An Environmentalist with a Passion, Michael O’brien-Onyeka.
Represent caught up with Environmentalist Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, the Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa to discuss issues around Global Warming and to find out where Africa as a continent stands in the fight against this phenomenon. Read the interview after the jump.
1. What has been the number one priority in your portfolio as an environmental activist and why
As a Pan African environmental activist on a continent where many are already feeling the impacts of devastating climate change, I am working as a catalyst; seeking solutions for, and promoting open, informed debate about society’s environmental choices.
We can no longer continue to ignore the plight particularly of the many vulnerable women and men – who although did not necessarily contribute to global warming trends – are now having to deal with environmental and social injustice.
As an activist, it is also about speaking truth to power irrespective of how uncomfortable we may feel or make others particularly governments and corporates feel. For me as an activist it is also about the courage to not simply think out of the box, but also being willing enough to throw away the box altogether in the quest to create a better legacy for humanity. For example if we continue allow over fishing to regulate the oceans in the Eastern oceans of Senegal, that would eventually result in an empty ocean which would mean an absence in the ecosystem which would ultimately affect all living creatures on earth for as we know everything lives off another.
2. What are the top main challenges Africa is facing when it comes to preserving the environment?
This beautiful continent is at risk. Over 60% of Africa’s population is poor, faced with food insecurity, dwindling livelihoods, poor health and the impacts of decade long unsustainable resource exploitation, growing water scarcity, pollution and overfishing, just to name a few. The scale of the loss of species over the decades is scary to say the least, all made worse by the devastating impacts of climate change. In South Africa alone, poverty among youths is prevalent due to the extremely high number of unemployed youths, and this presents a major challenge.
• Over 180 million people in sub Saharan Africa will be directly impacted by the consequences of global warming.
• Food security in many African countries and regions will be severely affected by climate change. Agricultural losses are estimated to be possibly severe for several areas (like the Sahel, East Africa, and southern Africa) accompanied by changes in the length of growing periods impacting mixed rain-fed, arid and semi-arid systems becasuse of changes in the eco-system.
· According to the 2007 IPCC Report, Summary for policy makers – over 100 millon people will be exposed to increased water stress. Additionally in some countries – particularly given the system of small-holder farming – yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%. Compare this to the growing populations. Compared to other regions, Sub-Saharan Africa’s youth population is expected to increase dramatically over the next 40 years.
· By 2025, one in every four young people worldwide will be from Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Water availability – drier conditions due to changes in land use patterns and the climate. Water sources are becoming intermittent or disappearing. This is happening in South Africa already.
• Sea level rising e.g. West Africa – impacts on crops, possible agricultural GDP losses, populations living in coastal regions affected by sea level rising and flooding.
• Human health – East Africa hit by the negative impacts of climate change and climate variability for example, previously malaria-free highland areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi could also experience increased incidences of malaria by 2050s.
3. a) Which areas would you say practice good environmental care and
b)which would you say are the most vulnerable or at risk.
· As a region, as countries, as communities and as individuals we have an opportunity to adress some of the risks associated with climate change and particularly environmental injustice in Africa. Specifically:-
- Reducing our use of fossil fuels—especially carbon-intensive coal. Burning coal leads to wasting our precious water, air pollution and has adverse effects on human health.
- Going the renewables way: Renewable energy sources have potential to meet the vast majority of our energy needs. Renewable technologies can be deployed quickly, are increasingly cost-effective, and create jobs while reducing pollution.
- Understanding the link between livelihoods and managing the natural ecosystems – critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
- Current mitigation spending through the carbon market does not provide the capital Africa needs to develop in a low-carbon, sustainable way. Fundamental reforms of the existing
5. Beyond mitigation Africa as a continent needs to invest more in adaptation research. Climate change is happening and happening fast, Africans must become innovative on a wide range of areas to deal with the changes that they face as a consequence of climate.
6. We also need to address this issue together that is the private sector, organised society and the government need to be speaking with each other; and actually acting because we are running out of time. We have no planet B; we need to move now.
