What can you do to fight climate change?

 

On some days, I sit back and try to imagine what the Earth was like many years ago- with little or no technology, dense forests, crude tools, minimal carbon emissions, and simple lives. I would not necessarily choose that life over my current one, but if I could take anything from it, it would be the clean, fresh air they breathed then. As someone who has lived most of his life in the Lagos metropolis, I have come to relish the clean air that greets me whenever I visit less populated areas.

Familar surroundings of Lagos, Nigeria  SOURCE: techpoint.africa

This article does not aim to compare city life to rural life but to highlight the need to take individual action to tackle climate change. If you are reading this, then you are probably using the internet, so it is safe to assume that you have at some point heard about climate change and its effects on life as we know it. While most of the world’s internet-serviced population has heard about climate change, whether or not they believe it is another matter entirely.

The intensity and frequency of natural disasters have increased in recent years. Floods and drought in Nigeria, occasioned by heavy and variable rainfall, and wildfires that occurred in the USA, Australia and in the Amazon in 2020, are indications that climate change is increasing the occurrence and severity of natural disasters. 

Heavy floods in Lagos SOURCE: The GuardianNG

These distressing events have catalyzed a wave of advocacy for climate action, leading many nations and industry leaders to promise to reduce their greenhouse emissions. These promises, even when fully implemented, will not be enough to reverse or stop climate change. At the very best, they may delay doomsday by only a few years. Scientists have projected that the earth would become difficult to live in from the end of this century if we do not take more aggressive steps towards combating climate change.

The Paris Climate Agreement to combat climate change, ratified by 189 countries, projects warming of about 2.8 to 3.2^◦C by 2100 based on currently implemented climate policies. If all participating countries meet their mitigation targets, warming is projected to fall to between 2.5 and 2.8^◦C. Nigeria, as a party to this agreement, has pledged to reduce its emissions by 20% by 2030.

All these efforts at planning will hardly amount to much if individuals do not fully commit to the climate fight. Human-caused climate change exists and is progressing because we contribute to it through our daily activities, either directly or indirectly. We must, therefore, do all we can to fix it. If you are not already bothered by the potential impacts of climate change, let the abnormally hot days and nights, food insecurity, and abnormal weather patterns we are currently experiencing motivate you to action.

What you can do about climate change?

Here is a list of simple things you can do as an individual to fight against climate change:

• ·         Read articles, watch videos, take online courses on climate change such as this free introductory course , to better understand the science and gain confidence to take action
• ·         Educate others on the need for climate action 
• ·         Join tree-planting campaigns 🌲🌲
• ·         Buy energy-efficient appliances
• ·         Switch off electrical appliances when not in use 
• ·         reuse your plastic containers and bags as often as possible 🍼
• ·         Buy thrift clothes, use your clothes for longer, and wash them only when necessary 👚🎽
• ·         Volunteer for NGOs/initiatives that advocate for climate action.

Your input is vital towards fighting climate change, as consistent daily actions from many individuals can significantly reduce greenhouse emissions. Let us all act together to protect our heritage.

If you would like to make one of our curated pledges or a custom pledge of your own, you can click here.💚