Toxic Waste and Climate Change in Africa: Awareness and Responsiveness

Associated with global warming, climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to the survival of this planet. With appropriate climate change and toxic waste education and practicing opportunities in place, the exposure to both threats' damages will be limited. Although the issues of climate change and plastic pollution are not recent developments, there have been little endeavors directed at scientifically recording the current situation in Ghana, particularly among the tertiary level students in Accra Metropolis. The result is that communities are still ignorant on these subjects and therefore do not adequately or effectively understand what climate change and plastic pollution are exactly and how alarming the threats they represent are to their societies. How can a disease be treated if the unwell does not even know about its existence? The need for such baseline information, especially as it concerns educating citizens on climate change and plastic pollution risks and designing adequate strategies for mitigating the effects on people's lives and security cannot be overlooked. Attention should be paid in this regard and actions should be, if need be, over-emphasized.

Autorentext

Metolo is a peace/security expert (focus: conflict resolution & human security). Fmr. MUN Exec./CRS Prsnl, she founded an NGO that raised funds to sponsor the education of the needy; restored community libraries & organized awareness prog. on EHS/recycling thru Ghana/Niger. Artist & writer, with >100 publ. she aspires to work in the UN Secretariat.