We must care for environment or perish

By NJERI MUATHE
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A picture of Ndakaine Dam. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

Characteristic of January is the hot weather, which results in low levels of water in the reservoirs and often water, and electricity, rationing.

Pastoralist communities get into conflict over water and pasture for their animals. We may experience crop failure. This is a cycle that happens year in year out.

We are feeling the effects of climate change. Yet conversations about the environment often come across as dull. But we must remain conscious that the environment is very important to us and that our lives depend on it.

POLLUTION

Five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals focus on the environment. SDG 6 is on clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 affordable and clean energy, SDG 13 climate action, SDG 14 life below water and SDG 15 life on land. SDG 2, on zero hunger, has a direct connection to the environment.

Every year, about 6.5 million people die from air pollution and 80 per cent of the world’s waste water enters the environment without proper treatment. If we do not take action, our oceans will have more plastic than fish by 2050.

Globally, calls for care of the environment to mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming have been loud and we must pay attention to them.

Last month, the 3rd United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which focused on prevention of pollution, was held in Nairobi and the 6th International Conference on Climate Change Adaptation took place in September in Canada.

The UN organises Climate Change Conferences every year.
GLOBAL
Pope Francis, in his 2015 Encyclical on the environment, titled Laudato Si, says: “Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: Environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods.” Calling the earth “our common home”, he urges us to take care of it.

The environment affects all aspects of our lives and our very being. Land and soil, air, marine and water continue to be needlessly polluted, causing untold destruction.

Our environment is largely very filthy with a lot of litter thrown all over. Taking a walk through Nairobi’s city centre, sadly, you come across trash strewn in all directions.

I must emphasise that, on matters environment, the buck stops with the Ministry of Environment for policy formulation and guidance. It is also the responsibility of the county governments to clean up and collect waste.

But I emphasise that each one of us has a personal responsibility to take care of our environment.

SWEET WRAPPER

But who is throwing waste all over? Isn’t it you and I? What if we carried that empty water bottle, that yoghurt can, that sweet wrapper to the nearest dustbin? What if that hawker collected all the trash that comes with the items they are selling? What if that car occupant didn’t throw their banana peel out of the window?

When was the last time you planted a tree? How about making tree planting part of events such as birthday parties, product launches and anniversaries?

The government very wisely banned the use of polythene in August last year. In addition, the government is constructing dams in various counties. But we need water to fill the dams.

We could commemorate the World Environment Day by planting trees in their millions. It should be a day that we get out and plant trees, so that we have rain water to fill the dams to bring to an end the drought cycles and enjoy food security.

I call on each one of us to make a conscious decision to take personal responsibility in taking care of our environment. Sadly, if we destroy our country, we have nowhere to run to.

Ms Muathe is a communications consultant. njerimuathe@gmail.com. Twitter: @wamuathe
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