Earth Day: Environmentalist calls for sensitisation against carbon footprints generation
Emissions
By Mercy Omoike
Lagos, April 22, 2020 (NAN) An Environmentalist, Mr Adewole Taiwo, has called for the sensitisation of Nigerians on the need to reduce carbon footprints emissions into the atmosphere as the world celebrates the Earth Day.
Taiwo, an Executive Director at Recyclepoints, an environmental NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection
The expert said as part of the commemoration of the 2020 Earth Day celebrations, it was necessary to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers of carbon footprints generated to the environment by our activities.
“For the 2020 Earth Day celebrations, we are centred on Digital climate actions, reaching out to people on climate actions digitally which also falls in line with the social distance.
“You do not need to meet face to face to before you preach climate actions.
“We need to educate Nigerians on the amount of carbon footprints we generate, it means we have to create awareness starting from the government and environmental NGOs because most Nigerians do not pay attention to manufacturers’ instructions.
“Once they purchase a device they do not bother reading the manual and some even carry eco-labelling talking about carbon footprint reducing. The ministry has several departments dealing with this but reaching out and enlightenment is very poor.
“The Ministry of Environment at all levels and its agencies should collaborate with NGOs and manufacturers on enlightenment about footprints reductions.
“We should embrace the use of solar energy and inverters instead of generator running on fossil fuel among others,” the expert told NAN.
Taiwo noted that the inability of environmental stakeholders to meet physically, owing to the lockdown is a blessing in disguise for the environment.
He added that the lockdown had played a positive role in improving the environment as he encouraged people to engage digitally to reduce carbon footprints.
“I can tell you the lockdown has a positive impact on the Environment.
“Ask Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Ministry of Environment and they would tell you there is a great improvement in the air quality in the state.
“There are less vehicles on the road, less motorcycles and tricycles on the road and less industrial generators emitting carbon fumes into the environment.
“Most people are working digitally from home.
“A normal Earth Day celebrations will increase carbon footprint, because people will need to travel down to a meeting point to carry out a clean-up or have a one-day workshop on climate change.
“Participants will travel down in vehicles and the meeting hall will be powered by a generator and Air Conditioners running, releasing emission into the atmosphere but digitally you can seat at home and reduce your carbon footprint and reach out to a wide range of people,” Taiwo said.
According to the expert, reducing carbon footprints we generate from our digital devices is very hard because irregular power supply in Nigeria,
“Every single household in Nigeria today contributes to carbon emission, courtesy the power supply services.
“Almost everyone has power bank to power their digital devices. My advice is to completely switch off your laptop when not in use instead of putting it in hibernation or sleep.
“Once your device is 100 per cent charged, unplugged, rather than plugging it for 24 hours,” he said. (NAN)
DMO/AJA
========
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi