TOWARD CURBING GLOBAL WARMING

Global Warming

 

Sustainable development with out environmental mental destruction is the best for form of development for all nations to aspire attain. Brundtland commission report of 1987, posits that sustainable development is development that meet the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet  their own need. For any nation to attain the level of sustainable development, it must give priority to three fundamental pillars which include; Economic, social and environmental consideration.

The unsustainable human development activities of the past which focus on economic and social elements but totally neglect environmental issue have caused serious ecological and human health problems, coupled with increase poverty in the process especially in third world countries. For instance in Nigeria, until the koko waste episode of 1988, general national awareness on environmental issues was low. Government was glad to grant permits for new industries to operate without environmental consideration to operate without environment consideration.

          There is no doubt that the past unsustainable industrial development is the major cause of the global environmental problems plaguing the world today. These problems include climate change and global worming; stratospheric ozone layer depletion; acid rain, loss of Brodiversity and the transboundery movement of toxic and Hazardous waste. These problems are linked to hazardous waste and toxic chemicals release into the environment from anthropogenic activities especially industrialization and agriculture.

          Global worming refers to the increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface above the natural average required to sustain life on by the release of excess green house gases such as carbon dioxide (Co₂) carbon monoxide (Co) and methane gas (CH₄) into the atmosphere. These gases when in excess, trap heat into the atmosphere thereby, increasing the amount of infrared radiation that goes back tot the earth. The result of this is an increase in the temperature of he earth’s surface and a subsequent release of green house gases that cause global warming.

          According to the latest report of inter governmental panel on climate change (IPCC) indicate that the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 (2.0 to 11.5⁰f) during the 21^st century. IPCC added that he uncertainty in this estimate arise form the use of models with differencing sensitivity to green house has concentrations and the use of differing estimates of future green house gas emissions.

Inter governmental panel on climate change (IPCC) report warned that more widespread out breaks of disease could be one of the cripping effects of global warming and that malaria may contribute most strongly to the climate related disease burden in Africa.

Most studies focus on the period leading up to the year 2100. However, warming is expected to continue beyond 2100 even if emissions stop, because of he large heat capacity of he oceans and the long life time of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change amount and pattern of precipitation. Other effects include changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, species extinction, change in agricultural yields and increase in the rages of disease vectors change.

These global problems have lead to various international agreements in an attempt to reduce ozone depletion for example montreat protocol of 1987 with amendments in Helsink 1988 and Coenhagen 1992 and Kyoto protocol. The Kyoto protocol stipulates that , during the first commitment period, the developed countries have to reduce emission of six green house gases by at least five percent compare to 1990 level. The adoption of the protocol appeared to be a clear demonstration of seriousness in reversing the increasing trend in anthropogenic emission of green house gases. It however remains to be seen whether the developed and developing nations can meet the target set by the international agreements.

To minimize these global problems in Nigeria, government should take proactive measure by finding lasting solution to the problem of electricity supply in the county, thereby providing a basis for regulating the use of power generating plant at both domestic and industrial levels.

Environmental regulatory agencies, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency (NESREA) in particular should ensure total compliance with National Environmental Protection Regulations s.19 of 1991 which place restriction on the release of toxic substance into the air, water and land Nigeria.

          More so, government should control indiscriminate importation of used vehicle and ban the use of old ones, which pump out toxic gases through them exhaust fumes.

To achieve this effectively, it will be imperative that government should empower the people economically since the alarming rate of poverty situation in the country is what forced many to patronized used vehicle.