Three of the world’s greatest challenges over the coming decades will be climate change, biodiversity loss, and water stress (World Bank 2008). Global climate change is undoubtedly the most pervasive, complex and challenging of the global environmental issues facing contemporary societies and it affects all aspects of development. The effects of climate change are local and vary among systems, sectors and regions.

Although many natural and economic sectors will be affected by climate change, impacts on agriculture and water availability will have the greatest potential to negatively affect the livelihood of the poor in rural areas, as well as national economic growth in the least-developed countries-especially in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The high dependence of economies and rural people of SSA upon rain-fed agriculture, the prevalence of poverty and food insecurity and limited development of institutional and infrastructural capacities makes coping with natural climate variability a perennial challenge.

Coastal wetlands are among the best marine ecosystems to fight climate change, new research confirms.

Wetlands are natural and human-made infrastructures that receive, transport, clean, store and deliver water to a wide range of users-“ from the mountains to the seas”- for domestic needs, agriculture, biodiversity, industry and other economic production as well as maintenance of social and cultural integrity. The Ramsar Convention- a body that manages wetlands- recognizes 42 types of wetlands, including rivers and their tributaries and floodplains, lakes, estuaries, deltas, peatlands, oases, coastal areas, together with mangroves and coral reefs.

In Kenya, six wetland areas have been designated by Ramsar for international importance due to the significant habitats encompassed by the wetlands. These include Tana River Delta; Lake Nakuru; Lake Naivasha; Lake Elementeita; Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo.

Wetlands in response to climate change

On 2nd February every year, the world marks the World Wetlands Day, which marks the adoption of the Convention of Wetlands. Every year the celebration puts forward a different theme which member countries have to follow in sustainably managing the wetlands. This year, the world marked the day with different activities – seminars, nature walks and community clean-ups focusing on the theme “Wetland and Climate Change”.

As unique ecosystems wetlands are highly valued for the services and functions they provide to human beings and other animals and plants. Moreover, they are important assets in mitigating climate change

Wetland ecosystems help regulate climate change by storing and capturing carbon.  In particular, although wetlands are estimated to cover 3% of the world’s land surface, it is estimated to be the largest carbon store, with about 550 gigatonnes of carbon worldwide. UNEP informs us that managing and maintaining the value of wetlands is quick and cost-effective. It reduces as much as 10% of greenhouse emissions.

Related article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/wetlands-can-help-fight-climate-change/

Wetlands make communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change. They provide buffers against sea level rise and storm surges and reduce the impacts of floods, droughts and cyclones.

Importantly, human adaptation to the impacts of climate change cannot happen without wetlands. They are the primary source of water for human consumption, energy and agriculture in all its forms. They provide important social and economic services, with billions of people depending on wetlands for their livelihoods. In planning for adaptation to climate change, we need to link with issues related to ecosystem services, especially the value of food from wetlands and fresh water supply.

The effective management, including restoration, under climate change scenarios, could support basic human needs for food and water, keeping in mind that increasing demand for food and water could serve to further undermine wetland management.

Yet despite all the critical services that wetlands provide, 64% of the world’s wetlands have been lost in the last century. This must change if we have to mitigate climate change and provide other multiple benefits to human beings through wetlands. Human activities degrade the wetlands faster than other ecosystems. In addition, inadequate enforcement of policies that govern the wetlands greatly influences their prosperity.

In Africa, wetlands are estimated to cover 131 million hectares. The Okavango Delta and Lake Victoria basin are among the largest. They deliver a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being. Due to their abundance, if sustainably managed, they can play a critical role in mitigating climate change on the continent.

In the pursuit of achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement of 2015, there is a need for African countries to include wetlands in National agendas and forums. This will help realize the potential of wetlands to mitigate climate change- which has become a menace to the continent.

As societies scramble to find ways to avoid overshooting critical environmental thresholds during the coming months and years, global attention on ‘solutions’ will undoubtedly grow. Wetlands will emerge as one of the best available technologies to invest in.

“No society can afford to ignore air pollution, and no child should have to breathe dangerously polluted air” UNICEF Director Anthony Lake.

Air pollution is estimated to cause 7 Million premature deaths across the world every year. Deaths attributed to either indoor or ambient air pollutions. Despite being a major global epidemic, air pollution continues to characterize our atmospheres. Globally, every nine out of ten people are exposed to air pollutants of levels beyond the World Health Organization(WHO) safety thresholds. Implying that of every gulp of the air we inhale there lie potential poisons ranging from black carbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphate to lead.  These particulate matters(PM)are associated with a broad spectrum of acute and chronic health complications, such as cancer, stroke, lower IQs and other cardiopulmonary diseases. The developing countries predominately carry a huge burden due to growing industrialization.

Rapid industrialization is an indispensable element and a necessary instrument to the achievement of stronger economies and sustained growth in the developing worlds. The drastic growth has however left marks of environmental degradation and industrial pollution.  Kenya plays foul, with huge industrial emissions.

Improper management of the industrial emissions, continue to deteriorate our atmospheres daily. Clouds of smog, irritant, choking and foul smells characterize the immediate industrial neighbourhoods. Some pollutants also surfacing as invisible particles of molecular size. These particles travel long distance far and across boundaries, through storms, rainwater and No one is safe enough.

Recently, three companies in the Kenyan capital were indefinitely closed until an assessment their environmental policy adherence is ascertained. One facility waste management company operated unlicensed, while in another, employees worked without safety gears. The closure comes days after residents of the Nairobi south area raised concerns, of choking and afoul smelly nights and early mornings. Ordeals that has left four children hospitalized with several others suffering from nose bleeds, persistent coughs vomiting and sore eyes. The incidences serve as a clear gap, in the capital’s strides to safeguard the industries dense city, that also offer home to 2.1 million citizens.

A study by Nairobi university and the Sweden University in 2015 indicated that the amount of cancer-causing elements in the air within the city is 10 times higher than the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization.

Children suffer a great deal in air polluted areas due to higher relative ventilation rates, poorly developed physical defence mechanisms and lengthier exposure time outdoors. According to Toxicology and Environmental health journal report, on the burden of Disease due to Outdoor pollution, ambient air pollution due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is estimated cause 3% deaths as a result of cardiopulmonary disease, 5% from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and the lungs, and about 1% of mortality from acute respiratory infections in children under the age of five years globally. Breathing in particulate pollutants, additional puts children at risk of slow cognitive development due to damaged brain tissues. “Not only do pollutants harm babies’ developing lungs – they can permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.

UNICEF reports that almost 17 million babies under the age of 1 year live in areas where air pollution is at least six times higher than the international limits.

 What need be done?

Air Quality Regulations exists, however, their enforcement suffers loopholes. A coordinated effort by all parties concerned, government, non-governmental and private players is key for improved environmental protection. Enactment of law governing environmental protection, preparation of impact assessment reports on the environment by industries and public participation on environmental protection is necessary towards restoring sanity to the environment.

Governments and environmental management authorities need to invest in air control monitors as a precautionary measure to their countries environmental safety.

The campaign dubbed Breath Life is a key outlook for any developing country. Initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO, The United Nation Environment, and the Climate Clean Air Coalition(CCAC) the campaign seek to mobilize cities and individuals to protect public health and the planet from the effects of air pollution.

The campaign has been built to bring together diverse groups around common interests in order to develop a shared goal and strategy by;

Providing a platform for cities to share best practices and demonstrate progress in their journey to meet WHO air quality targets by 2030

Working with municipalities to expand monitoring efforts that can keep citizens informed and facilitate more sustainable urban development

Building demand for new solutions that are working and support municipalities in effectively implementing them in their own cities

Increasing support for the city and national action to reduce air pollution and short-lived climate pollutants to meet health and development priorities by 2020, and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030

Educating people about the burden air pollution poses to our health and our climate and provide meaningful ways to take action both locally and globally.

 Air pollution is a global threat and no country is safe enough.