Celebrating World Environment Day: 7 Pathways to Green Lifestyle

The side effects of climate change are particularly evident in the bipolar nature of our weather and seasons today. The rainy season stretches beyond its alloted time. The dry season extends into unnerving territories. The heatwaves also have become exhausting and irritating. The harmattan season creeps up whenever it chooses.

It’s even worse in the Western world as summertime sometimes feels like autumn with cold winds, only to present heatwaves the following days, then dropping deluge of rain the next day. Sometimes people have to carry umbrellas, sweaters and cooling fans in their bags when going out. The weather could be summer, winter and spring in one day!

Have you not heard that ice glaciers are fast melting in the Arctic region? Polar bears will soon be stranded!

Our oceans and rivers too are thinning with depleted fish life and optimum marine resources. Certain fishes and other marine products are going out of extinction.

Our usual refrain may be to blame government or private sector for the pillage of these natural endowments of nature. Personalities like Sir David Attenborough who recently turned 100 years and King Charles the Third of the United Kingdom have consistently espoused the tenets of green living to combat the ravages of climate change from 1900. But did we listen?

So as we celebrate World Environment Day this week, it is imperative that all hands must be on deck to reverse the devastation of climate change in the society.
We must listen, learn and take action.

Here then are 7 Pathways to reducing climate change disasters in our society:

Planting Trees: Stop chopping down trees that help protect the environment. Plant a tree.
Weekly community clean-up: Don’t wait for government to impose monthly sanitation days. Organise estate, neighborhood or street cleaning.
Reducing litter with public garbage bags: Donate dustbins, long brooms and bin liners to bus stops near your home. Don’t throw litter out of windows of moving vehicles.
Catch them young: Visit public schools to educate the younger ones about the environment and its care. Organise them into groups and sponsor their projects.
Market Outreach: Take the message of environmental sanitation to our public markets. Organise them into groups, give them garbage bags, gloves and big water pots.
Gardening: Everyone should have a small garden at home no matter where they live. A farmer friend said you can plant ugwu, yams, water leaf in buckets. Start today.
Visit parks: Gather your family members and friends for walks through parks and immerse in nature. Not everytime Owambe or Asoebi. Ikeja Alausa parks are practically free at 1,000 gate fee.