In the face of a world now one degree warmer, Save the Children International has sounded the alarm, stressing the urgent need to address the escalating impacts of climate change on human lives. The international organization is calling for a collective abandonment of fossil fuels, citing them as a major contributor to environmental degradation.
Save the Children International emphasized that Nigeria and other African nations must take bold steps to transition away from fossil fuels, urging the Federal Government to allocate increased funding for environmental protection to mitigate the severe consequences of the climate crisis.
During the COP28 simulation event in Abuja on Thursday, Amanuel Mamo, the Director of Advocacy, urged stakeholders to prioritize immediate action before the situation worsens.
Mamo underscored the severity of the climate crisis, labeling it as the most significant challenge of the contemporary world and a serious threat to children and their rights. With the Earth now one degree Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial period, evidence suggests escalating negative impacts on human lives.
“In the coming years, we anticipate intensified droughts, increased rainfall variability, persisting extreme weather events, rising human and livestock diseases, conflicts over diminishing resources, and a surge in displacements due to rising oceans, floods, wildfires, droughts, expanding deserts, and more,” warned Mamo.
He stressed the need for responsible behavior to protect the environment, advocating for a reduction in the use of environmentally unfriendly materials, such as plastics. Mamo emphasized the critical role of investment in addressing the climate crisis, urging ministries, agencies, and departments, especially the Ministry of Environment, to increase their budgetary allocations for environmental protection.
Climate change ambassador Hamisu Maigari, participating in the simulation, highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to the climate crisis, citing instances of severe weather events that have adversely affected communities.
“We have experienced the worst climate crisis in different parts of the states; we have suffered a lot, houses were washed, and agriculture has been diminished,” said Maigari.
The call for a global shift away from fossil fuels to combat climate change is gaining momentum, emphasizing the need for decisive action to secure the future of the planet and its inhabitants.