I have always been a true patriot of ‘Mama’ Earth and nor do I plan to betray her twenty-one years of oxygen free service that has enabled me to breath every day for free since my mother introduced me to the world.
Recently, I joined some of my friends here in Nairobi, Kenya for some talk after NASA announced that NASA perseverance rover had landed on Mars on a mission that seeks to find past signs of life on Mars.
A good number of my friends looked exhilarated about this achievement and so was I. Everyone looked ready to relocate from ‘Mama’ earth to planet Mars at least from their talk and the happiness that could be seen from their respective faces.
Coming from a tech background I am happy with this achievement from the NASA team but I am quick to cut them short and I go on to ask each of them to share their thoughts on the changing climate patterns of the world.
Each one of them goes on to share what they know about this but I am shocked to hear that many are not aware of the danger that threatens the existence of planet Earth.
I immediately get up on my feet and start explaining to my friends why climate change is a big threat and the reasons why we need to achieve a sustainable climate for the sake of our dear planet who has been kind enough to provide us with life.
Honestly, I feel this is the situation in many other countries and not only in Kenya. I have always been ready to protect ‘mama’ earth and currently ready than ever to continue protecting my planet.
Don’t confuse me of being against tech breakthroughs such as the milestone achieved by NASA but I think that It’d be very unfair for us to not care about our planet and suddenly pretend that we care for planet Mars and maybe even suggest that we can relocate there if life is by any chance to be proven possible there. They say that “charity begins at home” and I couldn’t agree more to this that charity should begin on planet Earth
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is a change in the pattern of weather, and related changes in oceans, land surfaces and ice sheets, occurring over time scales of decades or longer.
Climate change is a defining issue in contemporary life. Since the Industrial Revolution, heavy reliance on carbon-based sources for energy in industry and society has contributed to substantial changes in the climate, indicated by increases in temperature and sea-level rise.
Scientists have not formed a consensus on whether the effects of climate change will get worse or will improve. Similarly predicting the changes in the rainfall patterns and other natural phenomena are challenging as the process is complicated and may require more investigations.
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
The causes of climate change are many and varied. I will list two of the causes that I feel have greatly contributed to this menace for me.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2). The most well-known and the most important greenhouse gas is CO2. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is subject to variation even without human intervention. The carbon cycle causes an exchange of CO2 between the biosphere and the oceans on the one hand and the atmosphere on the other. Vast amounts of CO2 are also released by the burning of fossil fuels. There is incontrovertible evidence that the CO2 concentration in the air has never been so high in 800,000 years (probably even 60 million years) as it is now. The trend suggests that CO2 emissions will continue to rise globally, although the economic crisis did prevent a rise in 2009. The Netherlands (per head of population) is high on the list of CO2 emitters in the world.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Synthetic compounds entirely of industrial origin used in a number of applications, but now largely regulated in production and release to the atmosphere by international agreement for their ability to contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer. They are also greenhouse gases. The extent of global warming in the future is swathed in uncertainty; first, because we have no idea of how much of an increase to expect in greenhouse gases (depending on economic growth), and secondly because we do not know exactly how our climate system will respond (climate sensitivity).
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
You don’t damage ‘mama’ Earth and walk Scot-free. There are so many negative effects that are awaiting the citizens of the world if we fail to act and achieve climate sustainability. A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the ocean and partially melt glaciers and ice sheets, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea-level rise. Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others dryer. On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.
Achieving Climate Sustainability
Despite the damages that human activites have done the planet- I still believe efforts to salvage it are timely. If humanity fails to be accountable to it actions then history wouldn’t judge us right. Here are my personal recommendations on what has to be done to achieve climate sustainability;
- Creating awareness to the public. I still feel that much is needed to be done in terms of creating awareness to the citizens of the world on what awaits them if this doesn’t stop. Everyone has to know about the dangers of climate change. This requires a lot of investments in marketing through both mainstream and digital media. When the public becomes more enlightened then I think it will be easier to control this problem.
- Reduce carbon emissions by 45%. By 2030, global carbon dioxide emissions must be 45% less than they were in 2010, the report found. And carbon dioxide emissions must reach net zero around 2075 — meaning the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere equals the amount being removed. By 2050, emissions of other heat-trapping greenhouse gasses, including methane and black carbon, should be reduced by 35%, relative to the 2010 rate.
- Plant new forests equal to the size of Canada. Scientists recommend that up to about 3 million square miles of pasture and up to 1.9 million square miles of non-pasture agricultural land be converted into up to 2.7 million square miles for energy crops, which can be used to make biofuels. That would amount to land a little less than the size of Australia.
The brave patriots of the universe should stand up for our brave planet and their efforts will not go unrecognized. The future generations will be happy to learn about the people who stood up for the planet.
This piece wouldn’t do me justice if I end without recognizing the work that Scott is doing with Carroll Property Services in promoting sustainability. The world needs this kind of businesses in order for sustainability to be achievable.
I am happy to tell the world through this piece of a blog that I will stand for this beautiful planet and I am fully committed to the realization of Climate Sustainability.
Kelvin Mutwiri, the writer of this article hails from Nairobi, Kenya and he hopes to safeguard the future of tomorrows generations through promoting sustainability. When not promoting climate sustainability, Kelvin can be found traversing the world of computer programming and cheering his favourite football team, Manchester United.
