- The demonstration of planting trees was one of the many initiatives that NEMA has implemented to fight climate change.
- Greenhouse gases emitted from all sources contribute massively to the formation of a layer in the atmosphere that causes global warming
- The planting of trees was one of the many initiatives that NEMA has implemented to fight climate change.
We urge other schools to copy what will be happening here and implement it
Simon Tanui, Kisii County Director of Environment.
The climatic conditions we experience now are not the same as what was experienced a few decades ago.
This poses the question of what has been happening in recent times.
On July 17, 2023, Cardinal Otunga Boys High School Mosocho fraternity, Chief Principal Albert Ombiro, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and Kenya Red Cross Society officials, Parents Association, teachers, and students participated in a tree planting event at the institution.
Simon Tanui, Kisii County Director of Environment, said that the institution had been selected to be a model school for combating climate change.
This would be an ideal place to launch the environmental conservation techniques like water harvesting, proper waste management and other ideal operations like tree planting to reverse the effects of global warming.
“We must adapt to climate change so that life may continue, but also as we adapt, we should also find ways of reversing the prevailing climatic changes for a better living,” Mr. Tanui said.
He added that climate change comes with diverse effects like temperature rise and change in rainfall patterns.
Our environment
Sally Tirimba, a NEMA official, encouraged the students to be passionate about their environment.
She urged them to not only continue leading nationally in education but also to be a perfect example for other schools to follow in being environmentalists.
“We should take care of the environment because it takes care of us, too,” Ms. Tirimba urged.
Ruth Nderitu, Principal Education for Sustainable Development Officer at NEMA, urged the participants to educate each other on ways to conserve the environment.
“Lets passionately take part in things that can contribute to improvement of our environment,” Ms. Nderitu advised.
Hazards
Joseph Masinde, an Environmental Inspector from NEMA, informed the audience about hazardous behaviors and gases that cause climate change through global warming.
“NEMA is a research center; it collects data on the health and quality of the air. Greenhouse gases emitted from all sources contribute massively to the formation of a layer in the atmosphere that causes global warming,” Mr. Masinde mentioned.
He explained that the northern hemisphere countries have undergone vast industrialization in the recent past and that they produce larger amounts of environmental toxins that cause global warming and exacerbate the greenhouse effect.
Wycliffe Likhaya, Kisii County Red Cross Secretary General, stated that planting water-guzzling trees such as Eucalyptus and harvesting trees early, threatens the environment.
Waste management
On this topic, Ms. Nderitu said that a lot of people in society do not observe proper waste management, and others are unaware of how to go about the same.
“Proper waste management starts with segregation. This is the separation of the waste into dry waste and wet waste,” she said.
Dry waste, mostly comprised of plastic materials, should be separated into different bins and let the recycling teams do their job.
Wet waste, mostly composed of food materials and other biodegradable materials, should be placed in a different bin and decomposed into manure.
She added that the separation of waste enables those working on it to handle it appropriately.
Being smart
Mr. Masinde guided the audience on the importance of planting trees as an intelligent move to curb climate change.
He revealed that NEMA has plans in place to combat the menace.
“Planting trees as main plants will improve the health and quality of the air we consume,” he advised.
He encouraged every school to put effort into dealing with climate change.
Chief Principal Ombiro said that it’s a timely and beneficial decision by NEMA to choose Cardinal Otunga High School as the model school for tackling climate change.
“We are honored as a school to be chosen as the model school for curbing climate change and look forward to upholding the partnership with NEMA and other environmental organizations to curb climate change,” Mr. Ombiro appreciated.
Friends of NEMA
Parading the efforts of the Red Cross Society of Kenya, Likhaya also noted that the entity is also championing environmental conservation.
“We respond to humanitarian crises and we are also keen on helping mitigate climate change,” he stated.
He added that people who are humanitarian by nature are also environmentalists by nature.
“You are not to plant only trees but also clean the environment and maintain environment-friendly behaviors,” he advised.
Mr. Tanui confirmed that there will be several donations to support the environmental programs in the school.
Magdelene Gesare, Chair of Patrons, Kenya Red Cross Society Kisii County, also encourages the audience to constantly engage in activities that improve the environment, like tree planting and garbage collection.
Through the various clubs in the school, she and the other stakeholders in the school have planned environmental conservation activities that they will do in the surrounding community going forward.
“You should be ambassadors of climate change at home and at school. Your attitude towards the environment will educate others on how to handle the same. Let’s, therefore, educate those around us on how to go about climate change by behaving accordingly,” she advised.
She looks forward to continuing in initiatives of environmental conservation.
The fight is on
The Parents Association Chair, Francis Omayo, urged everybody to team up with NEMA to conserve the environment and participate in activities that will reverse the climate change effects.
“We have observed changes in rainy and dry seasons due to climate change. Let’s fight to curb those effects for a better tomorrow. Planting trees is vital in these conservation plans,” he advised.
He urged for continued civic education on climate change and that people should support NEMA in its operations.
Ms. Nderitu said that NEMA wants to create awareness on issues of climate change, and the main stakeholders are schools.
“We urge other schools to copy what will be happening here and implement it,” Mr. Tanui urged.
The chief principal thanked the government for enabling the youth to learn about environmental conservation through NEMA.
“Let us teach others back at home about what we have learned here from NEMA and will continue learning. As a school, we are targeting to plant 5000 trees this year as a model school to motivate other schools to do the same,” Mr. Ombiru added.
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The planting of trees was one of the many initiatives that NEMA has implemented in various institutions to fight climate change.
Let’s all be responsible citizens and love our environment, for our environment is our life and our responsibility.
