THE FREQUENCY OF THIS CHANGE

The frequency and intensity of climate change coupled with its effects cannot be ignored, while growing up the weather pattern could be predicted, you could decide to get married in November or December and you can be sure it is not going to rain but over time this has not been the case, the changes in the weather pattern have been drastic and definitely unpredictable.

According to President Barack Obama “Today we are seeing that climate change is about more than a few unseasonable mild winter or hot summer. Its about the chain of natural catastrophes and devastating weather patterns that global warming is beginning to set off around the world……the frequency and intensity of which breaking records thousands of years old”.

From New York United State to Lagos Nigeria the story remains the same, for instance the recent Hurricane Katherine was the sixth strongest hurricane ever recorded and the third strongest to make landfall on the United States, In Lagos Nigeria the recent flooding was the worst hit in recent time, the rain that fell in a single day measures up to the amount of rain expected to fall in a month. These harsh realities of climate change did not come without destroying lives and properties.

QUOTES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE:

All across the world, in every environment and region known to man increasingly dangerous weather pattern and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it is here, and its effect are giving rise to the frightening new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster……………… President Barack Obama

Olaleye Taiwo

Follow on twitter@ greenernaija

THE ROAD TO DURBAN

The change is huge and it is happening so fast that it is almost difficult for us to keep up with all of them, and the effects of these changes are even huger and the frequency is so high we find it difficult to keep up. It is true the world is changing, and there are so many issues coming up daily demanding our attention, such issues such poverty, development ,gender, population growth, war etc these issue have been on the fore front of global debate ,but where does climate change stand?

We have had Kyoto protocol,yet there are still country that are yet to abide by what Kyoto protocol stand for ,Well here we are again we are heading to DURBAN for the climate summit. This time all road leads to Durban so we can help create a sustainable environment for the future generation.

Will these bring the desired change? Can Durban bring about the desired result Kyoto could not achieve? Let make the change happen and support alternative energy sources.

Quotes on Climate change: The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about how much we are contributing to the warming of the atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to the point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence of these fossil fuel and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generation to global catastrophe…………..Barack Obama.

Let Durban count !!!#COP17 (follow on twitter @greenernaija)

Olaleye Taiwo

For greenernaija.

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

A woman’s place in the society from history has always been controversial, why some believe the woman’s place should always be behind the scene, some believe they deserve to be at the fore front and be part of a process that will shape their lives, in the past women couldn’t vote or speak it was forbidden, some part of the world till date do not allow women to drive, and in other places a woman is considered delicate and should be treated with care and respect.

No matter where the place of a woman is in the society, a woman remains a great asset to the society and should be given the opportunity to thrive, in a male dominated world a woman should be brave and unstoppable, setting goals and achieving them, but there is a menace setting the woman back and slowing down her pace, this menace is climate change, the 21^st century woman in both developed and developing country is faced with a challenge that aims to take her back to the place of and vulnerability and uncertainty ,a place where the future seems uncertain and bleak, making survival almost impossible.

Climate change is harder on women especially women in developing nations, when they are faced with desertification or deforestation the men migrate to greener areas leaving the women behind to take care of the children and find a way to survive, women have to deal with scarcity of water and resources.

If women would fight for their right and today women can vote and be voted for, with the efforts of women like of Susan B. Anthony, these were the women paved the way for the likes of Charles Gyude Bryant of Liberia. If these can be done then we can fight climate change and win, we can join our voices together and help save the future generation.

QUOTES: So long as society says a woman is incompetent to be a lawyer, minister or doctor, but has ample ability to be a teacher...every man of you who chooses this profession tacitly acknowledges that he has no more brains than a woman?

Olaleye Taiwo

For: greenernaija

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE A woman’s place in the society from history has always been controversial, why some be

POPULATION GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change has been an issue that remains on the lips of stakeholders, activist, environmentalist etc. The notion is that population growth affects the climate, but how true is this?
According to the United Nation in 1998,world population will be between 2 and 4 billion more people by 2040.overpopulation is known to be a major cause of increase in global gas emission, efforts towards green energy sources ,reduction in global emission of carbon dioxide will only yield maximum result if population grows steadily and stabilizes.
There is a huge difference in the population growth of developed nations and developing Nations, Developed nations contribute a higher percentage to global emission of green house gases and at the same time their population growth is not as high as the developing nations that contribute a smaller percentage to the emission of these harmful gases. This puts a question mark on premise that population growth affects the climate, but the truth remains that the continued increase in population increases the demand for these sources of energy, increases deforestation and other human activities that affects the environment.
It is true that the poorest countries that would be most affected by the effects of climate change, making children and women most vulnerable, and if there is a possible link between population growth and climate change, how do you educate an uneducated African man that believes he needs to have more children because his wife is yet to give him a male child? How do you discourage child marriage and empower the women to make the right choice about their reproductive health?
All these question begs for answers and shows the challenge climate change poses has so many faces to it and requires an all round solution, it shows that the solution lies in the hand of stakeholders and individuals, to the stake holders we need good education, proper health care, infrastructures and to individuals we need to make more informed choices and realize that our choices affects not only our environment but the future generation.

For: greenernaija
Olaleye Taiwo

NIGERIA'S CHANGING CLIMATE

In recent times Nigeria has experienced a dramatic change in its weather pattern, while growing up we could predict the dry season and the wet season, but times have changed and the issue of climate change is no longer alien to us.
Nigeria is known to be one of the few countries in the world with little or no natural disaster ,we do not have earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami or tornadoes, we have in the past considered ourselves lucky to be blessed but the world has become a global village, not only has Nigeria witnessed shrinking of its borders, thanks to information and technology, we are now in the age of twitter and face book where nothing is considered sacred, in the same vein we can no longer separate ourselves from the rest of the world, climate issues are no longer sacred to the island of Kiribati, Pakistan or Somalia, it has come knocking on our doors and we have to respond to its call.

Climate change is undeniably here with us in Nigeria, we have the recent flooding in Lagos and Ibadan, the absence of rain in the North, leading to droughts and crop failure, it is estimated that Nigeria is currently losing about 351,000 hectares of land mass to desert encroachment annually, impacting negatively on food supply. There is the ocean surge in our beaches caused by the rising sea level which is one of the impacts of climate change. Alpha Beach and Bar Beach have both witnessed ocean surges this year, leading the residents seek for help from the Lagos state government.

Lagos our commercial nerve center is only three meters above sea level, and the recent flooding had a huge effect on both lives and properties, with the trend of things, climate change is not a distance phenomenon, it affects us every day. It is no longer news that climate change will have a bigger impact on developing Nation, which Nigeria is part of, it is time for Nigerians and its leaders to realize that the future generation deserves a sustainable environment, an environment they can thrive in, without an outa of doubt ,there is a lot of work to be done.

The poverty level in Nigeria is very high, an average Nigerian cannot afford to spend a dollar a day, imagine the impact of climate change on food supply, the drought in Somalia is a testimony to this fact, the drought has claimed so many live ,many of whom are children. The provision of Infrastructure such as good road network, proper drainages, constant power supply, and affordable health care etc. will perhaps equip Nigerians to deal more effectively with the changing climate conditions.
The work to be done is not limited to our leaders alone, it involved Nigerians as responsible citizen, we have certain choices to make and these choices could either make or mar the future of Nigeria as a country, we need to know that the forest nature has bestowed upon us is for a purpose, tree felling is one of the major causes of global warming and Nigerians must realize that these trees have a part to play in sustaining our environment, we can be responsible enough to clear our drainages, desist from throwing dirt in the drainages so that water can flow freely when rain falls. We must be responsible enough to stop building on canal paths.

We can be responsible enough to tell others about climate change, and its effects on our lives because I believe one can reach a thousand and two can reach ten thousand. Nigeria! Let us rise like the giants we are and create a sustainable environment for the future generation.


Olaleye Taiwo
Follow on twitter @ greenernaija

BAN KI-MOON ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recently addressed the issue of climate change at a conference in Australia ,Ban ki-Moon expressed great concern about the climate change issue and its effects on lives he stated: “but the facts are clear: global green house gas emissions continue to rise, millions of people are suffering from climate impact. Climate change is very real”
Ban Ki-Moon spoke about the pacific nation of Kiribati and expressed the fears of parents and children who dread they might wake up one day and everything would have been swept away by the rising sea. The Island of Kiribati is just four meters (13feet) above sea level.
The time for the renewal of the Kyoto protocol which expires 2012 is now. Kyoto protocol remains the only global deal aimed at reducing the emission of green house gases.
The current trend of climate disasters in recent times shows the time for change has come; there is a need for countries to renew their commitments to the Kyoto protocol in order to protect the future generation. Countries like China and United States should please commit to the protocol and help preserve the environment.

Quotes: ‘Climate change is not about tomorrow. It is lapping at our feet-quite literally in Kiribati and elsewhere.’ Ban ki-moon
Olaleye Taiwo
For: greenernaija