A few days ago, I woke up to the chilly and crispy harmattan weather in Lagos, Nigeria. The condition increased in tempo over days. The winds have been dry, harsh, chilly, and dusty. Surprisingly, the last few weeks, we were greeted with a lot of heat and the weather was quite unbearable. We had to take frequent baths and drink lots of water to keep our bodies hydrated. That has been the Lagos weather experience.
Moving over to other parts of the world, America, and Texas precisely, the temperatures have been terrifying and the weather has been very frigid. Just ask Google for more information about the weather experience in Texas in February 2021. For some of us in Nigeria, living under freezing temperatures is not something you want to experience. Australia and some parts of Europe are also having their share of these frigid weather events.
Normally, this should be the dry and winter seasons in Nigeria and America respectively and we know what to expect. But, when your reality goes beyond your expectation, then you should ask questions.
The fluctuation and unpredictability of our weather conditions in recent times are alarming. And, we tend to receive the extreme of every weather condition — from normal rain to storms, from normal heat to heatwaves and drought, from winter to artic snow and ice storms. It is fast becoming a normal yearly occurrence. These are extreme weather conditions. Extreme weathers are sudden, unusual, severe, and unexpected weather conditions. Although it is defined as “sudden”, it does not happen “suddenly”. It also follows the cause and effect relationship. This is an effect or impact of human-induced global warming. Global warming is the gradual increase in the surface temperatures on earth as a result of increased levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has led to the changes in our climate also referred to as Climate Change. There are many causes of global warming and climate change, but the burning of fossil fuels used to power cars and other energy generating plants is a major contributor to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. When surface temperatures rise, it affects our weather, climate, and ecosystems negatively — hot regions get hotter and cold regions get colder.
Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the occurrence of extreme weather events around different regions of the world, and when it happens, lives are lost, properties are destroyed, farmlands are destroyed, jobs are lost, etc.
2021 to 2030 has been called our “Decade of Action” by the UN and everyone has a role to play in ensuring we have a safer and better planet. One of those important actions is Climate Action — SDG 13. Many actions can improve and help to sustain our environment and planet. But, to make this piece relatable to us in Nigeria and especially those living in urban cities, I will mention a few. The first simple step will be ensuring you have at least one tree planted in your house to help suck up some of the carbon dioxides in the air. These concrete jungles (without a single tree) we live in today are not healthy for our planet. Trees also help to cool your environment, purify and improve the air quality in your surroundings. The second and bigger step would be our transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The importance of using renewable energy is that they do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when they are burned. They do not pollute the air or cause global warming. Use energy from renewable sources like solar energy to power up your homes and businesses. Buy and use energy-efficient and energy-saving appliances. They take up less energy and can be powered with solar.
Minimize the amount of waste you produce. Plastics do not degrade easily and they end up polluting the environment, our waters, food, and our health. In developing countries like Nigeria where waste is discarded improperly in some cities, blocked drainages can increase the chances of flash floods. Other degradable waste like food and agricultural wastes end up in landfills and produce more greenhouse gases when they are degraded. It’s time to act responsibly; SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production
Remember, for now, ”We do not have a planet B”. Earth is what we have for us and our generations yet unborn.
Graphics: Hodo Orok
Picture sources: Pixabay; Unsplash; Pexels
