BE NICE TO EARTH

TARGET A; Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.

INTRODUCTION:

ENVIRONMENT

Environment refers to the physical space and all the human and other resources contained therein. In simple terms environment can be defined as encompassing air, water flora, fauna and other natural and man-made features that constitute our surroundings, for example, all the biophysical and socio-economic elements of our surroundings.

Human activities inevitably and increasingly introduce material and energy into or remove material from the environment; in other words environmental impact is said to have been created. Thus; environmental impact refers to the alteration of environmental conditions or creation of a new set of actions or environmental conditions adverse or beneficial, caused or induced by the action or set of actions under consideration .This definition implies that there are two types of environmental impact, firstly, when it endangers or having potential to endanger people’s health, their well-being or their resources directly or indirectly, otherwise known as “negative impact”.

The second aspect is beneficial having to do with the socio-economic well-being of the people or host communities by providing jobs, basic amenities, increased business transaction etc., and is known as “positive impact”.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

This means the exploitation of natural resources for human survival without jeopardizing the ability of succeeding generations to satisfy their needs. It has to do with showing a greater consideration for future generations’ means of livelihood even while trying to improve on our standard of living now. It is thus economic development with environmental protection.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development in Nigeria demands that certain key environmental issues need to be properly examined. The need for this is to know the danger ahead of us in our actions or inactions in the struggle to combat environmental degradation. In Nigeria, in the desperate efforts to survive many people, organizations and the government at all levels adopt one form of measure or the other to produce. Some of these measures have negative effect on the environment. Some of the key effects are;

Deforestation: This phenomenon results from uncontrolled and indiscriminate cutting of trees for timber, firewood, construction, and for other domestic and industrial uses. By destroying the vegetative cover, the soil becomes vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions leading to erosion, desertification, flooding etc.

Loss of Biodiversity: Heavy exploitation of biodiversity could lead to the extinction of some indigenous species, because they are well adapted to the local climate and resistance to disease and pest attacks from organisms with which they, for long time, formed a very rich ecosystem for conserving the environment. Loss of such species contributes further to degrading environment. How to maintain an inter-generational flow of natural resources through bio-systems and ecosystem is the question to address in the MDGs.

Drought and Desertification: These are both products of climate change and environmental degradation. Prolong dry season leading to yellow leaves or withering of crops. The issue is that of future lack of woods and excessive heat arising from misuse of land by farmers and construction activities. In Nigeria, wood is the main source of energy in the rural areas (Akungba-Akoko, as a case study) and the rate at which the trees is being fell without replanting for coming generation will definitely lead to desertification in future. This is a negative prelude to the MDGs and must be adequately corrected.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF INDUSTRIES

The major environmental problem that arises from the chemical industries is pollution. This could be either atmospheric, land or water pollution.

Over the last four decades, Nigeria has taken significant steps forward towards industrialization. The sitting of these industries depended largely on political and economical considerations. What effect such industries have on the environment and even public health hardly come into consideration. Industrial emissions contribute up to 80% of atmospheric pollution. Open incineration of solid industrial and domestic waste at dumpsites releases hazardous chemicals including toxic metals into the atmosphere. It should be borne in mind that some high-risk air polluting industries exist in the country. Examples are; iron and steel, cement, vehicle assembly plants, pulp and paper, petroleum and petrochemical, asbestos, paint and not the least quarry from granites and limestone. Apart from the primary air pollutants (sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide), some toxic and hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals, organic solvents, hydrogen sulphides etc., are also released into the environment endangering human beings, properties and surrounding flora and fauna.

Many buildings, monuments and vegetation covered with cement dust at Ewekoro, Sagamu, Ukpilla, for example, are aesthetically deplorable. Inhabitants in these areas always complain of pulmonary and bronchial problems.

Energy utilization in most of our industries relies primarily on fossil fuel combustion which releases into the atmosphere substantial mount of CO2, nitrogen oxides and SO2. The situation is now compounded by the epileptic electric power supply in the country, culminating into proliferation of the use of generator sets in most homes. Carbon dioxide is believed to be the primary cause of global warming due to so called “Green House Effect”. Similarly, continuous emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen manifest as “Acid Rain”. There have been reported cases of acid rain in the Niger Delta Area, Lagos State, Agbara in Ogun State and some year’s back in Kaduna. Acid rain, that is rain with pH 5.6 or less, has been known to cause deforestation, loss in soil fertility and destruction of fishery resources through acidification of lakes.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TARGET A

Our environment must not be seen as an inert object where by various human and developmental activities can take place without consequence and emission of toxic gases is the major consequences of uncontrolled human activities and improper developmental planning. One of the Millennium Development Goals is to ensure environment sustainability, specifically to integrate sustainable development into the country’s policies and reverse loss of environmental resources by the year 2015. In order for the government to achieve this target the following recommendations must be strictly adhered to:

. Federal Government should enact laws that would guide industrial emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat trapping pollutants.

. Activities of our oil companies in flaring of gases should be checked and appropriate method should be adopted by collecting these gases (SO2, NO2, CO2,CH4) and use for other production processes to reduce the effect of acid rain in Niger Delta, since these gases can improve our economy tremendously.

. Laws and policies aimed at curtailing the indiscriminate importation of “tokunboh” and fairly-used items such as motor vehicles, air conditioners, refrigerators and other greenhouse gas emitting appliances must be put in place.

. Wastes from industries should be controlled by carrying out waste management enlightenment campaigns on how to convert waste to compost, recycling of the recyclable and non-biodegradable wastes like plastics, nylons, papers etc.

. Renewable resources like land, forests, fish stocks etc., should be monitored within the limits of natural growth, while non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels and mineral resources and whose usage reduces the available stocks should be used advisedly considering the rate of depletion and the likelihood of substitutes available.

. Government should enact stringent laws guiding against indiscriminate falling of trees and bush burning by the public.

. The government, public should be educated on the importance of tree planting and create awareness on how to help sustain and develop our environment. Governors of other states as well as the general public should emulate Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State by educating the people on flower and tree planting.

If the above recommendations are implemented and effectively monitored, the Millennium Development Goals on sustainable environmental development specifically, Target A would be achieved, otherwise, it will continue to be a mirage.