BY: Dikachi Elemba, in Owerri
A scientist and renowned engineer, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has challenged world leaders to take critical and urgent measures to tackle climatic and environmental degradation ravaging humanity and the society.
Iwuanyanwu, who addressed leaders and members of the Global Coalition for Sustainable Environment on Climate Change Mitigation, said the situation calls for urgent and immediate intervention of world leaders and their engineers to save mankind from extinction.
Iwuanyanwu stressed that climate change and environmental degradation are posing a serious threat to human, industrial and socio-economic development, stating that all professionals in these areas must come together to find a lasting solution to it.
The engineer called for a global summit to discuss firmly the best way to proffer immediate solutions to the serious challenges posed by climatic change and environmental degradation.
Speakers at the forum aligned themselves with the position and solutions proffered by Iwuanyanwu.
In a communiqué issued, the Global Coalition for Sustainable Environmental on Climate Change Mitigation said climatic changes have impacted negatively on the global environment leading to excessive flooding, severe drought in some regions, land erosion and other environmental catastrophe.
The Global Coalition, however, resolved to work with the United Nations Environment Programme, European Union, Africa Climate Change Fund, the Federal Government of Nigeria, governments of other foreign nations, multinational corporations, the private sector and other development partners to find solutions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on humanity.
The group further resolved that the Global Coalition should establish her corporation head office at Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, with branches in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, and other African countries for collaboration, adding that contacts have been established with most of these nations and other groups with similar interests.
It also said it would assemble engineers, scientists, and other professionals with the commitment and passion to create awareness on the diverse negative influences on the environment for the benefit of future generations, adding that the measure will not only reduce the activities that negatively impact on the three dimensions of the environment namely, air, water and land, but will create solution and promote remedial measures that will protect, improve and preserve the quality of the environment, leading to enhanced health and well being of living organisms.
The group said the measures will promote best sanitation and general public health, thereby preventing widespread transmission of diseases.
Just as it resolved that its membership shall be in two categories, corporate and individual membership with professionals, inter disciplinary experts, business community and those who have made substantial contributions to mitigate climate change.
But to implement the goals and objectives of the organisation, the board of trustees (BOT) was created with Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made the BOT chairman.
Others are A.Z. Abubakar, a professor (North West); Babagana Mohammed, a professor (North East); Olalekan Emeka Sulaiman Ajani (South West); Babatunde A. Oshodi, coordinator; and Claribelle Ngozi Nwogu, secretary.
However, the management committee of the body comprises Babatunde Oshodi, coordinator, Ngozi Nwogu, secretary, Olalekan Emeka Sulaiman Ajani, member, and Binta Abdukaram, a professor, member.
Other members are A. Z. Abubakar, Babagana Mohammed, Linda Bitrus Elesa, Adeolu Odusote, Abba Kachalla, and Chinedu Nsofor. The organs will be officially inaugurated in two months time.
Iwuanyanwu, chairman of the BOT, in his acceptance speech, said he would use everything within his human capacity to ensure that the Global Coalition for Sustainable Environment on Climate Change Mitigation achieved all its set goals and objectives.
He pledged that he would continue to use his talents, resources and his life to serve humanity and also lead the campaign for global peace and sustenance of the healthy environment.
Iwuanyanwu said that the present generation should ensure that the environment is properly protected and harmonised for the good of future generations.
Stating further that the achievements and successes of the global organisation, which are aimed at ensuring love, healthy uplift of humanity, will be part of his contributions and commitment.
