WED 2015THINK BEFORE YOU EAT

Abiodun A. Denloye, Ph. DDept. of Zoology and Environmental BiologyLagos State University (LASU), Lagos.www.denloye.com

FOR TRUTH AND SERVICE

Theme: SEVEN BILLION DREAMS, ONE PLANET, CONSUME CAREFULLY

VENUE: Onikan Stadium, Lagos DATE: 5TH June 2015TIME: 10 amORGANIZER : Lagos State Ministry of Environment

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2015

People, Planet and Dreams

We must eat and grow As individuals – Seven billion people of the world As States – 36 States in Nigeria + FCT As Countries – 206 Countries countries of the

world As companies – > 600, 000 companies in Nigeria As families – Your family and all of us As schools – How many schools are there?

We cannot survive and grow without food.

Ponder this over – Food worth $1 Tn is wasted every year.

“One-third of all food produced globally each year – 300 million tonnes – is wasted. This waste costs the global economy a staggering one trillion dollars a year” –Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director.

What and how do you eat? What and how did they eat during the inauguration dinner?

How much for food? How much for waste?

Every year we budget huge sums of money for feeding even in government places.

The budget for each year also rubs off on feeding and food that lands on the table of individuals.

The sad news is that much of this food is thrown away as leftover and therefore thrown away as waste.

In the 206 countries that make up the world, it is estimated that the leftover could feed up to 800 million people ie more than four times the people of Nigeria.

We can cascade this down to Nigeria as a country, one state, a local government area, a school, a family and see how much is being wasted which could still serve to fill several empty stomachs.

The implication of waste:

Deforestation: The global food system is responsible for 80 per cent of deforestation

Biodiversity loss: It is also the largest single cause of species and biodiversity loss.

Water Use: > 70 per cent of freshwater used up to prepare food.  

Pesticides and Herbicides: Hazardous consequences of pesticide use

Packaging materials: The environmental effects of non-degradable packaging

Deforestation Nigeria loses 400, 000

hectares of forests annually Nigeria has the world’s

highest deforestation rate – www.mongabay.com

Deforestation due to: Land clearing for farming Oil prospecting Bush burning Fuel wood collection Civil engineering

construction Electrification project

Distinct vegetation zones endowed with vast biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is rich in many unique species but so many are threathened with extinction

In thinking of what to do and what to eat, we must think Sustainable environment. What is SE? The surrounding of Man used by him

presently in a manner that it would be available and safe for future generations.

The Environment includes: The atmosphere Soil Water Plant and animal Species (Biodiversity)

“the development that meets the needs of the present without causing future generations to be unable to meet their own needs” – Gro Harlem Brundtland

Sustainable Development

Concepts of Sustainable Development The two concepts of sustainable

development 1. needs, in particular the essential needs

of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given;

2. limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.“

*We must cultivate green economy.

WHAT IS THE COLOUR OF CHANGE?

What about green economy?

PAGE– Partnership for Action on Green Economy Include 65 countries already

They Shift investment and policies towards Practise clean technologies Build and operate resource-efficient

infrastructure, Have well-functioning ecosystems, Green skilled labour Good governance.

Green cars: Solar powered (unveiled in Nigeria last week by a senator-elect); Lithium Powered car (to be on sale in 2018).

At the individual and collective levels we must cultivate green habits. What are these habits?

MAJOR AREAS OF LIFE WHERE THINK GREEN HABITS

RECYCLE: Everyone should recycle at home and in offices. The can drinks, the nylon materials, bottles, etc can be recycled.

REUSE: There are many items that can be used repeatedly. Don’t throw such things away after the first time you used them. Use them again.

Reduce your use of materials and therefore, waste can be minimized. Minimising waste is a green habit.

Reduce Waste1. Shut off all

taps when not in use

2. Turn off all lights when not needed

3. Don’t buy what you don’t need

4. Eat less, but eat well

5. Join public transport instead of going with your private car.

Be organic, be natural, be safeA. Don’t just look at the oranges buy and take. Not flavoured drinks

B. Use organic manures instead of fertilizers

Don’t throw away foodSave: Preserve it till the next time you need it.

Donate: Someone else need what you are about to throw away

Compost it instead of just throwing it away

Eat at home and don’t eat junks. By this you save money.

Late Professor Emmanuel Obot. He died for a green cause. He worked for the Nigeria Conservation foundation. NCF. Inset is Prof. Wangari Mathaai, Kenya receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for Environmental Protection.

Volunteer for a green cause.

Biodiversity Conservation

NCF, Lekki Lagos Lagos Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Est. 2014

Be involved in Green Activities like walk for nature.

Involve in Ecotourism

Closing

THANK YOU

05/06/2015

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