The Earth is getting warmer daily due to climate change, which has raised global temperatures. The accompanying effects are devastating to both the environment and human life, further increasing the urgency of preventing irreversible damage to our planet.
Research shows that the average surface air temperature has risen about 1 degree Celsius since 1900. Over half the increase has come since the mid-1970s, as human activity has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 40% since the start of the 20th century, warming the oceans, and causing sea levels to rise as a result of melting sea ice in the Arctic and in the Northern hemisphere.
Despite the situation seeming dire, there is still hope for our planet as there are solutions in our grasp to slow or even reverse climate change. However, these solutions require collective effort and implementation by individuals, corporations, and governments to achieve optimum results.
Promote Initiatives to Decrease Deforestation
Forests act as banks for Carbon dioxide by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing Oxygen. This carbon is stored in their trunks, roots as well as in the soil below them. When trees are cut down, they release their stored carbon into the environment as CO2. For these reasons, the quest to reduce deforestation was a focus for governments at COP26 and affected every person on Earth.
As a result, it is important for governments, in collaboration with communities, to come up with policies to combat illegal logging, and also promote sustainable logging practices to combat the loss of ecosystems and the distorting of biodiversity.
For instance, the charity Rainforest Connection (RFCx), in partnership with corporations, including Huawei, is creating and deploying remote mobile listening devices to detect illegal logging.
Safeguard Wetlands.
Saturated areas of land such as marshes and swamps, like forests, are extraordinary stores for carbon. However, due to rapid development and infills, the danger to such important ecosystems has increased exponentially. Infill and developments, cause carbon to be released into the environment, further eliminating future carbon storage and can cause widespread fires and devastation.
Commendably, Uganda has intensified its efforts to protect the rapidly vanishing wetlands. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has taken significant actions, including the suspension of new development projects in wetland areas and the enforcement of evictions in regions like the Lubigi Wetland System near Kampala. These evictions have targeted illegal settlements and structures, affecting hundreds of households.
Install Solar
Campaigns have intensified all around the global to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. The advent of the Paris Agreement has incentivized the world to move to green energy as the energy supply sector is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for about 35% of total emissions, according to the IPCC.
Consequently, we can reduce many of the emissions by switching from fossil fuels to solar energy systems. As of 2024, Kenya is a leader in renewable energy, with approximately 87% of its electricity generated from green sources. Kenya’s solar capacity has seen steady growth, with current installations contributing over 100 MW to the grid. This includes projects like the Garissa Solar Plant, which alone provides 55 MW.
Transition to Electric Vehicle
After energy, transport is the next largest cause of greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. A simple way to reduce emissions is by switching from petrol or diesel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. In the UK the transition is already underway, with a ban on the sale of new combustion-engine vehicles coming into force in 2030.
Even though Kenya has introduced new laws to motor vehicle imports such as all imported vehicles must comply with Euro IV/4 emission standards, prohibition of the importation of second-hand vehicles older than eight years from the first year of registration, transition to electric mobility would go a long way in combating the menace of GHG.
While the targets for net zero may still seem a long way off, the initial steps toward that transition need to be taken now.
