The Ekiti State Government, via its Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, has announced plans to plant two million trees in 2024 as part of efforts to create a carbon sink and bolster the state’s environmental sustainability.
Mrs. Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, emphasized the adverse effects of climate change on both the environment and human beings.
The Commissioner assured that the state government remains steadfast in its commitment to mitigate these effects through ongoing efforts.
Aluko-Ajisafe, who spoke in a lecture titled “Environmental impact of climate change: Causes, effects and adaptation” at the first plenary session of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ekiti State Chapter, held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Aramoko-Ekiti.
Aluko-Ajisafe, who was represented by the Director of Nature Conservation and Climate Change, Mr Babatunde Akinola, noted that Ekiti State was vulnerable to climate change, like other states in the country, so it was taking steps to mitigate it.
The Commissioner said, “Although climate change may not kill people directly, it imposes major threats such as extreme heat stress/waves, drought, floods, wildfires, reduction in food supplies, water scarcity, loss of jobs and abnormal environmental conditions.”
Aluko-Ajisafe stressed the importance of vulnerability assessments, implementing flood alert and defence systems and the construction of dams and waterways.
The Commissioner also advocated transitioning to electric vehicles, adopting waste reduction strategies, promoting tree planting initiatives and implementing energy-saving approaches as crucial steps to mitigate climate change.
She said that the steps taken so far by her ministry towards making Ekiti State environmentally friendly included “planting of trees on the median ways within the state capital to enhance greening and carbon sink and regular maintenance of the road median and sideways”.
Apart from the ongoing advocacy campaign, Aluko-Ajisafe asserted, “The ministry has targeted 2 million trees for planting in 2024. The ministry through the State Environmental Protection Agency has embarked on desiltation and dredging of carnal across the state to forestall flooding.”
“Waste disposal bins have been put in strategic locations in Ado Ekiti to ensure proper waste collection in addition to regular fumigation of waste dump sites in the state capital.”
Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, the CAN State Chairman, hailed the efforts of the ministry to mitigate climate change effects.
He stressed the need for tree planting as a necessity in the interest of sustaining the environment.
Rev. Aribasoye also canvassed deliberate efforts to plant trees to nurture the environment.