Creating Awareness On Climate Change Sustainability in Africa

According to the United Nations, climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.

But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.  Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

Methane and CO2 are the main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change. The source of all these is driving cars, cutting down trees, and clearing land to produce CO2. Agriculture, oil, and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.

One of the major challenges of climate change sustainability in Africa is knowledge or access to education. The cheapest and easiest way to disseminate information in Africa is either through school or religious gatherings.

This is one of the reasons why UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the Hamburg Society for the Promotion of Democracy and International Law started the “Schools for Africa” initiative in 2004 to ensure that every child in Africa has an opportunity for education that leads to a safer and happier future. Nelson Mandela’s vision that education can transform the lives of people and entire communities is the foundation of global efforts to provide better opportunities for African children.

Since education is the bedrock of every society, education will not just enhance a better understanding of climate change; rather, students will be equipped with the requisite level of knowledge in combating climate change. Therefore, the government at all levels should ensure that it is incorporated into African school curricula since climate change is a long-term shift. Incorporating it into the school curriculum will provide great awareness and better knowledge of how climate change should be sustained.

Furthermore, by involving schools in climate change sustainability efforts, we can engage future leaders and empower them to take an active role in solving global environmental challenges. On the other hand, seminars, conferences, and symposiums should be organized for teachers at all levels of education on climate change sustainability, adaptation, and protection.

There is a paucity of information or knowledge that can enhance climate change practice in Africa and Nigeria in particular. Promoting sustainable practices within the school environment is another way of enhancing environmental sustainability in Africa, as recycling, reducing waste, and promoting energy conservation can instill sustainable habits in students. These habits can then be carried into their homes and communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Therefore, before a license must be given to any individual or group of people who are willing to open schools in Africa, they should be asked how they intend to recycle waste or manage it, and for the already existing ones, either private or public, the school head or teachers should be trained on modern methods of waste management or recycling.

According to the Stockholm+50 declaration, the call for greater engagement of faith communities was one of 10 actions the religious leaders asked for governments and the U.N. to adopt. They also urged the widespread implementation of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, which they said is a pathway to eradicating poverty and promoting greater gender equality and inclusivity. Other tasks involved respecting the rights of nature, adopting laws on "ecocide," amplifying women's voices, and that nations "adopt a new development paradigm that integrates moral, spiritual, and indigenous shared values."

In my study of Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, and Muslim leaders in Nigeria and Africa in general, however, I found that these leaders don’t know much about climate change. I also found that generally, they haven’t taken much action on the issue. This may affect the level of climate change knowledge and concern among their congregations. Providing these leaders with relevant information on climate change would increase not only their knowledge and commitment to climate change sustainability and adaptation in Africa but that of their followers as well.

Religious organizations with their large followers can leverage their influence to raise awareness and mobilize communities towards sustainable behaviors. Educate their congregations on the impact of climate change and advocate for sustainable practices, which can lead to greater environmental consciousness and action.

Generally, by involving schools in climate change sustainability, we can create a more environmentally aware and proactive society, nurturing a generation that is equipped to address the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. In addition, religious organizations can contribute to a wider movement for a sustainable future, guided by moral principles and a sense of responsibility towards the planet and its inhabitants.