By Nneka Nwogwugwu
A former Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Nasarawa State, Ahmed Mohammed Aladi, has lamented how humans are contributing to the destruction of the environment.
Aladi urged African leaders going for COP26 climate summit in Glasgow to raise issues affecting the African environment.
In an opinion made available to NatureNews on Friday, Aladi said, “For the occasion of COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, the new issues and narratives must be on the front burner because if flooding is not washing away lives and livelihoods fires are destroying national economies heritage or wiping away vulnerable communities. We are all gradually becoming vulnerable and victims of reckless actions against the environment.
“That is why this years gathering need not be traditional or business as usual because the conversation and narratives are changing every day and doing the same thing over and expecting different results will be insanely.
“The challenging world economy and the task of survival after the COVID-19 pandemic have made humanity to abandon all reasonable rules and regulations in dealing with the environment. It seems like we have agreed to survive first while the planet will take care of itself.”
He noted that the hike in the cost of cooking gas in Nigeria have made forest destruction a painful option.
“We have neglected the environment and ecosystems including the corals reefs. Unfortunately, humanity is the worst for this. Instead of helping the planet to recover and regenerate we are almost pushing it into irreversibility.
“Let us be aware that an abused planet will end in disaster and become a source of psychological social and economic stress. That is why COP26 need a new fundamentals and approach to save the planet because this is the largest gathering on climate change after the COVID-19 pandemic. Every continent have their own environmental misery and environmental challenges,” he added.
Explaining what could alleviate environment destruction, he said, “the first step towards achieving reduction in planetary destruction is to reignite the world on Paris Agreement.”
Aladi called for strict enforcement of laws that are meant to protect the environment from abuse.
“We call for the participation of emerging economies. We need also to adhere to other regional summits, declarations and platforms for action and adopt them into COP26 conversations.
“Governments at all levels, non governmental organisations, civil society groups and religious bodies should embark on enlightenment campaigns to save the earth from all forms of abuse and degradation.”
