Don’t Burn Down the Earth

Just before I thought about writing this article, I imagined what the earth would be if the stratosphere became completely destroyed. It means the sun touches the Earth directly. I wouldn’t blame myself for having such imaginations because the weather conditions are beginning to get strange. Recently I have told almost everyone I met, these words, “Don’t Burn Down the Earth.” The heat in Nigeria is becoming unbearable, and I presume in other parts of the world too. We are still uncertain about the rain because of its consistency. I can only imagine again how a State like Sokoto would be right now. Sokoto State is a State that experiences extreme weather. Flashback to my first time on a bike in Sokoto under the sun. My skin was really hot and felt like it was going to peel off. I really couldn’t wait to get to my destination.

It took a while for me to understand that our climate conditions are getting worse and it’s all our fault. We are the reasons why our climate conditions are getting worse. We only keep taking from the earth but do not give back. Our human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% in less than 200 years. The activities include; burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation, as well as other activities that damage organisms.

CO₂ is also a Greenhouse gas

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an important heat-trapping gas, or greenhouse gas, that comes from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, oil, and natural), from wildfires, and from natural processes like volcanic eruptions. Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer, causing climate change. If you are experiencing more heat than in past years then know that the planet is experiencing global warming. Are we going to keep educating people and saying these words “Don’t Burn Down the Earth” until we all get it right? Are we going to get stuck with global warming forever? The answer to this question is dependent on our actions in putting carbon back where it belongs and balancing the atmosphere.

Sneak Peek into Climate Change

Understanding what climate change is would help give an insight into how you as an individual can help the planet. What is Climate Change? Why do we say “Don’t Burn Down the Earth?”

Climate change refers to the long-term shift in global weather patterns and temperatures, which is largely caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. The rise in global temperatures due to climate change has a range of impacts. These include rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and changes in precipitation patterns. Climate change has the potential to impact human health, food security, biodiversity, and global economic stability. Many countries and organizations are saying “Don’t Burn Down the Earth” by taking actions to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in renewable energy sources, and implementing sustainable land-use practices.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done to address the challenges of climate change. It is crucial for individuals, governments, and businesses to take action to reduce their carbon footprint and work towards a sustainable future. The urgency of addressing climate change has become increasingly apparent, as the impacts of global warming continue to become more severe and widespread.

How can humans help repair the earth?

There are various ways humans can repair the earth. I’ll be stating three ways that I strongly recommend, most especially for individuals. There are things we can do as individuals without waiting for international bodies or governments.

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emission

Afforestation is a great solution to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is important that we have more plants, and trees in our environment to reduce the carbon in the atmosphere which would largely help take us away from global warming. Fossil fuels, carbon, oil, and gas are by no means the only thing causing climate change. Having many plants suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere will gradually take us away from global warming. As a tree grows, it naturally sequesters CO2 into itself and the soil it grows in.

However, with fewer trees around to take in the carbon dioxide, this greenhouse gas accumulates and accelerates global warming – warming of planet Earth, hence we all need to individually take the responsibility of planting. Afforestation is screaming, “Don’t Burn Down the Earth” If only we could just hear and plant more. To help us with more planting and food security, some seed companies have produced hybrid seeds according to the climate conditions of different regions in the world. If you’re looking for seeds in Nigeria that best fits our climate, visit farmsquare.ng having many plants, and trees could save us, by sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere faster than we are making it.

Implementation of sustainable land use: Soil treatment

Climate change has a major impact on soil, and changes in land use. Soil can either accelerate or slow down climate change. Without healthier soils, sustainable land, and soil management, we cannot tackle the climate crisis, produce enough food, and adapt to a changing climate. The answer might lie in preserving and restoring key ecosystems and letting nature capture carbon from the atmosphere. After oceans, the soil is the second largest natural carbon sink, surpassing forests and other vegetation in its capacity to capture carbon dioxide from the air. These facts remind us how important healthy soils are. They are not just for food production but also for our efforts to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently released a map. The map shows that the top 30cm of the world’s soil contains about twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere.

The best planting comes with good fertile soil. Don’t Burn Down the Earth by being lackadaisical about how we use the land/soil. For us to plant trees, and gain good yields from our crops, it is very important that we take good care of our soil. Soils are a key component for two reasons. First, soils hold about three times as much carbon as the atmosphere, so they are critical to the climate change mitigation puzzle. Healthy soils are also important as a natural water filtration system and as a source of nutrition for plants, the animals that eat them, and insects. Soil planted with trees is less likely to erode during floods and cause catastrophic damage to nearby communities.

Some of the ways we can treat our soil are:

1. Perform soil test – To fertilize our lawn or garden, we need to know what nutrients are already in the soil before applying more. We might be able to save money and apply less fertilizer. Also, we might just need to add one specific nutrient and not others. A simple way to get reliable results is to have our soil tested. Farmsquare can help provide services on soil testing.
2. Reduce Food Waste – One of the easiest ways we can support the soil is by limiting the amount of food that ends up in our garbage. By consuming more and throwing away less, we will prevent valuable nutrients from ending up in a landfill. Reducing food waste has also been called “One of the most important things we can do to reverse global warming.”
3. Incorporate compost into compacted soil to increase air, water, and nutrients for plants.
4. Protect topsoil with mulch or cover crops – Mulch or cover crops can be used to protect valuable topsoil from erosion and to add rich organic matter as they decompose. Mulch can be gotten from Farmsquare
5. Rotate crops – Crop rotation has been an evergreen solution to treating soil in order to maintain its nutrients.

Behavioral change

Oh yes! Certain behavior needs to be curbed to save our planet. Don’t Burn Down the Earth with your behavior of trashing plastics on the soil. Despite efforts made by some drinks companies using plastics, for example, Coca-Cola, to make consumers recycle their products, consumers still trash the plastics on the floor. These plastics do not just litter the environment but also damage the soil and most plastics end up in the ocean, our major carbon sink. Research has shown that by 2050, there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish. This is so sad but it is possible to change the fate of this research. We are also encouraged to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE plastics. Plastic waste collection for recycling can generally be termed the “diamond in the rough” that hasn’t been discovered by a large part of the population.

We are also encouraged to make conscious efforts to help our climate condition and create a safe environment for our unborn generations.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

This is another major solution to repair the earth. Stay tuned to our articles on how Renewable energy is a game changer in repairing the earth.

Conclusion

It is time we all invest in giving back to the planet. Individually, we can start by having a minimum of 5 plants in your environment. If 5 plants are too much, start with 1 plant. Just start! Also, make sure to dispose of your waste properly and make conscious efforts to reduce waste. You could also proclaim these words “Don’t Burn Down the Earth” and educate people. Hopefully, we are not going to burn down our planet as we make conscious efforts to help our climate condition and create safe environments for our unborn generations.