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INTRODUCTION
Continuing from where we left off last week, today, we shall engage in an indepth analysis of the meaning of climate change, looking at it from all ramifications and angles. Read on.
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? (Continues)
Some of the solution proffered were the need to mainstream climate change into national, regional and state development plans, adapt policies needed to be an integral part of government initiatives, given the cross-cutting nature of the impact of climate change, as well as provide an important intersection between development and climate change adaptation and remediation in that they both aim to reduce the root causes of vulnerability.
Others include raising awareness on issues of climate change which is presently at low especially amongst vulnerable groups like women, children, even at the grassroots, especially rural dwellers, as well as revive the tree planting program by raising awareness for individuals to plant trees.
As part of the efforts to ainstream the climate change, the Federal government has proactively taken steps in addressing environmental problems. These include effective management of waste, flood and coastal erosion. It has also built up our advocacy programs through workshops, seminars, public lectures, media campaign, climate change and waste water summits, tree planting land reclamation, landscaping and beautification, campaign against desertification through the desert warriors, and control of land, water, noise and air pollution.
Allied to this, the Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative is a planned project to plant a wall of trees across Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert as a means to prevent desertification. It is to be implemented in Nigeria in eleven frontline States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto,
Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno. It will cover 43
LGAs in the frontline states to be covered to rehabilitate 225,000Ha of lands. It involves establishment of green wall or shelterbelt from Kebbi State to Borno State, a distance of 1,500 km and 15 km wide, Community Sensitization & Mobilization, Promotion of alternative sources of energy, promotion of alternative means of livelihoods, Promotion of dry land agricultural technology and promoting alternative water source for human, plant and animal use through solar powered boreholes, with over 300 functional boreholes in operation as at early September 2016.
Apart from the suggestions encapsulated herein, and steps taken by government so far, there is also the need to adopt appropriate technologies to mitigate the scourge at all levels, while there should be strengthening of the weak human capacity and infrastructure for mainstreaming climate change. In national development.
Similarly, as part of the science of climate change the curriculum planners should ensure that they put in place core knowledge of, and information about, climate change as part’ of compulsory education for students at all levels. Students should learn about the potential impacts of unmanaged climate change, as well as options for adaptation and mitigation, in order to enable a complete and robust understanding.
Additionally, University lecturers should be financially motivated to carry out research in various fields of knowledge related to climate change, so that innovative research can contribute to practical solutions.
Furthermore, policy makers, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students should embark on raising awareness of climate change in Nigeria. Also, appropriate technologies for adaptation and mitigation should be deployed at all levels, while there should be strengthening of the weak human capacity and infrastructure for mainstreaming climate change in national development.
Furthermore, it is presently being argued that there is paucity of data for mainstreaming of climate change in development issues, and there is an urgent need to reverse this trend by generating abundant data and statistics that will enhance the application of key performance indicators for the purpose of effective monitoring and evaluation.
Check this story for part 3
The disaster caused by human life through climate change (3)
