By Benjamin Atu
Executive Chairman Etsako East Local Government Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh has said despite the effort made by Government at various levels to mitigate the effect of climate change, the unspoken truth about global warming is that developing nations like Nigeria and other African nations are not responsible for the major cause of climate change but the unsustainable consumption patterns of the rich industrialized nations in the world are responsible.
She described sustainable development as making the best use of our environmental resources today without endangering future generations through harmful human practices.
“Human beings as caretakers of the earth need to protect the environment by taking responsible actions today. The collective unconscious action of individuals is responsible for the majority of the environmental challenges we are experiencing in our world today”.
Hon. Attoh maintained that “Even though this disaster is not caused by us, our collective environment is vulnerable to its consequences. If we are to conduct a preliminary analysis today you will observe that the total emission of carbon generated in Nigeria is not up to the required global average so activities here are indeed not responsible for Global warming but because we are at the receiving end of the global crisis there is the need for an approach to mitigate the threat of climate change in our local environment for sustainability.
The Etsako East Local Government Chairman who was among the discussants today on climate change at the occasion of her investiture as a Fellow and SDGS Champion by the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, further described Climate Change as a hostile environmental phenomenon that has resulted in resource scarcity leading to local conflict, migration, and displacement of people.
She took time to narrate her experience as a member of the flood committee that was set up by the Edo State government, saying Governor Godwin Obaseki has left no one in doubt about his capacity in making adequate preparation ahead of the unexpected furry that nature vent on a yearly basis, washing away farm lands, schools and Houses.
In her thank you remark shortly after her conferment as Fellow of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh who dedicated it to God Almighty her creator and Governor Godwin Obaseki for giving her the opportunity to serve, thank the entire people of Etsako East for their acceptability of her stewardship so far. She assured the people of Etsako East that her administration will make an unforgettable impact in area of internal transportation, human capital development as well as robust economic activities.
High point of the Award ceremony was the planting of climate change tree by the executive Chairman Etsako East Local Government at the premises of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Management staff as well as several other Awardees were present as the occasion.