My Journey as an Environmentalist
by Adedewe Abiodun
Prior to beginning my studies in meteorology and climate science, I had no idea why it was so important to safeguard our ecosystem. This is where my journey into this subject began. As they say, first impressions linger longer, and the first class with Dr Ife Balogun was a nice one. He discussed the value of the course, the various options in my field of study, and his own story, which was also comparable to mine. This gave me a boost. This gave me hope. Additionally, I made the decision to study more about my course. To that goal, I met a friend from a higher level who introduced me to the United Nations' online courses. I selected Climate Change: from Learning to Action, which is the one most pertinent to my department. That is what fundamentally altered how I felt about the environment, the need to conserve it, and my current path of study.
I learned a lot about climate change in the course, including how to adapt to it and how to mitigate it. I'd want to share some of what I learned with you. I also discovered that, even though our planet does not have a planet B, our decisions have had a big influence on how our planet is right now. There are many environmental problems, including biodiversity loss, increasing sea levels, melting ice sheets, a rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and climate change.
I also learned that a larger share of all the issues facing our world are caused by human activity. The ecosystem is negatively impacted by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, inadequate waste management, plastic pollution, bush burning, illicit fishing and hunting, wildlife trafficking, and several other human activities.
Since then, I've been offering solutions to environmental issues. As a result, I joined the Environmental Conservation Club (ECC), of which I am currently the general secretary at my school. The ECC is a non-governmental organization whose main objective is to raise young people's awareness of environmental conservation in order to mobilize much-needed support and efforts to address humanity's numerous environmental challenges. I also belong to YOUNGO, which is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's youth constituency (UNFCCC).
Finding solutions to climate change in whichever field I'm in is, therefore, my main area of focus. My friend Akindeju Oluwagbemiga and I are also on a mission to accomplish this by predicting what the world will look like in 2050. For our work to advance climate action, we were recognized with an honorable mention award from the Ocean of Changes international competition (https://www.oceanofchanges.com/). Additionally, I engage in some independent action. It is necessary to consider individual actions. To start, I practically always consider the environment when making decisions, which extends to how I manage household and plastic garbage (recycling). Second, I participate in conservation initiatives like tree planting, awareness-raising (through events like this), and environmental education, among other things.
In conclusion, Our Earth's future is in our hands, and every action we take impacts it, whether positive or negative. It costs us nothing to act, just a change in attitude and commitment. Let us all make the right decisions because we don't have a plan B or planet B.
About
Adedewe Abiodun Faith is a third-year meteorology and climate science student. His main area of interest is on finding solutions to the effects of climate change on the ocean. On a mission to improve climate action, he received an award (Honorable mention) from the Ocean of Changes international competition (https://www.oceanofchanges.com/). He is currently the General Secretary of the Environmental Conservation Club (ECC), a non-governmental organization whose primary goal is to instil environmental conservation consciousness in youth to mobilize much-needed support and efforts to address humanity's numerous environmental challenges.