The latest data from Copernicus reveals that January 2025 was the warmest January globally, with an average surface air temperature of 13.23°C, 0.79°C above the 1991-2020 average. This milestone marks the 18th month in the last 19 months where global temperatures have exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The unprecedented heat is part of a larger trend, with the last 12 months — February 2024 – January 2025 — averaging 0.73°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.61°C above pre-industrial levels. Europe experienced its second-warmest January on record, with temperatures soaring 2.51°C above average.
The extreme warmth was not limited to Europe, with above-average temperatures recorded in northeast Canada, Alaska, Siberia, southern South America, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. In contrast, the United States, eastern Russia, the Arabian Peninsula, and mainland Southeast Asia experienced below-average temperatures.
According to Samantha Burgess, the strategic lead for Climate at European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) the trends continues from the last two years.
“January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures. Copernicus will continue to closely monitor ocean temperatures and their influence on our evolving climate throughout 2025,” Burgess said.
Nigeria isn’t immune
Closer to home, Nigeria has not been immune to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns have led to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts. The country’s agricultural sector, which employs millions of people, is particularly vulnerable to these changes.
In recent years, Nigeria has experienced several devastating floods, including the 2022 floods that displaced thousands of people and destroyed crops worth billions of naira. The country’s climate is projected to become even hotter and more unpredictable in the coming decades, posing significant challenges to its economy, infrastructure, and human well-being.
As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, these record-breaking temperatures serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming. Nigeria, like many other countries, must prioritize climate resilience and adaptation efforts to protect its people and economy from the increasingly severe consequences of climate change.
As we step into 2025, there’s no better time to adopt simple habits that can make a big difference for our planet. Protecting the environment doesn’t have to be overwhelming; small, consistent actions can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier Earth. Let’s check out some practical ways to live more sustainably next year.
Save Energy, Save the Planet
Use LED light bulbs, they last longer and use less power
Reducing energy use is one of the easiest ways to reduce carbon footprint. Start by:
Turning down the cooling when it’s not needed.
Switching to LED light bulbs that last longer and use less power.
Washing clothes in cold water and hanging them to dry.
Investing in energy-efficient appliances.
For a bigger impact, consider improving your home’s ventilation and choosing renewable energy sources. Every watt saved helps the planet breathe a little easier.
Use Water Wisely
Water is precious
Water is precious, so let’s use it wisely:
Fix leaks promptly.
Take shorter showers.
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
These simple steps not only save water but also reduce the energy used to pump and heat it.
Waste Less Food
Plan meals ahead of time
Food waste isn’t just bad for your wallet; it’s bad for the environment too. You can reduce food waste by:
Planning meals ahead of time.
Freezing leftovers or excess food.
Sharing extra portions with friends.
Cutting down on meat consumption, especially beef, and choosing sustainably sourced seafood can also make a huge difference.
Travel Smarter
Use public transportation
Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. You can travel efficiently by:
Using public transportation, biking, or walking.
Choosing environmentally friendly vehicles if you drive.
Every step or pedal helps reduce pollution and keeps our air cleaner.
Consume Less, Reuse More
Recycle and reuse
Before you buy, ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” Reducing consumption is key:
Recycle and reuse whenever possible.
Avoid single-use plastics.
Repair items instead of replacing them.
Skip fast fashion and invest in quality, sustainable products.
Local Inspiration: Lessons from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation
At the 2024 Annual Green Ball, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) highlighted the importance of partnerships in tackling environmental challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and desertification. Their Director-General, Dr. Joseph Onoja, emphasized the need for integrated solutions to ensure we solve one problem without creating another. For example, renewable energy projects should avoid damaging biodiverse areas.
The NCF’s work is a shining example of what’s possible. From planting over 20,000 mangrove seedlings to restoring wetlands and protecting biodiversity, their efforts inspire us to take action. Mangroves, for instance, act as natural sponges that prevent flooding and maintain ecological balance. Imagine what could be achieved if more individuals and organizations joined forces like this!
Justice R.I.B Adebiyi, Chairperson of NCF’s National Executive Council, encourages us all to embrace eco-friendly habits. Whether it’s eating less meat, sorting waste, or planting trees, every small effort adds up.
Let’s Make 2025 Greener Together
The beauty of these habits is their simplicity. By conserving energy and water, wasting less, travelling smarter, and consuming less, you’re contributing to a better world. And when we draw inspiration from organizations like the NCF, we see how collective action can amplify these efforts.
Let’s make 2025 a year of change, one small step at a time. Together, we can create a greener, healthier future for generations to come.
Nigeria is home to a rich diversity of wildlife and natural resources but faces environmental challenges, from habitat loss to climate change. Addressing these issues requires the effort of government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and individuals. This article highlights the key government bodies involved in wildlife conservation and how you can contribute to animal welfare by adopting pets rather than buying them.
Government Bodies Leading Wildlife Conservation
Federal Ministry of Environment: The Federal Ministry of Environment, established in 1999, is Nigeria’s primary institution for addressing environmental issues. It oversees policies to preserve natural resources and mitigate environmental threats such as deforestation, desertification, and pollution. The Ministry plays an important role in implementing strategies like the National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP), which focuses on protecting endangered species and their habitats. The Ministry is currently led by Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal and Minister of State Iziaq Adekunle Salako, appointed in 2023.
National Park Service (NPS): The National Park Service was established in 1991 to manage Nigeria’s national parks and reserves. These parks, such as Cross River National Park and Gashaka Gumti National Park, serve as habitats for wildlife while promoting ecotourism. The NPS enforces conservation laws, works to prevent poaching, and promotes community engagement in protecting biodiversity.
Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF): Founded in 1980, the NCF is a non-governmental organization working to protect Nigeria’s natural heritage. It collaborates with the government on various conservation projects, focusing on research, education, and community involvement. With leadership from Chairman Chief Ede Dafinone and Director-General Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, the NCF promotes environmental tourism to increase awareness about Nigeria’s wildlife and resources.
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA): Established in 2007, NESREA is responsible for enforcing environmental laws and ensuring compliance with regulations designed to protect wildlife and natural habitats. The agency conducts inspections, monitors industrial activities, and enforces penalties for violations. NESREA’s work is crucial in curbing human activities that harm the environment, such as illegal logging and pollution.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Operating in Nigeria as part of a global initiative, the WCS employs science-based strategies to safeguard wildlife. The organization focuses on anti-poaching efforts and habitat preservation, particularly for endangered species like elephants and gorillas. Through partnerships with local communities, WCS aims to balance conservation goals with sustainable livelihoods.
Why Pet Adoption Matters
In addition to wildlife conservation, promoting a culture of compassion for domesticated animals is equally important. Adopting pets rather than purchasing them can significantly impact animal welfare in Nigeria.
Compassionate Choice: By adopting, you provide a home to animals in need, reducing the number of homeless pets and promoting a culture of care and empathy.
Cost-Effective: Adoption fees are lower than the cost of buying a pet. In many cases, adopted animals are already vaccinated, spayed, or neutered, saving additional costs.
Where to Adopt Pets in Nigeria
Saint Mark’s Animal Hospital and Shelter (Lagos): Located in Ajah, Lagos, this shelter provides adoption services for dogs, cats, and other pets. They also offer veterinary care and advocate for responsible pet ownership. Website: Saint Mark’s Animal Shelter.
Animal Rescue Centre: With multiple locations across Nigeria, this organization focuses on rescuing abandoned or abused animals and finding them loving homes. It also encourages community involvement in animal welfare activities. Some of them include: Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation, Dogman Pet World and Nigeria Animal Rescue.
Local Animal Shelters: Across Nigeria, many local shelters and rescue groups dedicate their efforts to saving animals. Checking with shelters in your area can help you find a pet in need.
Your Role in Conservation and Animal Welfare
Wildlife conservation and animal welfare depend on the active participation of all Nigerians. By supporting government initiatives and organizations like the NCF and WCS, you can contribute to protecting Nigeria’s rich biodiversity. At the same time, adopting pets from shelters rather than buying them supports a more humane approach to animal care.
Small steps, such as volunteering at shelters, spreading awareness about conservation, and reducing your environmental footprint, can collectively make a big difference. Together, we can be certain of a future where Nigeria’s wildlife and domesticated animals thrive, creating a harmonious coexistence between people and nature.
Wildlife behaviour refers to how animals in a particular habitat or ecosystem interact with each other and their environment, including humans. Observing these behaviours helps us understand how animals live, respond to different factors, and adapt to changes, such as the increasing presence of humans.
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) occurs when animals’ natural behaviours, particularly those related to searching for food and shelter, interfere with human activities.
Key Factors in Wildlife Behavior
The behaviour of animals in a given environment is often driven by instincts or learned responses to internal and external stimuli. For example, the female hippopotamus that charged at and killed Late Malam Usman Maigadi in Yauri, Kebbi, early last Sunday, acted instinctively to protect her young. These behaviours are primarily survival mechanisms.
Conduct plays a significant role, particularly in animals with complex social systems. For instance, primates show an understanding of social structures, communication, and altruism—behaviours done for the benefit of others in their group or species. These actions often indicate an animal’s mental state rather than just its need for food, shelter, or other necessities. Stress or fear due to habitat disturbance can result in unusual behaviours, highlighting the need for conservation.
Understanding these dynamics helps us predict how animals may behave, especially when their natural habitats are disrupted by human activity. This knowledge can lead to better strategies for coexisting with wildlife.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Causes and Consequences
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when humans and wildlife come into direct contact, often as a result of humans interacting with natural resources that animals depend on. Some key factors contributing to this conflict include competition for food, water, and other resources, as well as changes in land use—like converting agricultural areas for human expansion—which bring humans and wildlife into closer proximity.
This conflict has serious consequences, not only for humans but also for animals and other living organisms. Losses for humans include crop damage, livestock losses, and, in extreme cases involving large animals like elephants or predators such as leopards and hyenas, human lives can be at risk. Wildlife, on the other hand, are often hunted or displaced, leading to reduced populations, and in some cases, species face the threat of extinction.
Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict
Before developing an effective mitigation strategy, certain key elements must be agreed upon, such as the awareness and nature of the conflict. Effective strategies may include both lethal and non-lethal methods, like community policing. Some key approaches include:
Habitat Preservation: Creating designated areas where animals can find food and water without human interference.
Physical Barriers and Deterrents: Using methods like electric fences or noise deterrents to prevent animals from destroying crops and livestock.
Translocation: Moving certain animals away from human settlements, though this should be done cautiously to avoid disrupting natural ecosystems.
Community Education and Involvement: Engaging and educating locals on how to coexist with wildlife can enhance conservation efforts.
It’s important to remember that human-wildlife conflict is not just a conservation issue; it’s also a matter of development and livelihoods. Addressing these challenges is essential for long-term solutions.
For further insights on Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) strategies, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other reputable conservation organizations offer in-depth resources. Discover more through the following links:
One of the core issues of humanity as we move deeper into the 21st century: is the increasing human population and the need to protect the environment. The world population has surpassed 8 billion and continues to grow at an alarming rate. It is projected to reach 9 billion, and this growth leads to higher demand for resources, space, and infrastructure, putting immense pressure on wildlife and natural habitats. Understanding population growth and finding ways to manage it, along with its impact on conservation, is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of both humans and the diverse species that share our planet.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
One effect of population increase is habitat decline. As cities grow and farmland expands to feed more people, natural environments are depleted. Vast areas of forests, wetlands, and grasslands are converted into urban zones, roads, and farmland. This results in habitat fragmentation, where space is divided into smaller, isolated patches. Fragmentation weakens species’ ability to disperse, mate, and access resources, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
For instance, the Amazon rainforest, often called the “lungs of the earth,” loses nearly one-fourth of its forest cover to agriculture and timber cutting. This not only risks the existence of millions of plant and animal species but also affects global carbon cycling, contributing to climate change.
Overexploitation of Resources
A growing population demands more resources such as water, timber, and minerals. Overexploitation refers to the situation where these resources are used in a way that leads to their depletion and environmental pollution. For example, overfishing has reduced the biological integrity of marine ecosystems, as many fish species have failed to regain their original numbers due to overexploitation.
The common use of firewood and other forest-related products can sometimes have damaging effects on these resources, particularly in the developing world, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of other ecosystem functions. Such activities also impact communities that depend on these wildlife-related resources for food and income.
Pollution and Climate Change
An increase in population not only leads to increased waste and pollution but also affects various sectors. Production processes, mobility, and farming are some of the areas through which emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere, water, and land are observed. Water pollution, for instance, affects aquatic life, from minute plankton to mighty whales.
Population increase is one of the main causes of climate change. Exacerbated energy utilization and changes in land use contribute to high emissions of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming. Global warming intensifies risks that directly impact endangered species, such as deforestation, and causes unprecedented issues like fluctuating climatic conditions and the gradual emergence of floods.
Conservation Strategies in a Growing World
Despite these challenges, there are strategies and actions that can help mitigate the impact of population growth on conservation efforts:
Sustainable Development: There is a need for change in how land is used, emphasizing sustainable practices that protect the environment while meeting society’s needs. This includes initiatives such as sustainable farming, responsible use of forest resources, and designing cities with provisions for fresh air corridors and wildlife habitats.
Protected Areas: The creation and proper stewardship of protected areas can help preserve fragile ecosystems and other living species. Forming complex groupings of protected areas with ecological bridges can also reduce the impact of fragmentation.
Community Involvement: Involving local people in conservation work is important to understand their needs and perspectives. Community-level conservation projects have been documented to yield positive results in various regions worldwide, as individuals are placed at the centre of natural resource conservation efforts. Learn more
Education and Awareness: Research and education are crucial, as people need to learn about the increasing necessity for conservation and the effects of population growth. Education programs can instil a sense of responsibility and promote pro-ecological behaviour.
Policy and Legislation: Governments need to develop effective environmental policies and enforce measures concerning the use of resources. International cooperation is also important in addressing environmental issues such as climate change.
The question of population growth and its effect on conservation can be viewed from different angles. Understanding the mutual interdependence of population factors and the environmental situation can help prescribe balanced development programs that will protect the planet’s unique biota. We should always remember that the world we live in belongs to both the present generation and future generations. Therefore, it is our moral obligation to protect the world for them and for all living species. If people with knowledge and understanding join hands, then progressive human growth and the preservation of the natural world are possible solutions to these challenges.
Forests are a very sensitive part of our world and undoubtedly occupy one of the most important positions in the global ecosystem. They have a complex link to our welfare and that of the Earth, as they play a crucial role in climate change, supply oxygen, and house diverse life forms. Below are ten major forest areas in the world, ranging from the South American Amazon to the Japanese Yakushima forest. Many of these forests are not just large expanses of trees but also essential habitats that should be preserved and honoured.
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, spread across nine countries and containing more than 390 billion trees. It covers an area of about 6 million square kilometres, making up about 60% of the world’s tropical rainforests. This forest is crucial because it hosts extremely diverse flora and fauna and stores large amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate the impact of climate change. Additionally, the Amazon supports the income and livelihoods of thirty million people, including three hundred and fifty different ethnic groups.
The Congo Basin is the second largest rainforest in the world, stretching over 3.4 million square kilometres in Central Africa. This resource is crucial for supplying water for irrigation and producing electricity in the area. It is one of the most biodiverse places in the world, supporting numerous endangered species that live within the forest. Additionally, the forest contributes to carbon sequestration (a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form), helping to mitigate global climate change.
Covering parts of both Chile and Argentina, the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest stands out for its varied terrain and some of the oldest trees on the planet. This exceptional forest is home to a vast array of evergreen angiosperms and conifers, as well as a rich undergrowth of bamboo and ferns. It holds significant ecological value due to the diverse indigenous species found in this area.
The Taiga, also known as the Boreal Forest, is the world’s largest biome, occupying vast territories in Russia, Canada, and other northern countries. It is made up of extensive tracts of coniferous vegetation, including pines, spruces, and larches. The Taiga is crucial for carbon sequestration and oxygen generation, and it contains diverse species that have adapted to the extreme weather conditions.
The Tongass National Forest, situated in Alaska, is the largest forest in the United States, spreading across 16.7 million acres. This temperate rainforest boasts stunning and unique geographical features, including glaciers, as well as diverse flora and fauna. It offers protection to many species of plants and animals, including endangered and rare species, thereby confirming its vital role in conservation.
The Daintree in Australia is one of the most beautiful places to behold. It occupies an area of approximately 1,200 square kilometres and has peculiar flora and fauna; in fact, some of the species are unique to this region. This World Heritage site, located in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, is a rainforest that conserves a historical record of biodiversity.
The Great Bear Rainforest, stretching through Canada, covers approximately 6 million acres (around 4 million hectares) and is part of one of the largest coastal temperate rainforests on Earth. It is known for its diverse species, various bio-habitats, and unique animals, such as the Spirit Bear. In 2016, 85% of this forest was designated for protection from industrial logging, highlighting its environmental significance.
The Black Forest in Germany is a very famous mountainous forest region characterised by a thick blanket of evergreen trees and charming villages. Measuring approximately 6,009 square kilometres, it attracts tourists with its natural beauty, trails, and local culture. It is important to note that the forest influences the local climate and plays a role in maintaining the water cycle.
Straddling the border between Poland and Belarus, Białowieża Forest is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the primaeval forest (earliest forest) that once covered much of Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to more than 800 European bison, Europe’s heaviest land animal. This forest is a vital reservoir of biodiversity, rich in species and ecological processes.
Yakushima Forest is situated in Japan. In this forest, there are cedar trees that are over 1,000 years old. UNESCO has designated about 504 square kilometres of this area as a cultural world heritage site. The forest, spanning 88 square kilometres, is endowed with diverse vegetation and wildlife. Forests are one of the most significant components of the Japanese landscape, making distinctive contributions to local species protection.
These are more than just groups of trees; they are gigantic tracts of forests that continue to offer formidable benefits to our planet. These species are important in the process of carbon storage, through which climate change is combated via the removal of excess carbon from the air. In addition, the forests moderate water regimes, control erosion, and are home to an immense richness of species, some of which are unique.
Forests are also crucial to the welfare of humans. They supply products like timber, medicine, and food, and provide opportunities for recreation, leisure, and the promotion of culture. The world’s Indigenous Peoples rely on forests for food, shelter, medicine, and the conduct of their cultural activities.
Nonetheless, forests are on the verge of being destroyed by factors such as deforestation, climate change, and human activities. Conserving these important ecosystems is crucial for the welfare of our world. Protection, sustainable utilization, and international collaboration are vital to ensure that these forests remain healthy to support life forms in the future.
Globally, the largest forests are essential resources that require human honour and protection. They are not only aesthetically fascinating structures but also the critical machinery of the Earth’s life support system. Thus, ensuring the protection of these forests is the best way to secure a better tomorrow for us and all of humanity.
On Sunday, January 21, 2024 word came out that Lagos State, the economic capital of Nigeria has banned styrofoam and single use platic materials.
Tokunbo Wahab, the state’s commissioner for environment and water resources recounted the menace caused by single use plastics in the state. Because they were non-biodegradable, the plastics clogged sewage channels and waterways, causing flash flood when it rained and costing billions of naira in cleaning up and damages.
There have been outcries from food vendors and others about the issues that will come from the ban, but the upside is still more attractive than the downside.
Banning single-use plastics and styrofoam containers offers multitudes of advantages, spanning environmental, health, and economic benefits. Here are some of the key highlights:
Environmental Advantages:
Reduced Waste: Single-use plastics and styrofoam contribute significantly to global plastic pollution. Banning them drastically curbs the amount of waste accumulating in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems, protecting wildlife and natural habitats.
Minimized Microplastics: These tiny plastic fragments, often resulting from breakdown or improper disposal, pose a major threat to marine life and potentially human health. Bans help prevent their formation and entry into the food chain.
Reduced Carbon Footprint: Plastic production and disposal involves high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Banning these materials translates to decreased reliance on fossil fuels and a smaller carbon footprint.
Enhanced Recycling: By eliminating single-use options, focus shifts towards reusable and recyclable materials, leading to more efficient waste management and resource utilization.
Health Advantages:
Improved Public Health: Styrofoam can leach harmful chemicals like styrene and benzene when heated or exposed to certain foods. Banning its use reduces risks of these chemicals migrating into food and potentially impacting human health.
Protected Marine Life: Sea turtles, birds, and other marine animals often mistake plastic debris for food, leading to choking, intestinal blockages, and even death. Reducing plastic pollution saves wildlife from these detrimental effects. Cleaner Water Sources: Microplastics and plastic pollution contaminate our water sources, posing potential health risks to humans and ecosystems. Banning single-use plastics helps mitigate this contamination and safeguard water quality.
Economic Advantages:
Job Creation: Transitioning to reusable and compostable alternatives can create new jobs in manufacturing, distribution, and repair of sustainable products. This fosters economic diversification and green business opportunities. Reduced Cleanup Costs: Plastic pollution cleanup presents enormous financial burdens to governments and communities. Banning single-use plastics minimizes these costs and redirects resources towards more productive endeavors.
Tourism Revenue: Pristine beaches and healthy ecosystems attract tourists, boosting local economies reliant on tourism. Banning plastic pollution enhances environmental appeal and potentially increases tourism revenue.
Banning single-use plastics and styrofoam containers is not without its challenges, but the numerous advantages in terms of environmental, health, and economic benefits make it a compelling long-term strategy for building a more sustainable and healthy future.
The acceleration of climate change is increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and the spread of Disease X, which represents a hypothetical unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic, according to a new report from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).
The Coalition is a foundation that takes donations from public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations to finance independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.
Outbreaks of deadly priority pathogens such as Lassa fever, Nipah virus, and Rift Valley Fever are becoming larger, more frequent, and more widely distributed as a result of climate change.
Several studies have shown that health systems are not prepared for the dual burden of climate change and escalating pandemic risk.
Climate change is also causing Lassa fever to extend its deadly reach far beyond its Nigerian and West African origins, according to scientists at the University of Brussels in Belgium and Scripps Research in the United States, who warned in a study published in September 2022.
By 2070, the number of countries across the whole of Africa that will develop the ecological conditions suitable for the Lassa virus spread could drastically increase, potentially exposing hundreds of millions more people to the disease.
The WHO adopted the placeholder name Disease X in February 2018 to ensure that their planning was sufficiently flexible to adapt to an unknown pathogen (for example, producing broader vaccines, and manufacturing facilities).
Director of the United States (U.S.) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci said the concept of Disease X would encourage WHO projects to focus their research efforts on entire classes of viruses, instead of just individual strains, thus improving the WHO’s capability to respond to unforeseen strains.
Experts, including some of the WHO’s expert advisors, speculated that COVID-19, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus strain, met the requirements to be the first Disease X.
The report argues that investing now in boosting global disease surveillance and early warning systems, as outlined in the 100 Days Mission, and in scientific research to prepare for known and for now unknown epidemic diseases, will mean that, just like with climate change, humans can begin to cap the rising risks, turn the tide of threats, and eventually neutralize their pandemic potential.
Although humans have the scientific knowledge and technical capability to contain outbreaks before they run out of control, health systems are not fully prepared for the dual burden of climate change and escalating pandemic risk.
The changing climate is expanding the range of disease-carrying animals, fuelling spillover events, and accelerating the emergence of Disease X. The risk of the emergence of a new Disease X is increasing because of the rapidity of change in living conditions for humans and other life forms.
Environmental change is happening at a much higher speed now than before, which increases the likelihood that there will be (spillover of) pathogens and microbes to which humans are not adapted. Lack of immunity can cause these things to spread quickly to the whole human population.
Despite these challenges, the report highlights that there is still reason for hope, as humanity has the scientific knowledge and technical capability to contain such outbreaks before they run out of control.
Inemesit Edem Eniang is an environment champion who hails from Mbak Atai, Itam in the Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
He was born into the family of Professor Edem A. Eniang some 19 years ago. He currently studies at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State where he studies Forestry and Environmental Management and also volunteers at the Biodiversity Preservation Center (BPC), Uyo, Nigeria.
Aganais Speciosa; photo taken by Inemesit at the BPC
He is one of the founding staff of Dangerous Animals Controllers International Limited (DACIL)
At the BPC, Eniang grows and nurtures plants and animals while also giving educative tours to visitors who come to get enlightened on the topic of conservation.
His passion for conservation propels him to participate in community and conservation awareness programs arranged by the organization.
“I join the organization in their community and conservation awareness programs in different locations in Nigeria to preach against the indiscriminate killing/poaching of Nigeria’s endangered species,” he said.
His flair for conservation which moved him to decide on his course of study at the university began at the young age of 12 when he accompanied his father on an ecological survey at Ibeno LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He described it as an interesting experience even though he didn’t completely grasp what his father was doing till much later when he was in senior secondary school.
Rainbow Agam Photo credit: Inemesit
Among the many activities organized by the Biodiversity Preservation Center (BPC) is the Ibom Bird Club which Inemesit is a member of. He joined this club to help create awareness about birding, and assist with gathering and submitting data on different species of birds in Nigeria. This data collection was done based on the location at which they were directed to work by the NIBAP officials and directors.
Apart from this, he also collects data on plants and animals for iNaturalist.org.
Egypt’s chief climate negotiator, Amb. Mohamed Nasr, said that there is a failure to deliver and a a probable backsliding from finance pledges made for climate change by developed countries.
This statement was made by Amb. Mohamed during a virtual press conference on the preparations of the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) to be hosted by Egypt in November 2022.
He asserted that the developed countries have regularly failed to meet their promise to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance to developing countries since the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009.
“There is backsliding and non-delivery of pledges” Mohamed said. He is also director of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Department at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He asserted that the parties “enjoy” moving into a process of strategizing, however nothing is taking place on the ground, he added.
He pointed out that future generations will most likely pay the price for the current non-delivery of pledges.
“If you look at the climate finance pledges, they are minimal compared to what is being mobilised for other causes.” he asserted
Egypt which is the host country is hopeful that the present worldwide geopolitical scene will not find its way into the COP27 negotiations.
The 2009 commitment by the developed countries to “jointly mobilise $100 billion annually in climate finance” in support of developing countries by the year 2023 came three years later than was initially planned, the Egyptian official affirmed
