THE ESSENCE OF TREE PLANTING IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE

U.S EPA defines Climate change as any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer).Global climate change is a reality, a continuous process that needs to be taken seriously, even though there are large uncertainties in its spatial and temporal distribution. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), climate change is the major, overriding environmental issue of our time, and the single greatest challenge facing environmental regulators.

The manifestations of climate change are distortions in rainfall patterns, global warming (greenhouse effect), acid rain and depletion of the ozone layer. It is very appropriate to dwell on the first two for this meeting. Distortions in rainfall patterns simply refer to situations where the regular patterns at place begin to change and the seasons start to readjust themselves. It also includes drought (frequency of drought). We all agree to the fact that Ghana’s rainfall pattern has changed and this explains why we experience rains at odd times as well as no rains at the time we expect.

Global warming is more or less the main manifestation of climate change to the extent that some people often used them interchangeably. Global warming is the increase in atmospheric temperature due to build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are CO₂, methane, nitrous oxide and CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons). These gases when present in the atmosphere do not allow the air to cool and when in larger quantities they act as a blanket keeping the earth warmer than what is supposed to be. Some of the consequences of global warming are as follows; sea level rise which have resulted in several tsunamis, the most recent one is what happened in Japan. It also affects biodiversity conservation and leads to species extinction due to destruction of habitats and very extreme conditions of living. There are enough research results that prove species extinction and some more nearing extinction. Global warming also has adverse effects on agriculture.

The afore-mentioned points tell us one thing, climate change does not affect only plants and animals but most importantly, human beings. What makes it more interesting to us Ghanaians is that industrialized countries are the biggest contributors to climate change, yet it is the poorest people in developing regions such as Africa and South Asia that are most threatened by climate change (climate stewards). This is because we do not have the means such as appropriate technology, enough funds and other resources to either adapt or mitigate its effects.

Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas causing global warming and in effect climate change.  Carbon dioxide when compared to the other greenhouse gases has a significant volume, making the others in a way negligible. Besides, human activities contribute very minimal volumes to the other greenhouse gases but massively to CO₂. This gives an indication that if we want to fight climate change then, we virtually need to devise ways to reduce CO₂ content in the atmosphere and also, minimize the activities that releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Forests remain the second largest carbon reservoir with the ocean as the largest. Unlike oceans, however, we can grow new forests and in effect extract more CO₂ from the atmosphere. Forest accounts for 80% of the annual extraction of carbon dioxide from the land and the atmosphere. Deforestation and forest degradation through agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, destructive logging, fires etc., account for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions (americanforest.org). Pressures on forests continue to mount globally and Ghana’s forest is no exception. Planting new trees remain one of the cheapest, most effective means of drawing excess CO₂ from the atmosphere Trees retain the carbon from the CO₂ molecule and release oxygen (O₂) into the atmosphere. Carbon makes up 60% of the dry weight of a tree.. Trees apart from carbon sequestration (i.e. extracting CO₂ and producing oxygen) play some vital roles in the environment; they clean the soil, muffle noise effectively, act as windbreaks, fight soil erosion etc.

In conclusion, I will say climate change is already happening. The action we take now will determine how bad it gets. Strong action now will reduce the damage and, in the long run, cost less. Climate change in 40-50 years’ time will be determined by our current emissions. Tree is life, so let us all cultivate the habit of planting and protecting tress.