Green actions for climate sacrosanct, ‘doing’ the talking
Sunny Nwachukwu (Loyal Sigmite), PhD, a pure and applied chemist with an MBA in management, is an Onitsha based industrialist, a fellow of ICCON, and vice president, finance, Onitsha Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached on +234 803 318 2105 (text only) or schubltd@yahoo.com
October 16, 2023288 views0 comments
Global challenge of environmental impact on climate change as a result of energy needs is not relenting in manifesting catastrophic, abnormal weather conditions (climate related shocks) at different seasons in different parts of the globe. This frightening impact on man and his sustainable future environment calls for more robust green actions to be taken from a new and innovative dimension in energy utilization with its attached economic implications; as the demand pressure of the world population is continuously on the upsurge. All of us living (no exception) owe ourselves a responsibility and duty to conserve this planet earth, and save it from calamity that might be costly, if we fail to intervene very quickly.
The message is very simple because it is by the action of man in the quest for energy production and consumption that this global challenge (the global warming) came to bear. It is therefore instructive for a reverse effect (by innovatively reestablishing green environments for improved health of the disrupted environment) to be worked out and implemented by man, while man continues to identify the ways and means of generating the needed energy of the future that is eco-friendly and affordable, through research. This action, of course, will be aligned to the Paris Agreement with its designed solution for energy market challenges, and which can positively mitigate and address the risks of climate change.
Sustainable environmental solutions in living our daily lives are basically the only way to shrink the environmental footprint in future energy sourcing, utilization and consumption. Apart from heating up the atmosphere with the emitted carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gasses (GHG) that are majorly generated through utilization of fossil fuels, there are strategies that green actions or other mitigation measures that can be deployed in the society in man’s daily living (as environmental check control measures). Those actions involve ways of propping energy efficiency and general reduction in wastes of all sorts. When one considers the enormity of the impact climate change has on earth, the dangers it portends for man’s chances of future existence that is already threatened by the occurrences of various natural disasters that are occasioned by the extreme weather conditions presently ravaging the planet earth; one obviously draws a conclusion that the speculated climate Armageddon (through scientific studies already conducted) is imminent; unless something is done about it with urgency, as constantly being alerted by the UN’s secretary general, Antonio Gutierrez. The delicate balance of climate change needs to positively swing in favour of winning the climate war by decarbonization process that is loaded with green actions.
The reason why this issue about energy and climate matters should be taken or viewed seriously is that the existing records of the climate situation at hand appear graphically horrific and at the same time, show very unimaginable painful encounters the affected victims, communities and nations go through in different parts of the world where the disasters have struck. The living need to be wise, borrowing a leaf from the losses (lives and property) captured in the available records. This global challenge is not just an issue that may be treated with levity because; it gives nightmares with frightening concerns about future existence. It demands full and focused attention of all living beings with green actions that cumulatively account for progressive mitigation initiatives in all fronts. The incidences of natural disasters that are climate related always transmit data of colossal and huge losses on accounts of human lives and property that are destroyed and sorely wasted in each of those recorded cases.
The green actions for climate mitigation in a country like Nigeria (for example) could start by focusing on energy distribution through pipelines for local consumption of natural gas that is abundantly available in the nation’s hydrocarbon capital stock, which is also composed of the attractive cooking gas/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the popularly discussed “green fuel”/compressed natural gas (CNG) for both industrial usage and transportation. This proven stock on the gas value chain is estimated to last for another 94 years (for the economy). The simple fact that every economy consciously keys into an energy transition plan that assures energy security and sustainable cleaner energy from the gas value chain and renewable energy sources; complies with the climate mitigation agenda of the UN. Nigeria is therefore expected to take this full advantage of her very attractive gas value chain for the needed support against global warming. The economic advantage of this available and attractive cheap (affordable) gas resource that is a cleaner energy, with the needed environmental compliance for green action, suggests that it should be tapped into and aggressively exploited. The gas infrastructural development (as is obtainable in the developed economies, where both the CNG and LPG alike, are piped to every home) needs total focus and implementation; in “doing the talking” on green actions. This multifaceted pronged approach on “Economic”, “Environmental” and “Social” pillars shall, in no small measure, favour Nigeria’s economic growth and development, tremendously (as living beings all over the globe collectively battle global warming, to save the planet earth for future generations).