Climate Change: Why we must act now
Miguel Peters, Director of Afrigod has called on Nigerians to act fast in checkmating the growing problem of climate change that is already having a negative effect across the globe, saying that one of the biggest risks to African growth is climate change and that the political debate should be on how to deal with this risk. He made this call at the climate conference held at the Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa Lagos on Saturday, 5th December 2020.
Speaking on the topic ‘We Don’t Have Time’ he said the atmosphere is being polluted with greenhouse gases being released into the air through the use of fossil fuel in cars, articulated lorries, industrial machines, burning of bushes, gas flaring, oil spills. Peters noted that the accumulation of toxic waste in the atmosphere is one of the major causes of climate change that is having negative impacts across the globe presently. He added that African countries, especially Nigeria still depends largely on oil revenues to survive while the rest of the world is moving from oil to renewable energy and technology.
He mentioned six ways by which climate change can be migitated, one of which is that the people should speak to their legislators to make laws that will reduce carbon emissions and request that polluters should pay for emissions they produce; use renewable energy from wind and solar systems in homes; build houses in ways that will prevent the use of heaters and air-conditioners; practising the principle of responsible consumption; the use of energy-saving bulbs with less than 80% energy consumption; vehicles and industrial machines that are powered by electric energy.
Speaking further, Peters requested the conferees to pass the message of climate change to the youths who are the leaders of tomorrow. He said the use of sports, films, climate conferences, technology and messages about recycling will be a great tool to create awareness and mitigate the ecological and climate crisis.
Ingmar Rentzhog, Founder & CEO of We Don’t Have Time said why the world was doing everything possible to overcome the threat of the current pandemic, we cannot lose sight of even the bigger crisis facing our planet and its people. When the global economy restarts, it must do so with a clear and urgent direction through a low carbon future.
Alexandra Davidsson, Secretary-General of the Swedish Association for Responsible Consumption said that humanity uses 75% of more resources than the Earth can’t handle and we overconsume stuff that we don’t really need. It is time for us to go from a linear economy (take-make-dispose) to a circular economy in which we can reuse, recycle, repair, refurbish, remake and redesign whatever we use.
Also, speaking online, Henrik Henriksson, President & CEO of Scania, a world-famous truck transportation company, amplified the call for the use of electric-powered vehicles so as to drastically reduce carbon emissions. He explained that if vehicles currently being powered by fossil fuels are replaced with electric-powered vehicles, carbon emissions would be reduced massively.
Another online facilitator, Robert Falck, CEO of Einride, called on governments across the globe to support industries financially that will transit from old fossil technology to new sustainable technology. Bertrand Piccard, Explorer, Solar Impulse, Medical Doctor & Global Influencer, spoke about his 1000 solutions to climate change. He called for the modernisation of the laws as he believed that there are obstacles in the ways of reducing climate change saying that presently there are no laws compelling industries to change from the use of vehicles or machines powered by fossil fuels to clean energy. He added that until that was done industry players might not be willing to make this change.
Andreas Ahrens, Head of Climate, Inter IKEA Group said IKEA is prepared to take responsibility and provide a solution to the problem of climate change as he called on everyone to help mitigate Green House Emissions (GHE). He noted that there was a need to recycle reusable materials and become climate positive.
Written by Victor Anya
Published by Prime Health News Magazine.
Photos from the ‘We Don't Have Time’ Climate Conference organised by Afrigod in Lagos, Nigeria.
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Afrigod is a creative initiative dedicated to catalyzing sustainable solutions to the climate crisis in Africa and across the world by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society through Sports, Greentech, Art, and Commerce.
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