What’s your view about talks on climate? I’ll share mine

You might have heard a lot about climate and the atmosphere and saving the earth lately. Maybe you know what COP26 and co are all about; maybe you don’t or maybe you have some knowledge about them.

The point here; to make you understand why you are hearing about it all over, is that we are at a point where everyone on earth agrees that resources on earth are getting depleted and the earlier we do something about it, the better.

Climate change is changing a lot in our world today. It’s like making your home a hell to live in. Credit: ITU

We are losing a lot and that’s great doom to us. Take a look at how scorchy the sun gets these days. A friend always asks a funny but serious question; “Who go vex the sun?” To wit, he’s asking if perhaps someone has got the sun angry that it’s punishing us with such heat.

Indeed, one could state a case for man getting the sun angry; pollution!

We have over the years been engrossed in doing so much at the expense of nature; the same thing that got us here in the first place. We have continually produced so much gases that contain carbon, the same, as we learnt in school days destroy earth’s ozone layer.

A bit about the ozone layer again; just maybe you’ve forgotten.

The ozone layer, is a thin layer in the atmosphere, specifically in the Earth’s stratosphere whose work is to filter ultraviolet rays that comes from the sun to hit the earth. These ultraviolet rays from the sun are harmful to our skin as they cause cancer and other skin complications. This means that the stronger the ozone layer, or as it stays intact, you and I are protected from radiations that are harmful to our health.

The ozone layer however gets depleted by compounds containing what is called Clouroflourocarbons or CFC’s for short. These compounds have for years been depleting this life-saving layer.

The thing is, the CFC’s now find themselves in a lot of the things we do and get emmitted into the atmosphere, getting the layer further depleted. And sadly, this keeps happening at a high and and fast rate that if we do nothing about it, we are only opening up ourselves to more harm.

At this point, you have a some understanding of what the ozone layer is, and what all the talks about climate is about. It could also be of concern to you, it could be of no concern at all.

But this is why I am concerned and think you also should be. The climate actions you hear people calling for, is not about us. It isn’t about today or the shortest possible time you can think of. It is about the future. It is about our children and their children’s descendants.

It is about preserving something for those who come after us like was done by others who came before us. We need make this world a safe place for the future; a safe and better one than what we have now.

Think about it this way; how will people who come centuries after us judge our stewardship of this earth. Are they going to say we did well or they’ll say we were simply SELFISH!

Taking the right step is not about you only. It is about a future you’ll be an ancestor in. But those descendants far away need you to think about them and make wise provisions they can look up to, and do more for those after them.

Things You Shouldn’t Worry About Anymore

Let’s be frank, there are some perceptions we carry in our society that makes it hard for things to be done. Take for instance, a ‘big man/woman’ in your community committing to riding a bicycle to and from work every day. Guess what people will be saying? Yours is as good as mine.
How about consistently using a water bottle or committing to using a particular container or canteen for your food all the time? These are things that are quite hard for people to do these days, to be honest.

Bicycles made from Bamboo. Credit: World Economic Forum

Today I want you to get back to them or start picking up those habits because guess what; you will be contributing immensely to saving our world, at a time when we are all talking about climate change and making this place a safe one for our children, their children and their children’s children.

Dedicating to using water bottles means you are reducing the amount of plastics that could potentially end up in the wrong place every day. It is same for using biodegradable containers for your food. Take a cursory look at the number of plastics you are given when you purchase your favorite Waakye or beans and Gari. Many end up in the wrong place and continue to make our world an unsafe place to be.

How about committing to use a bicycle for your “rounds”? You are contributing immensely to reducing the amount of carbon that enters the earth’s atmosphere every day. This saves the planet a whooping lot! In addition to that, you are exercising and don’t have to bother about traffic. There are many ways to make our lives safe and easy, and taking the right steps along these lines every day contributes to that.

So hey! Doing these things has nothing to do with a certain perceived status or attitude after all. It turns out , rather, you get to become a super hero. You are saving the planet! That’s something to be proud about. So from here, start thinking about the things you can do to help you contribute in your own to saving our environment.

Some good Waakye with all the compliments I love in Ahaban (leaves) won’t be bad at all! Enjoy living healthy whiles saving the environment.

Taking an action to save earth starts now. CLIMATE ACTION NOW!!