Ajayi Iyinoluwa Joshua is the winner of the 2024 Samantha Singh Memorial Award. The award-winning essay answered this question:
‘Write a data-driven memo on the impacts of climate change in your community, and what young activists can do to challenge the status quo.’
As climate change tightens its grip in our community, the once predictable rhythms of nature are unraveling before our eyes.
Hey fellow activists, have you noticed how climate change is really starting to affect our community? It’s alarming to see how the once predictable patterns of nature are falling apart right in front of us. Climate change poses a significant threat to Nigeria, with extreme heat conditions and energy poverty exacerbating socio-economic disparities across the country. In this essay, we will delve into the data surrounding these issues and explore step-by-step solutions to address them.
Understanding the problem:
- Nigeria, especially regions like Kaduna, faces extreme heat, as highlighted by the World Bank’s Risk Factor Categorization.
- Extreme heat contributes to socio-economic challenges, including energy poverty, health risks, and environmental damage.
- Energy poverty is widespread, with 45% of Nigerians lacking access to electricity, which hits vulnerable groups hard and affects essential services like healthcare.
When it comes to why climate is changing in our community, there are some key things we need to know. Let’s break it down in a simple way:
- Local Industries and Energy Use: Despite our relatively small contribution to global emissions, industries and businesses here rely on fossil fuels for energy, emitting greenhouse gases and pollutants. Despite our smaller scale, we face significant risks from climate change impacts.
- Deforestation and Land Use Change: While not as extensive as in other regions, land clearing for agriculture and urbanization occurs, diminishing natural carbon sinks and increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
- Agricultural Practices: Livestock rearing and crop cultivation emit greenhouse gases, impacting our environment and contributing to climate change risks such as changing weather patterns and reduced agricultural productivity.
- Waste Management: Our community’s waste management practices, though on a smaller scale, still release methane and pollutants into the air through open burning and inefficient landfill management.
In the Risk Factor Categorization table above, Nigeria is flagged with extreme heat conditions, denoted by the vivid red color. This indicates a significant risk of high temperatures, posing potential challenges to our community.
As discussed, various factors contribute to this heightened risk, including emissions from burning fossil fuels, deforestation practices, and industrial activities. Despite our community’s relatively smaller contribution to global emissions, we are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, as evidenced by the extreme heat risks depicted in the data.
Nevertheless, amidst these challenges lie opportunities for positive change for my community and the world. Here are some potential solutions:
- Embrace Renewable Energy: Transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lowering emissions and mitigating climate change. By investing in solar panels for homes and businesses, we can generate clean energy while reducing our carbon footprint.
- Promote Sustainable Land Use: Protecting and restoring forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats can help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change. Implementing sustainable land management practices, such as agroforestry and reforestation projects, can enhance carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
- Adopt Climate-Resilient Agricultural Methods: Implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, such as conservation tillage, crop rotation, and agroecological farming, can enhance soil health, water conservation, and crop resilience. These practices not only mitigate greenhouse gas emissions but also increase agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change impacts like droughts and floods.
- Invest in Infrastructure Resilience: Enhancing the resilience of our infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events and climate impacts is crucial for community safety and well-being. Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as flood defenses, green roofs, and water management systems, can reduce vulnerabilities and enhance adaptive capacity.
By implementing these solutions and fostering collaboration among government, businesses, and local communities, we can address the challenges posed by climate change and build a more sustainable and resilient future for our community. In the heart of Nigeria’s countryside, where the warm embrace of the sun meets the earth, a story unfolds—a story of resilience, of challenges met with unwavering resolve, and of a community poised to confront the daunting reality of climate change.
In this narrative, we find ourselves not as distant observers, but as active participants, deeply rooted in the fabric of our community. Here, amidst the bustling streets and vibrant markets, the impact of climate change is palpable, casting a shadow over our lives and the lives of those we hold dear.
Yet, amid the uncertainty and adversity, there is hope—a flickering flame that refuses to be extinguished. It is the hope that resides within each of us, young and old alike, beckoning us to take action and stand up for our planet’s future.
For the fate of our community, indeed, the fate of our world, lies in our hands. We are the architects of our destiny, the stewards of our environment, and the guardians of generations yet to come.
As we gaze upon the landscape of our community, we see the signs of change—the swaying trees, the parched earth, the erratic weather patterns. These are not merely symbols of a changing climate; they are reminders of our collective responsibility to act.
But where do we begin? How do we navigate the daunting task that lies before us? The answer lies within each of us, waiting to be awakened—the power of youth activism.
It is in our hands, as young activists, to challenge the status quo, to raise our voices against injustice, and to demand accountability from those in power. Through our actions, both big and small, we have the power to effect change, to inspire others, and to forge a path towards a more sustainable future.
From organizing community clean-up drives to advocating for renewable energy solutions, from planting trees to raising awareness about the importance of conservation, our potential knows no bounds. We are the agents of change, the catalysts for progress, and the champions of a better world.
But let us not be mistaken; the road ahead will not be easy. We will face obstacles and setbacks, skepticism and resistance. Yet, it is in the face of adversity that our true strength lies—the strength to persevere, to adapt, and to overcome.
As we stand on the threshold of a new era, let us embrace the challenge before us with courage and conviction. For in our hands lies the power to shape the world anew, to chart a course towards a brighter tomorrow, and to leave a legacy of hope and possibility for generations to come.
