On a couple of days in December, 2020 and January, 2021 respectively something which is unusual but fast becoming expected happened in my locality. We experienced rainfall on those days. It is unusual because we were ordinarily supposed to be at the middle of the cold dry season which is called harmattan. The period is characterised by cold dry winds. In some places the cold is so severe that it almost seems like winter although without snowfall or snow storms.
I am quite sure those who are in charge of the curriculum for science in our elementary schools would be thinking of a review to reflect the current realities. The reason being that back in my elementary school days decades ago, we were taught that the cold dry season lasts for about six months from October to April. This held true for quite some time.
However, for the last couple of years the duration of the cold dry season had been irregular without a clear trend or pattern. Anything can indeed happen these days with regards to the weather or seasons.
This irregularity in weather phenomena is not limited to my locality. Other places across the globe have had their own fair share or manifestation of the effects of climate change occasioned by pollution of the atmosphere. The manifestation ranges from freak weather occurrences such as severe floods and typhoons to drought and rapid desertification in some regions. The culprit responsible for this situation is none other than mankind.
The photographs below from across the globe before and during the lockdown due to Covid-19 help to illustrate how anthropogenic emissions contribute to environmental pollution and ultimately climate change.
Our planet is indeed warming up but sadly a vast majority of the human populace is yet to grasp the consequences of the impending danger. The nations of the world who are the major culprits in terms of green house gas emissions need to take more proactive and aggressive steps to cut down on their level of emissions for the sake of not just their citizens but the entire planet. For now at least despite all the years of space exploration , Earth is the only planet we can call home. We cannot afford to allow it become uninhabitable either by our actions or inactions.
Mother nature's systems such as the forest trees which could help mop up some of the Carbon emissions in the atmosphere have not been spared and are being depleted and destroyed in our quest for urbanization and development. The efforts to plant more trees to ameliorate this situation seems like doing too little too late. We are simply not planting trees as fast as we are cutting them down. But should we stop planting more trees? Absolutely Not.
Mankind needs to realise that nature will always find a way to restore balance or equilibrium. The emissions from our activities may be likened to pelting mother nature with dangerous projectiles. It is only a matter of when and not if mother nature will fight back on a massive scale to restore the natural order of things that mankind has decided to blatantly disrupt despite the clear warning signs. The consequences of this push back may indeed be catastrophic as can be seen in the massive flooding and destructive forest fires which have occured in some parts of the globe.
You may be tempted to ask if the 'big' players on the world stage don't seem to care enough about the planet , Is there anything I the little guy can then do?. Indeed there is. Adopt the 3R's approach.
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
This seemingly minute approach may appear insignificant considering the magnitude of the climate change palaver but in actual sense it can have a huge impact with mass adoption as there will be marked reduction in emissions due to energy savings via this approach. We just have to win the fight against climate change even if it is a little reduction per individual at a time.
Failure is not an option in this quest to save the planet.
Shukran
Danke
Merci
Gracias
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Спасибо
for reading.
Nice article