We humans take the quality of air we breathe for granted, forgetting the fact that we can’t live without it.

Luckily, air is a renewable resource constantly being replenished through our natural ecological cycles – carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water, and nutrient.

Additional benefits are provided through other processes, called ecosystem services, which includes the dispersion of many environmental contaminants.

The first air pollutants emitted by humans probably occurred when early cave-dwellers learned to harness fire. Ancient Roman writers often complained about the effects of wood smoke on health.

In addition, the effects from power plants and automobiles contribute to ozone layer depletion and acid rainfall, while also affecting the chemical makeup of soils and bodies of water.

Besides, with the growing prevalence of airtight and energy-efficient homes and offices, the quality of indoor air is increasingly becoming a matter of concern, since dust particles and other pollutants are less likely to escape outdoors.

Smog and dust particles reduce visibility and can cause health problems, particularly for the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

These pollutants can also be transported by winds to affect other areas.

Although, emissions of all major air pollutants have decreased since 1970, concerns regarding nitrogen oxides from automobiles still exist. Between 1980 and 2006, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants dropped by 49 percent, with lead emissions decreasing by 98 percent.

During this same time, gross domestic product increased by 121 percent, vehicle miles traveled increased by 101 percent, and energy consumption increased by 29 percent.

Technological and regulatory efforts needs to be in place to control air pollution, although, considerable progress has been made.

Many of the easiest and most cost-effective measures have already been implemented; further reductions may require changes in individual behaviour, including restrictions on driving.

Therefore, we need to work together to achieve a healthy environment. By so doing, we will enjoy unpolluted air and live a healthier life.

https://enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-weather/air-quality/

An environment firm, Prigem Concepts, has said there is need to maintain an ecologically balanced environment. This means having a sustainable environment where human activities do not cause distortion to the atmospheric structure and nature.

The firm’s managing partner, Owa Raymond, said, “If available data is anything to go by, our consumption pattern, lifestyle modification and excessive rural-urban migration have stretched the already inadequate infrastructure.

Wastage’s are associated with our population growth, post-harvest losses etc.

He maintained that a lot of the problems are contributed by the change in our behavioural pattern. This has evolved over-time and has largely been due to traditional disparity and family structure’ [Read more]

Federal Government to Revamp Urban Water Supply Nationwide

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to revamping urban water supply nationwide to meet the international target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water for all by 2030.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the National Retreat on Revitalising Urban Water and Sanitation Sector in Nigeria.
He noted that clean potable water, in addition to adequate sanitation, were key factors for socio-economic development in the country.
“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, places priority on infrastructure development including those of water supply and sanitation towards ensuring better life for our people’ [Read more]

NESREA Cautions Nigerians on Environment

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), South-West Zone has urged members of the public to protect their environments to guarantee sustainable development in the country.
The Zonal Director of NESREA, Mr Adeleke Ajani told newsmen in Ibadan that safeguarding the environment was a collective responsibility of everybody.
“We all have to work together as stakeholders to ensure cleaner environment for our own survival and sustainable development. Whatever we give the environment is what is given to us,” he said’ [Read more]

Lagos Clamps Down On Illegal Dumpsites

Lagos Government has ordered the closure of all illegal dumpsites across the state, saying it would not hesitate to take over sites used for unauthorized dumping of refuse.

Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe gave the order during monitoring tour of the State where he discovered an illegal dumpsite in the Anthony area of the State.

He condemned the existence of illegal dumpsites in Lagos State, stressing that such unauthorized sites do not only deface the Lagos mega-city but also create serious health and environmental hazards to the people’ [Read more]

NCF Embarks On Waste Management Advocacy in 20 Lagos Communities

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has embarked on a 6-month waste management advocacy campaign in selected 20 communities in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos state.

In a statement made available in Lagos by the foundation, “the activities are geared towards making our environment sustainable and habitable for future generation.”

The selected communities include: Sangotedo, Idado, Gbara, Elegushi, Iru/Victoria Island, Agungi, Olugborogan, among others.

“The project will be carried out over a period of six months, commencing from September 2017. It has been divided into 5 major phases: Community Entry; Community & School Sensitization Clean up Exercise; Monitoring & Evaluation; and Post Project Supervision.”[Read more]

As part of efforts at reducing health hazards and protecting the environment, Global Environment Facility (GEF) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Friends Of The Environment (FOTE) in partnership with Zenith Bank, have empowered over 100 women in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State on the use and benefits of cooking gas.

Chairperson of FOTE, Mrs. Joanna Maduka, said the programme is aimed at preventing health hazards from environmental pollution among rural women in the country.

She noted that from baseline study conducted during the pre-event survey, it was discovered that 86 per cent of the women cook with kerosene stove and firewood, while 14 per cent make use of gas.

“Averagely, 86 per cent of the people surveyed spend between N5,000 to N10,000 monthly on firewood and kerosene while those who use the LPG spend averagely N3,500 on refilling the gas. On further discussion, all of the women indicated their interest in the use of gas. However they lacked the initial sum for purchase of the cylinder and gas burner,” she said.

Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Zenith Bank, Mrs. Eunice Sampson, advised the women to take advantage of the reduced prices in LPG, insisting that it would help improve their health and also protect the environment.

Watch Video Below

The event was also used to introduce the Zenith wonder bag, a heat retention cooker, which saves more than 30 per cent of regular energy costs. The event is the first of a seven-part awareness campaign, which includes four more local councils in Lagos and two local councils in Ogun State.

We need to start doing the right things towards saving our environment from major environmental problems.

By so doing, we are able to save human existence in the near future.

Our planet earth has a natural environment, known as ‘Ecosystem.’ which includes all humans, plant life, mountains, atmosphere, and seas.

The modern technology we use now, especially in the engineering and manufacturing industries have a major impact in our lives. Some of these technologies result in resource depletion and environmental destruction.

In addition, environmental issues are no longer a blame game. Instead of complaining about polluted air, smelly garbage, polluted water, why don’t we start by keeping our environment clean?

Because when we look at it, our daily activities contribute to this environmental menace.

Below are some major environmental issues, where humans play a key role in its cause.

Pollution: Human beings and their actions are majorly responsible for all types of pollution. Such as water, noise, air, etc. Water pollution is essentially caused by oil spillage and ocean dumping. Air pollution rises from burning of fossil fuels, gases emitted by vehicles and so on.

Climate change: Climate change today is less of a natural process. It is rapidly occurring due to the ill effects of human actions like global warming, greenhouse effects, etc. Thereby, altering the overall weather set-up.

Deforestation: With population growing at a rapid rate, the demand for food, shelter and clothing has almost tripled in the last few decades. To overcome this growing demand, a direct action that we have come to recognize as “deforestation” occurs. Deforestation means, clearing of forests or green cover to make land available for residential, commercial or industrial purpose.

Overpopulation: This is a never-ending human tragedy which is responsible for causing all kinds of environmental issues. Such as: water pollution, resources crisis, gender imbalance, noise pollution, land pollution, urban sprawling, and deforestation.

What can you do to help the Environment?

Dispose waste properly; stop littering your roads and drainage.

Observe regular environmental sanitation exercise and clear out waste build-up from gutters.

Demand action from government at all levels, especially local. (This might look impossible but when we make a conscious effort to keep our environment clean, the government would surely support).

Last but not the least, spread the word. Let people know the importance of a clean environment and the dangers of improper waste management.

How do you take care of your environment?

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/current-environmental-issues.php

400 families in Gnami and Pakau communities of Kaduna state have reportedly enjoyed non-stop clean electricity. This has been supplied to them for about two years now by two solar photovoltaic systems worth 90 kilowatts (kW). As disclosed by Nigeria’s power ministry.

The ministry stated in Abuja on August 2, 2017 that the systems – a 40kW and 50kW off grid solar mini plants, were installed in Gnami and Pakau respectively by the ministry.

It explained the projects were built under a renewable energy initiative to provide affordable and reliable access to electricity in rural communities in the country’ [read more]

Lagos Lauds Sterling Bank on Environmental Sustainability

In a show of endorsement of Sterling Bank’s sustainability campaign known as Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM), senior officials of the Lagos State Government have paid glowing tributes to the initiative, saying it is in line with the state government’s vision of encouraging residents to show respect for the environment.

Speaking at the inauguration of the mega cleaning exercise, which took place on August 17, 2017 at the Computer Village in Ikeja, recently, was the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare. He commended Sterling Bank for its show of commitment to the campaign for a livable environment’ [read more]

Federal Government Restates Desire to Phase out Plastic Bags

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, stated the desire of the Federal Government to eradicate polythene bags. They will be replaced with recyclable paper bags and in the process create wealth from waste.

Speaking in Abuja recently during the 10th Global Environment Facility (GEF) National Steering Committee Meeting, the minister, represented by the Director, Human Resources, Mr Gabriel Lotto, said it is the dream of the government to faithfully upscale issues of the environment,  such as climate change, biodiversity, desertification, and forest and land management’ [read more]

Visionscape Gets Lagos Support for Environmental Bond

Special Purpose Vehicle, the Municipality Waste Management Contractors Limited, has issued a N50 billion Medium Term Notes to finance the implementation of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

The Lagos State Ministry of Environment fully supports the innovative financing structure adopted by Visionscape and its partners.

The companies and their local partners will provide vital infrastructure by designing, building and managing the first engineered sanitary landfill in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Government recently launched the CLI, which is expected to commence fully in September 2017.  The Initiative is also targeted at providing over 27,500 street sweeping jobs and 400,000 indirect jobs within the State, as part of a poverty alleviation initiative’ [read more]

Waste to Wealth Containers Arrive Port Harcourt (PH)

18 containers of equipment for the construction of a world class sea waste management project has arrived in Rivers State.

This project will be carried out by African  Circle  (MARPOL), also known as  African  pollution management company. They are expected to  keep  the sea clean.

General Manager, Eastern Operations, Olajide  Oluwayemi  told newsmen  that, containers which arrived from   France are components of waste management facilities.
“This operates a waste to wealth system” Oluwayemi said’ [read more]

Modern technology is converting the seemingly impossible to possibility.

It is difficult to imagine a wind turbine floating in the ocean.

Wind turbines are magnificent structures which tower higher than the world’s tallest buildings. They are generally static and grounded with a massive supporting structure under waters.

The revolutionary technology allows wind power to be harvested in waters too deep for the current conventional bottom-standing turbines.

The first floating wind turbine has been placed about 20 km (12 miles) off the coast of Peterhead in Scotland. Another four turbines will be added to the farm, which together will generate up to 30 megawatts of energy, enough to power 20,000 households.

Each turbine is 175m tall and weighs over 11,000 tonnes.

The £190 million ($250 million) project is being financed by the UK government’s renewable-energy plan.

Though they are currently expensive to make, hopefully in the future it would come at a reduced cost as it is a great source of energy.

If the technology becomes cheaper, it will open up parts of the ocean previously considered too deep for stationary turbines.

Successfully creating a floating wind turbine is not only a huge accomplishment in engineering but it also has the potential to revolutionise energy creation through wind power.

Unlike conventional wind turbines that are built directly into the seabed, a floating wind turbine can unlock huge swathes of ocean that had previously been considered unusable for wind power.

Also, floating turbines are not attached to the seabed by foundations. Rather, they are attached by long mooring tethers, allowing them to be placed in water as deep as one kilometre.

The company behind this technology is Statoil located in Norway.

They have been perfecting their design since 2009.

Scotland is already proving that wind power can be a hugely effective energy source after it was revealed that for a single day in August 2016 Scotland was entirely powered by wind.

We hope Nigeria adopts this new technology as it is a great way of producing energy without polluting the environment.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/go-green-introducing-worlds-first-floating-wind-energy-muqbil-ahmar

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-worlds-first-floating-wind-farm-is-coming-to-scotland_uk_5975ae92e4b00e4363e08f90

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/world-first-wind-farm-floating-scotland-north-east-coast-north-sea-hywind-turbines-a7857866.html