26″ March “2022” :allafrica.com
Earth Hour is the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, mobilising millions of people around the world to demonstrate their concern for nature. Every year in March since 2007, Earth Hour has inspired people to speak out about the climate and environmental issues in their communities.
Deforestation, overfishing, illicit trafficking, extensive agricultural practices, unsustainable infrastructure, rapid urbanization, mining, plastics, and a slew of other factors are accelerating, undermining and degrading nature.
Many countries in Africa are ready to decarbonize their economies, to preserve their delicate ecosystems and to restore their damaged habitats. Science clearly shows that we need to act urgently to better protect nature, both as a safety net for livelihoods and as one of our strongest allies against future pandemics.
Governments must act promptly and together to protect nature and all life on the planet, including our own, as well as to address the major drivers of environmental destruction, which are our unsustainable economic practices, writes Alice Ruhweza who is World Wide Fund for Nature, Africa Region Director.
Agricultural productivity growth in Africa has been reduced by 34% since 1961 due to climate change, more than any other region. To put a halt to it, quick action is essential. More than ever before, we are experiencing a tremendous shift in awareness of the intertwined biodiversity, climate, and health issues that we face.
When biodiversity is destroyed, water supplies are jeopardized and food insecurity rises. When fishing areas, forests and grasslands are polluted or overexploited, livelihoods are put at risk. These damaging practices threaten nature’s ability to continue providing us with food and economic opportunities.
A healthy ecosystem is more equipped to endure climate change. We must do all possible to safeguard the health and resilience of natural systems so that they can continue to provide us with the food and economic benefits that the entire continent depends on. The Seychelles, off the coast of East Africa, depends heavily on its natural resources for tourism. Over 29,000 jobs (63.7% of total jobs) come from the tourism sector, which contributes an estimated $999.9 million to the islands’s GDP.
Nature has always been important to Africans and African people’s growth and well-being. It is the engine for socio-economic development since it provides food, health, water and a variety of other services. In fact, natural resources such as agricultural land, forests, water resources, ecosystems, and ecosystem services are critical to most African economies.
Many countries in Africa are ready to decarbonize their economies, to preserve their delicate ecosystems and to restore their damaged habitats. Science clearly shows that we need to act urgently to better protect nature, both as a safety net for livelihoods and as one of our strongest allies against future pandemics.
There is reason to be optimistic because later this year, world leaders will meet for the second part of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 to decide on a new global action plan for nature, making 2022 a once-in-a-decade opportunity to create a biodiversity framework that will halt and reverse nature loss for future generations. Further, Africa demonstrated collective leadership in supporting the call for a new global treaty on plastics at the just-ended UNEA 5.2 , signifying a massive leap in the right direction.
- Africa: Earth Hour Africa: Why We Must Act Now for Nature and PeopleWWF, 26 MARCH 2022Earth Hour is the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement, mobilizing millions of people around the world to demonstrate their concern for nature. Every year in March… Read more »
