World Environment Day: SCI Nigeria calls for more awareness towards a healthy environment

As the world mark the 2022 World Environment Day, Save the Children International (SCI) has charged stakeholders to ensure they raise awareness, advocate and influence policy that will positively influence behavioural change regarding environmental protection.

The International Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) made the call through a statement on Monday.

SCI lamented the level at which Nigerians have been exploiting and destroying the planet’s ecosystems adding that women,children including those living with disabilities are the worst hit.

According to them, Available data shows that every three seconds, the world loses enough forest to cover a football pit adding that over the last century Nigeria have destroyed half of its wetlands.

The international NGO however assured that it is committed to limiting the environmental impact of climate change in the country.

Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communication and Media, Save the Children International, Nigeria
Amanuel Mamo, said, “the climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time. It is a grave threat to children and their rights. Child rights might not even survive a global climate catastrophe.

“We have created a huge environmental debt for our children and future generations. Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price. Hence, Save the Children recognizes the legitimacy and power of the voice and leadership of children in the climate movement. SCI Nigeria works towards a child-led campaign to promote environmental protection”.

He however assured that SCI will limit the environmental impact through both individual and collective efforts.

Mamo said “we will continue to play our part in reducing the resources we consume to help mitigate climate change and its adverse impact on children and their communities.

“Save the Children International supports and promotes climate smart agriculture, natural resource management, early warning systems, desertification control as well as environmental conservation – including trainings on renewable energy technologies, entrepreneurship and tree planting”.

The international NGO further call on families, communities, local, state and national governments to join hands in bringing positive change to make planet earth a much healthier, greener, and happier place to live in to achieve sustainable development goals.