Our planet as we know it is suffering significantly as a result of pollution ranging from air, water, and land and no country is immune to the effects of climate change.
The rate at which harmful gases are released into the atmosphere is causing the earth’s temperature to increase drastically; rising temperatures and sea levels, shifting precipitation patterns, and more extreme weather are affecting human health and safety, food and water security, and socioeconomic development.
With these negative consequences in mind, the question we should ask ourselves is whether African countries are taking steps to combat climate change, as it’s crystal clear that the issue is becoming a big threat to communities in these emerging countries.
Are there any plans in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Obviously, policies are in place, but how well are they implemented? Is there a plan to improve trash management, particularly in metropolitan areas, as the population grows?
Is there any enforcement in place to prevent communities from disposing of waste and refuse in waterways, as well as measures to promote afforestation and recycling? Is there any plan to produce cooling machines that are environmentally friendly with little or no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) present in them?
Kenya’s economy is strongly focused on agriculture, particularly black tea production, and the country over the years has been the world’s leading distributor of black tea. However, climate change is threatening the livelihoods of millions of plantation workers. Although the solar energy market in Kenya is growing, what is the plan in place to combat drought in these areas?
Also in Kenya, the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has collaborated with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry on climate governance, and they hold regular meetings on a variety of climate policy issues, examining budget allocations, and supervising the effectiveness and efficiency of such budgets. While this is good, there is a need to do more.
Climate change is a serious threat to Libya’s economic development and long-term viability, and climate variability is projected to exacerbate the effects of natural disasters on agricultural production.
Due to low agricultural outputs, the country must import around 75% of the food it requires to meet local demands. Many sections of the country are vulnerable to floods, sandstorms, dust storms, and desertification as a result of climate change. Climate change is a serious threat to Libya’s economic development and long-term viability, and climate variability is projected to exacerbate the effects of natural disasters on agricultural production and the current heatwaves are a call for concern.
In 2018, Lagos State Nigeria was ranked 10th on the globe, in terms of cities that are prone to coastal flooding. Many parts of Lagos are vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season, owing to the construction of houses on flood plains, insufficient stormwater drainage, a lack of maintenance of existing drainage systems, increased run-off due to uncontrolled expansions of impermeable surfaces, and a lack of institutional capacity.
Recently, during the World Habitat Day held at Alausa, Ikeja, the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that his administration was addressing climate change by implementing proper city planning to cut carbon emissions.
These words, as good as they are, are just what they are: words. There are cases of drought, daily dumping, floods, climate change is rendering many people in Africa homeless, and migration is on the rise.
The lack of effective policies in continental zones like the South East in the country has made it extremely difficult for the inhabitants there to have access to a clean water supply.
The issue involving oil firms and manufacturing enterprises has been going on for a long time with no resolution. Despite the fact that they contribute significantly to the country’s economy, a carbon price should be imposed to compel these businesses to limit their emissions because the actions of the majority of these firms affect the lives of the population in their vicinity.
Quite a number of regulations have been put in place to regulate their operations, but are these regulations followed and implemented.
Most African countries continue to import old products such as electronics and automobiles that consume fossil fuels, resulting in an increase in pollution.
Same way renewable energy is receiving little investment, thanks to most private investors and firms.
The Carbon Tax Act, which imposes specific taxes on greenhouse gases released by fuel combustion and industrial processes, was passed in June 2019 in South Africa. When compared to the baseline, the carbon price has the potential to reduce emissions by 33% by 2035.
Furthermore, recent renewable energy auctions in South Africa have resulted in solar and wind rates that are lower than those charged by the national utility or from new coal plants. Much of what has been learned through South Africa’s renewable energy procurement process can inspire similar developments across Africa. It is often recognized as the continent’s clean energy pathfinder.