By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
In a bid to celebrate Zero Emissions Day, September 21, 2022, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Sierra Leone (AYICC-SL), in collaboration with Climate Change and Sustainable Development Consortium (CliCSuD) and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and with support from Global Green grants Fund (GGF) has raised awareness on the impact of our daily emissions (gases and particles emitted by electricity, agriculture, or transportation), sensitize the general public on the importance of protecting our environment from harmful emissions,
There was also the promotion of the use of Improved Cookstoves (Eco-stoves) and Bio-Charcoal (Briquettes) at the household level in Bo.
According to the focal Person of PACJA in Sierra Leone, Henry Bayoh, Zero Emissions Day is an International Day of Action to demand a future without air pollution, which is contributing to global warming. This day has been designed to give the world a break from fossil fuels and to raise awareness about the harm caused by carbon emissions. In addition to CO2, there are other greenhouse gases such as CH4 (methane), N2O (nitrous oxide) or fluorocarbons.
The theme for Zero Emissions Day 2022, he said is “Beyond net zero – to grow your climate impact by maximising your carbon handprint”. Carbon handprint is a positive climate impact indicator. In contrast, carbon footprint refers to the negative environmental impact caused by greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of a product.
Mr. Bayoh went on to say that “several different mechanisms can contribute to a carbon handprint. These include avoiding the day-to-day challenge of business as usual and reducing the environmental footprint by using resources more efficiently, minimising emissions and waste, ensuring more efficient material and energy use, replacing or avoiding unwanted materials, reducing waste, extending service life and reuse, or any combination of these. Carbon capture and storage may also be of growing importance as a carbon handprint contributor.”
Speaking to A-Z Newspaper in Bo, residents of Bo lauded the initiative of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Sierra Leone (AYICC-SL), in collaboration with Climate Change and Sustainable Development Consortium (CliCSuD) and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and with support from Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) to raise awareness on the impact of our daily emissions (gases and particles emitted by electricity.