Leadership (Abuja)
30 April 2008
The minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Halima Tayo Alao yesterday at the flag-off, exercise of the national climate change awareness campaign, tagged Abuja climate change city storm, identified massive tree planting and the use of environment-friendly energy as measures that can check the negative consequences of climate change.
The campaign, organised by the special climate change unit in the ministry, Alao said was coming at the heel of the celebration of the Earth Day, and added that the national climate change awareness programme was Nigerian's response to climate change.
"The ministry in collaboration with the environmental communications limited takes the lead in sensitising Nigerian populace and raising the bar from an unaware nation to an environmentally aware and prepared people.
"Africa though contributes 3 per cent to global emission yet, the continent suffers the attendant consequences of global climate change in same measure as Europe, Asia and America".
And maintained that these changes are being driven by a gradual warming of the earth's atmosphere (commonly referred to as global warming).
According to the minister, in the past, natural process could handle the amount of greenhouse gases generated and the system remained in balance. But in recent decades human activity though increased use of fossil fuels and cutting down of forests has been overloading the natural process.
"Greenhouse gases are now being generated by the burning of fossil fuels to run cars and factories, heat building and keep industries running."
The minister however, proffered solutions as project switch, which involves the use of light bulbs that have low emission and a culture of turning off unneeded lights. She also urged Nigerians to go for household appliances that emit less carbondioxide and buy fuel efficient cars.
Other solutions to the global problem itemised by the minister were, buying of green energy, consumption of locally grown food and the resort to recycle product.
The minister later planted some trees at the headquarters of the ministry to round-off the programme.
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