Environmental and Sanitation Education Campaign by CERPA Ghana

Climate Change: a frightening scene on global scale

How frightened I became, when I saw the weather forecaster predicting 79°C temperature for Stavanger in his 20/12/2015 weather forecasting report. Without further checks and verifications, I am treating it as a technical error; but what if that was true? And it does not end there, but spreads across many parts of the globe including where you are! That seems less possible because it sounds too odd and uncharacteristic. Then, ask yourself whether the climatic conditions you are observing now are the usual ones you have always been aware of during this season? Everywhere, the odds are happening and every year new odds are observed as the old odds become normal.

As a member of MEG 11 group (an international program in Environmental Governance at the University of Freiburg, of 39 members from 27 countries across the globe), I have read with many surprises from our common Facebook and Whatsapp pages, astounding climate reports that these environmentally concerned individuals of MEG 11 reported from their various destinations whiles on the Christmas holidays. For the purpose of clarity, am sharing with you some few of these posts (unedited)

No snow on the alpes! How about Norway  -Tungi from Hong Kong

5 degrees and pouring rain! It’s the warmest December here ever. Good we’re solving global warming! –Kristin from Norway

+16 in Dublin yesterday -Colin from Ireland

I knew deforestation is a bullshit –Piotr from Poland

+20 in Granda –Viviana from Colombia

The weather forecast just predicted 79degree Celsius here in Stavanger for tomorrow; it better be a mistake because I didn’t bring my summer cloths -Kristin from Norway

Where are you, White (snow) Christmas? -Lilian from Finland

The evidences are clear, though there is still some tangling of disagreement among climate change skeptics. Yes, our climate is changing; in fact, it has already changed beyond marginal thresholds and the situation calls for pragmatic and concerted actions to arrest the run of our climate into abyss.

You, like many other people today, may call it ‘Climate Change’ but I call it ‘Lifestyle Change’. The underlying cause of all these frightening observations today is the fact that humanity has recklessly altered our lifestyle without critically examining the capacity of the Earth on which these opulent lifestyles are occurring.  We have relentlessly ignored scientific cautions against unlimited industrialization in favor of economic boom and wealth creation. Not too long ago, humanity ignored concern pleas to cease fire on war and missile explosions in our search for political and ideological expansion and superiority. Not too long ago, humanity ignored noble calls for population control in favor of religious and cultural stands, and today, we continue to ignore valuable calls to correct these lifestyle changes to bring sanity to the human environment and secure desirable future for ourselves and generations to come.

Any attempt to assess the global climate state, reveals that the present state stands worse to even the immediate past state. Heartbreaking news, humanity is facing with global epidemic without a safe hub to hide, the very existence of humanity is threatened and the future is uncertain. We found ourselves today in a devastating nest of accumulated problems, which means the best time to act could be some 500 years ago, but thankfully, the next best available time is today and now! The best thing to do amidst such progressive challenges is not to sit down to fold our arms and be doing nothing. Also, it will be suicidal to think that a problem which has been caused by all humanity over generations can be solved by some few institutions occupied by some few individuals we call experts. It can no longer be viewed as a first world problem; neither can it be left to be carried by elites in societies. We are all at risk at equal measure.

 The call to address global environmental challenges is a call for universal responsibility. It is a challenge on humanity that we stand together to win at the end or loss together to end the life and existence of the human species. Happy New Year and see you on the train to fight global climate change come 2016.

By: Ronny Agyei Yeboah,

CEO (Centre for Environmental Research and Policy Analysis –CERPA)

Student at University of Freiburg, Germany (M.Sc. Environmental Governance)

info@cerpagh.com /+4915218003035

30^th December, 2015.

Environmental protection project

2.0 Introduction

As the world continues to think about the future and procreation, as we keep on our search for better future for the young ones by putting them in the best schools, making financial investments on their behalves and providing for their needed mentoring and guidance, It will be suicidal for us to underestimate the impact of the environment on their lives tomorrow (in the future). We may have our unbridled efforts in the search for a better tomorrow turn into a cosmetic dreaming, if we continue to take lightly, the significance of the role of the environment in our existence.

It is a known fact that the earth today suffers depredations from human activities more than ever, and the corresponding threats of these environmental jumbles on the earth’s inhabitants are worrisome. In his 2015 state of the union’s address, president Obama noted that “no challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change”. In furtherance, he noted that 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of the 21 century with 2014 been the planet’s warmest year on record.  

The threats of environmental challenges become more frightening when we examine recent scientific findings. For example, despite the intense discussions about global climate change, carbon emissions continue to rise; global atmospheric CO2 levels that were around 300 parts per million (ppm) in the early 1900s have now reached approximately 380 ppm. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment also found that approximately 60 per cent of the ecosystems that it examined were either being degraded or used unsustainably. Since 1980, 35 per cent of the world’s mangroves have been lost and 20 per cent of the world’s precious coral reefs have been destroyed. A decade after the signing of the Biodiversity Convention, the species extinction rate is still 1,000 times higher than what would be occurring naturally without human impact. Despite the dozens of global and regional fisheries treaties, an estimated 90 per cent of the total weight of large predators in the oceans—such as tuna, sharks and swordfish—have disappeared over the last few decades. Estimates suggest that we may still be losing as much as 150,000 square kilometers of forest each year.

In effect, we all have greater responsibility to restore and protect the environment for future generations by joining efforts, resources and ideas to promote better environment in our only home, the planet Earth. It is against this backdrop that Centre for Environmental Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA) is embarking on the project “One-Child, One-Tree” to involve the young ones in the promotion of better environment as well as inculcating in them, environmental preparedness and awareness through tree planting.

2.1 Rationale of Project

The Ghanaian environment, especially the urban areas is facing huge challenges which pose threat to the existence of humans and other habitats. These environmental threats are to a greater extent result from urbanization without proper planning, poor sanitation, lack of enforcement of environmental laws and educational policies, and non-caring for the environment itself. Many a times, environmental issues seem to be no one's business in the Ghanaian communities. It is not strange to come across an individual or groups openly acting in a negative manner against the environment without prompt of concern from anybody or institution. The rapid depredation of the environment, coupled with lack of public concerns make the Ghanaian environment more vulnerable and threatening.

The One-Child, One-Tree project, which is aiming at re-greening the Ghanaian communities through the involvement of the younger generation is driven by two important objectives.

First, the project is aiming at multiplying the number of trees in the Ghanaian communities, focusing on the urban centres to avert the current situation of rapid loss of biodiversity as a result of continual loss of trees in the urban centres. A typical sunny afternoon walk through the shady

Ridge residential area in Accra, will leave no one in a bit of doubt in appreciating the very importance of trees in the urban centres. Plantation of trees in our urban centres will allow people to escape from the hustle and bustle of stressful city life and usher them into an atmosphere of serenity and relaxation.

In addition to their recreational and aesthetic values, trees planted within communities facilitate positive interaction in the ecosystem. They combat air and noise pollution, filter water, stabilize soil and check erosion, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and above all, improve the overall quality of life in people within the environment. When these benefits are combined with critical roles trees play in combating generation threat of global warming, trees become a necessity not just a luxury.

Second, the One-Child, One-Tree project is building on the art of involving the young generation in promoting environmental welfare. The involvement of today's child in the arena of positive environmental search has a great propensity of breeding tomorrow's leader of environmental expert. The project is structured to inculcate in the young ones, a sense of environmental ownership and preparedness of environmental protection. They are to be groomed to take up leadership roles in advocating for positive environmental practices for sustainable future. 

  

This is to give you a portion view of one of our projects carrying out in Ghana. The One-Child, One-Tree project, your are welcome to partner with us to deliver this project or many other innovative projects undertaking by CERPA to promote global environmental welfare.