). Mitigation policies can substantially reduce the risks associated with human-induced global warming (Oppenheimer et, al. 2014). The following are some ways to mitigate climate change:
- Living car-free, use public transport
- Avoiding one round-trip transatlantic flight
- Eating a plant-based diet
- Reducing energy use is seen as a key solution to the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Changing the type of fuel used to satisfy a need for an energy service
- Trek More
- Eat less Protein
- Embrace the use of renewable energy
- Reforestation and afforestation
As an individual what are you planning to do? Having read and experienced the repercussions of the problem we are facing, will you talk or act?? Notwithstanding, individuals alone cannot do the job. The government has to put in place policies that will limit the rate at which fossil fuels are single used plastics are consumed, how trees are felled and waste is managed, and also provide for the plebeians a source of renewable and affordable Energy, Therefore, I urge the government to take action by signing the climate action bill and also providing waste management techniques and plants for a sustainable environment.
Reference
Chindo Sulaiman & A. S. Abdul-Rahim (2018). Population Growth and CO2 Emission in Nigeria: A Recursive ARDL Approach. Sage Open. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244018765
Fisher, B.S.; et al., “Ch. 3: Issues related to mitigation in the long-term context”, Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007, 3.5 Interaction between mitigation and adaptation, in the light of climate change impacts and decision-making under long-term uncertainty, in IPCC AR4 WG3 2007
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2015). Intergovernmental panel on climate change: The fifth assessment report. Geneva, Switzerland: Author.
IPCC,(2007)“Summary for policymakers”, Climate Change 2007: Working Group III: Mitigation of Climate Change, Table SPM.3, C. Mitigation in the short and medium term (until 2030), in IPCC AR4 WG3 2007
Oppenheimer, M., et al.(2014), Section 19.7.1: Relationship between Adaptation Efforts, Mitigation Efforts, and Residual Impacts, in: Chapter 19: Emergent risks and key vulnerabilities (archived July 8 2014), pp. 46–49, in IPCC AR5 WG2 A 2014