CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTALLY DEMEANING IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING IN WEST AFRICA

A tour across the Trans-West African Route will educate any Environmentally Conscious Mind on the Sparkling Evidence of Negligence of Environmental Protection. This Societal Attitude have, through the years Developed Grave Impacts across the Sub-Continent. This Article attempts to point to these Environmentally Destructive Impacts of Global Warming in West Africa, and also trace to the root causes of these Defective Impacts. This Article will highlight current Impacts of Global Warming on the Climate of West Africa and also the even more Devastating Effects of the People’s Indifference to the Subject.

CLIMATE CHANGE IN WEST AFRICA

For doubters of Global Warming and those that find the Term Foreign, drawing practical instances from Real-Life and Real-Time Impacts is the perfect Education on Global Warming. Millennials, Generation X and Baby Boomers across the Sub-Continent of West Africa will attest to the strikingly spontaneous progression of the Weather from a familiar experience/expectation, to a totally edged containment. Brisked or Longer lasting Harmattan Seasons, Hotter Dry Seasons and Seasonal Inconstance have become the new characteristics of the West African Climate.

This striking Climatic Change cannot be unconnected with the growing activities of man. Due to the Poorly Managed Economy of the Region, which had resulted in the Government settling for whatever Industrial Investment there could be, without paying due attention to the Environmentally Demeaning Effects of the activities of these industries.

Indiscriminate Combustion of Industrial Waste.

Illegal Mining and Refining of Petroleum/Mineral Products.

Uncontrolled Combustion of Wood for Charcoal, Illegal Establishment of Heavy Carbon Dioxide Emitting Industries.

Unchecked Use of Fossil Combustors.

And a host of other activities are responsible for the current change in the Climatic Character across West Africa. About Three Decades ago, it was easy to foretell the Season’s Timing, but that have changed now. The seasons have become more unpredictable and intense, with Extreme Heat, Drought, Flooding and Longer Lasting Dryness rocking the various Countries of the region and rendering devastating impacts on the ecosystem. And yet these have gone on unchecked for decades.

IMPACTS OF ILLITERACY ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING IN WEST AFRICA

The devastating Impacts of Global Warming on the Environment, unarguably is nothing compared to the even Worse Effects of it’s Benightedness. Environmental Ignorance have cost the Society even worse than Global Warming itself. Burning of both Industrial and Domestic Wastes, Preference of Non Renewable Sources of Energy, CO2 Emissions from Illegal Petrochemical Industries and a lot of unchecked activities carried out by unscrupulous Individuals in their quest for self satisfaction are all driving the Sub-Continent to the edge.

SUFFOCATION FROM CARBON DIOXIDE POISONING

Suffocation from Carbon Dioxide poisoning is a trending cause of mass deaths across the West African region. This is not only due to Ignorance of the Dangers of these fossil gases on the ecosystem, carelessness and illiteracy have resulted in thousands of recorded deaths from CO2 poisoning. The victims of these catastrophes goes beyond the average income earners, to even High Income earners who had had to make the mistake of keeping their Power Generator sets close to breath.

SOOTS FROM ILLEGAL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANIES

This is a common occurrence in almost every Oil and Gas Producing regions of West Africa. In Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria for instance, waking up to a soot filled atmosphere is almost customary. Despite several actions being put in place by the State Government to curtail this societal pandemic, the perpetrators of this vice have always found a way to maneuver the hands of the law. The damning impact of this in daily life and health of the immediate environment cannot be overemphasized.

POLLUTION FROM FAULTY CAR EXHAUSTS

In the USA, transportation accounts for 22% of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the atmosphere, now imagine what the future holds for West Africa? With an ever buzzing transportation network that cut across the region. The unchecked activities of road users and the condition of their vehicles have through the decades, contributed immensely to Global Warming.

CONCLUSION

The Government of the entire West African States must come together and device a means to tackle this societal menace. In the face of increasing awareness on the Dangers of Global Warming, integrating Environmental Protection Studies into the mainstream Educational Curriculum is a good start. Also radical Rural Sensitization Campaigns should also be carried out to enlighten the lower classes on the dangers of Global Warming. Though the Governments have taken strides to tackling this issue, the strides are mere conferences that is yet to be practically applied.

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