Ex-Vanuatu PM talks #ClimateChange with Zuriel

BY DOYIN ADEOYE

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Zuriel Oduwole recently met with the former Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Honourable Sato Kilman, to discuss the threat of climate change to his country’s future generation, which are the children, a demography Zuriel has a passion for.
Republic of Vanatu is a Pacific Island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. Known for conducting interviews with leaders across countries, especially on their focus for the children, Zuriel has interviewed presidents of Kenya, Cape Verde, Tanzania, South Sudan, Liberia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Prime Ministers of Lesotho, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and others.
The issue of climate change has become as enigmatic to some, divisive to others, yet its effects are now felt around the world more than before. Yet, nowhere is this effect of climate change felt even more than the Pacific Island region, where up to one foot of coastal land is lost annually in some areas. This has prompted the regions leaders to form a strong voice alliance, as they continue to make their case for the world to help address the issue of climate change, now threatening their cultural, social and physical existence.
In recognition of the growing platform Zuriel has created in the international community, Kilman who was in office as the Prime Minister till 11 February 2016, hopes her voice would make a difference to his country’s call for urgent assisting.
“I hope she and I would be remembered for our work on this important issue,” Kilman said.
In September 2015, Zuriel met the President of Guyana on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to mediate peace between that country and Venezuela, two days after both leaders met with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon in New York, on the disputed oil rich Essequibo region.

Governments set UNEA-2 agenda

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
STAKEHOLDERS across various countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya last week, to channel a focus for the forthcoming United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2).
The week-long event was the second meeting of the Open Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (OECPR-2), where environment ministers, high-level government delegates and representatives of major groups set the agenda for the UNEA-2, which will be held at the United Nations Environment Programme’s Nairobi headquarters from May 23-27.
At the meeting, key actors set the stage for key decisions on the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including addressing the environmental aspects of global humanitarian crises and human health risks.
UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner said: “At the United Nations Environment Assembly, every nation has a seat at the table. Since its first meeting in 2014, UNEA has become the world’s de facto Parliament for the Environment.
“When ministers gather here in Nairobi in May for UNEA-2, the decisions they take will again set the global environmental agenda. Keeping the global environment under review through science and policy dialogue enables governments to build the international agreements that will result in improvements for both the environment and human development.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Anima Mohammed, at the event, urged for a synergy in order to have a better planet, nothing that no one should be left behind as nations prepare for the UNEA-2.
“Our planet is our commonwealth, our dignity and hope. Leaving no one behind will be fundamental as we prepare for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA2) coming up in May.”
It therefore, behoves on us to consolidate on the ongoing efforts and deliberations towards a clear pathway to set a concrete resolution that will facilitate the implementation of actions to deliver on the interrelated environmental dimensions of the universal Agenda 2030 for sustainable development,” she said.

Open defecation: Old problem in a new world

That open defecation have remained a crucial global menace in this age is a shocker to many. From rural communities to the urban areas, many people across the world do not have access to toilets and so resort to open defecation, which has adverse effects on the environment. DOYIN ADEOYE writes.

WITH the revelation over the weekend that 1.8 million out of a total population of 2.7 million residents in Ekiti State practise open defecation, Nigeria is obviously still drowning in the ugly anomaly, as one of the countries where the menace is mostly common.
Many Nigerians do not have access to decent toilets in their homes and therefore are left with the choice of defecating openly. Although the fight against open defecation is ongoing across many states in the country, the situation seems to be worsening as the days go by.
Leading other states of the federation in open defecation, it will be recalled that in December 2014, Ekiti State governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, gave a two-month ultimatum to defaulters to provide toilet facility in their homes or face prosecution. Although some may have met the deadline, it is now obvious that the motive behind the decision was not met, judging by the new sanitation statistics in the state.
According to a 2012 World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) joint monitoring report, 1.1 billion people, which is 15 per cent of the global population practise open defecation, while 949 million of the open defecators live in rural areas.
Nigeria in the report, made the list of the first five countries that account for almost three-quarters of the people who practise open defecation, as 34 million Nigerians still relieve themselves in the open, posing great environmental concerns.
Speaking at a two-day media networking and alliance building workshop on water sanitation and hygiene and open defecation free campaign over the weekend, the United Nations Children Fund and European Union (UNICEF/EU) noted that over 2.5 billion of the global population lacked access to improved sanitation and that of the figure, one billion people are engaged in open defecation.
Ending open defecation is crucial, as the health implication include the spread of diarrhoea, chickenpox, measles and cholera, among others. There have been a lot of achievements by various bodies in recent times to end the menace, but a lot still needs to be done.

Scientist discovers boiling river in the heart of the Amazon

A mysterious, four-mile long river, deep in the heart of the Amazon is so hot that it boils. The river has long been a legend in Peru, but when geoscientist, Andres Ruzo heard about it, he thought such a phenomenon couldn’t possibly exist.
He believed that it would require a huge amount of geothermal heat to boil even a small river, and the Amazon basin is far from any active volcanoes.
According to DailyMail, Ruzo first heard about the Mayantuyacu River when his grandfather told him a story of how some Spanish conquistadors headed into the Amazon rainforest in search of gold. When they returned, the men spoke of a terrifying experience that involved poisoned water, man-eating snakes and a river that boils from below.
Despite his skepticism, Runzo found himself hiking into the jungle and he said that what he saw was beyond his imagination.
“Dipping my hand into the river would give me third-degree burns in less than half a second. Falling in could easily kill me,” Ruzo told Ted.com.
Parts of the river are so hot that any animal that falls in boils instantly.
“I’ve seen all sorts of animals fall in, and what is shocking to me is that the process is pretty much the same. They fall in and the first thing to go are the eyes. Eyes, apparently cook very quickly. They turn to a milky-white colour. When the stream is carrying them, they try to swim out, but their meat is cooking on the bone because it is so hot. So they lose power until finally they get to a point where hot water goes into their mouths and they cook from the inside out,” said Runzo.
For some reason, the river has escaped scientific scrutiny. But Ruzo is on a mission to change that.

Ecological challenges: CGGEJ commends Okowa’s approval of N500m counterpart fund

THE Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJ), last week commended Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for approving N500 million as counterpart fund for World Bank to address ecological challenges across the state.
In a statement, the CGGEJ’s Media Coordinator, Mr Patrick Omene said that the group is pleased with the governor for his takeoff policies since assumption of office, adding that the approval of the N500 million counterpart fund is a conviction of his resolve to address the enormous ecological challenges facing the state.
“This is commendable and must be pursued with zest. In addition, your far reaching reforms geared towards reinvigorating and restructuring the economy of the state, anchored on accountability, transparency and fiscal prudence is no doubt a sure way of telling what manner of governance we should expect,” the Coalition said.
Urging the governor to focus on delivering the goods of democracy to the people, as it was time for governance and not politics, the group said “There is time for everything; time for politics and time for governance. The governor must keep his eye on the mark so as not to be swayed from the purpose of governance, since the Supreme Court which is the final arbiter in the governorship election has delivered judgment and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
“We congratulate the governor and the law abiding people of Delta State. And we would also like to call on all stakeholders in the state to see themselves as one, as the purpose of politics and governance is for the benefit of the generality of the people. Delta State must unite for once, because experience in the past is a lesson for us all, both at the intra party and inter party levels.”

UN-HABITAT hosts FGDs on urban equity, youth development in Nigeria

BY DOYIN ADEOYE

In its bid to promote sustainable urbanisation in cities and regions that will provide all citizens with adequate shelter, basic services, security and employment opportunities regardless of age, sex and social strata, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) recently organised a survey and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) for youths in Ibadan and Abuja.
The survey was done to understand the social and structural factors that contribute to the increasing inequalities of opportunities for young men and women aged between 18 and 35, as well as their inclusion in urban governance, and this gave rise to the Global State of the Urban Youth Report (GSUYR).
Chief Consultant to the UN-HABITAT in Nigeria, Dr Boladale Abiola Adebowale, who coordinated the survey said that “Through this programme, we are trying to look at the root causes of inequities among young people in some regions and we try to do that through surveys and FGDs where we ask these youths for their comments and views about initiatives of the governments and how it is affecting them.
“The youths discussed different dimensions of iniquities from economic, social, cultural and political. So our role is that thereafter, we then put all of these views together and analyse the various findings from the survey and then come up with policy recommendations, which is then up to each country to do something about,” she said.

Achakpa on using environment to empower women, youths

Achakpa Priscilla is the National Coordinator, Water and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Executive Director, Women Environmental Programme (WEP). She speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on involvement of women and youths in African environmentalism, among other issues. Excerpts:

What are the objectives of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP)?
WEP is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious and voluntary organisation whose vision is to see a society where the environmental, economic and political rights of women, children and youths are protected. Our mission is to empower women and youths to effectively address the environmental, economic and political issues that affect them.
The organisation has grown from strength to strength at national, regional and global levels, while still ensuring its primary focus which is the grass roots women and youths. We have the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status and an observer status to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). With this status, WEP can participate as a major group organisation in contributing to the intergovernmental decision-making process in the UN-System and we are at the moment one of the Organising Partner (OP) for the Women Major Groups (WMG) as well as the Women and Gender Constituency at the UN.

Would you say gender plays a role in environmental management?
The world is unique for every human being, but in general, women’s lives vary greatly from those of men because of patterns of socialisation related to gender. In terms of the environment, women around the world play distinct roles in managing plants and animals in forests, drylands, wetlands and agriculture; in collecting water, fuel and fodder for domestic use and income generation; and in overseeing land and water resources. By so doing, they contribute time, energy, skills and personal visions to family and community development. So women’s extensive experience makes them an invaluable source of knowledge and expertise on environmental management and appropriate actions.

Our planet is our commonwealth, our hope — Minister

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
THE Minister of Environment, Anima Mohammed, has called on stakeholders to work in synergy in order to have a better planet, nothing that no one should be left behind as nations prepare for the forthcoming United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA2).
The minister said this while speaking at the second meeting of the Open Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (OECPR-2), held in Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this week.
“Our planet is our commonwealth, our dignity and hope. Leaving no one behind will be fundamental as we prepare for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA2) coming up in May. It therefore, behoves on us to consolidate on the ongoing efforts and deliberations towards a clear pathway to set a concrete resolution that will facilitate the implementation of actions to deliver on the interrelated environmental dimensions of the universal Agenda 2030 for sustainable development,” she said.
Agenda 2030 is one that aims to address the root causes of unsustainable consumption and production patterns and transform them into sustainable lifestyles and livelihoods.
“Empowering people, taking climate action and protecting the environment are at the heart of changing the narrative and putting us firmly on the path of sustainable development. The cross cutting nature of the 17 SDGs and 169 targets therefore, requires integration, synergy and enhanced partnerships for the targets to be successfully achieved,” the minister said.

I made my sculpture to inspire people - Eliagu

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
ALTHOUGH the sculpture ‘Your Destiny is in Your Hands,’ was made in 2013, it became social media frenzy last week when the originator, Eluagu Williams uploaded the night view on his Facebook wall.
Made from pet bottles, Eluagu constructed the 13.6feet structure, which he said was birthed out of his desire to inspire people, as well as make something worthwhile out of waste.

Speaking with Ecoroom, Eluagu, who is a graduate of the Department of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) said: "I did it as a final year project in 2013 and it was mounted in January 2014. Although I majored in Sculpture, it was a risk doing the artwork because it wasn’t as if there was a prototype to follow, but I wanted to do something unique, as well as inspire people with the sculpture.
"I worked with pet bottles, which many people throw away and feel that it is just waste. I basically just wanted to turn something people feel is useless to something useful. The name of the artwork ‘Your Destiny is in Your Hands,’ is to inspire people in Nigeria and the world at large.
"This is a trying time for many people, considering the challenges many people and nations are facing today. So I wanted to inspire people that no matter what happen, their destiny is in their hands and they can strive to rise above it and use those challenges as stepping stones to greatness," he said.
A unique way of recycling waste, the major material used in the construction were used pet bottles Eliagu said he picked around.

So not only did the sculpture beautify the environment, it also aided keeping the planet save and clean.
 Taking about 90 days to complete, Eliagu said the gesture of the hands in the sculpture, which appears shaky, shows that in the course of life, we go through challenges to get to the point we want.
A true talent, he is also into wood carving and clay modelling.
On his message to other young talents out there, he said: "They need to be humble and be close to God, no matter their religion, because spirituality is key for any creative person."

Tackling major environmental issues of our time

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
“What about sunrise;
What about rain…
What about killing fields…
Did you ever stop to notice;
The crying earth the weeping shores?
What have we done to the world;
What about flowering fields…
What about animals…”

When pop legend, Michael Jackson released the track, ‘Earth Song,’ in 1995, which overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare, not many envisaged that a time would come when environmental issues would be at the fore of global discourse, and attract a major global concern. That time is now.
Two decades after the release of the song, the situation has deteriorated, with global environmental issues becoming more alarming as the years go by.
Over four decades after the first Earth Day in 1970, there still exist many environmental concerns for communities around the world to address. From global warming, to overpopulation, water and air pollution, waste management and deforestation, among other issues, our environment is constantly changing.

Overpopulation
With human population growing like never before, overpopulation is probably the most pressing environmental issue the world is currently facing. The list of problems associated with this increase includes shortages of resources, war and social conflict, overcrowding, as well as the health and survival of other species.
“As of July 1, 2015, the total number of living humans on earth was 7.349 billion,” the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division reported. Nigeria, for instance, has a population of over 170 million people.
Overpopulation, no doubt, triggers most of the other environmental issues. As human population increases, so does the demand for natural resources. While tackling inaccessibility to clean water remains a global issue, addressing water pollution from individuals, factories, open mines and other sources is also a major concern.

Ecopreneurship: Making money by saving nature

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
WHILE there are entrepreneurs, others create businesses with the intent of saving the environment, they are ecoprenuers.
From recycling to house cleaning, consultancy and production of organic beauty products, there exist many eco-friendly business ideas that revolve around saving nature.

Solar energy
There has been a lot of focus on solar energy in recent years. Many state governments are now investing in this field, with many working on ways to convert their waste to energy. One good way to make money while also save the planet is to get involved in solar energy production.
Also, with the increase in demand for solar energy comes the need for more hands in relation to installation, maintenance and repairs. Engineers in solar technology are beginning to get known, and with little or no competition, it is a business idea that pays really well.

House cleaning
Getting involved in house cleaning, especially environmental-friendly home cleaning services can be profitable. Many Nigerians, especially the working class, are often too busy to care for their environment. So having a classy and standard cleaning service brand will not only bring in profit, but also help people keep their homes clean.

Composting
Why throw your waste out when you can convert it to useful and fertile compost? Any organic matter, including cooked waste food, can be converted to compost. Organic fertilisers are in high demand by people who have already embraced the green revolution, and tapping into this can be profitable.

Recycling
Recycling is probably the fastest growing eco-friendly business at the moment. Although recycling may be on the high side for someone who has a small startup capital, collection of waste is relatively cheaper. While partnering with companies on collecting their waste is a plus, it is however, becoming a very highly competitive industry.

Consultancy
Although going green has become more popular in recent times, many people who are interested in it still do not have the knowledge or idea of how to go about it. You can assist people with consultancy services and get paid for it.

Is climate change driving the spread of zika virus?

TRANSMITTED by mosquitoes, the Zika virus is spreading at an alarming rate across countries and scientists in Brazil suspect that global warming is exacerbating the problem.
According to the Climate News Network, last year was the hottest on record, with temperatures for the first time about 1°C above pre-industrial levels. But in some parts of Brazil, average temperatures rose between 3° and 5°C, according to data from the Centre for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. The abnormal warming of the Pacific caused by El Nino contributed to this.
Studies by Brazilian scientists show that the Aedes egypti mosquito has spread to 80 per cent of the country, an area of 6.9 million square kilometres, four times larger than a decade ago.
Paolo Zanotto, a virologist at the University of Sao Paulo’s Biomedical Sciences Institute, is co-ordinating a network of laboratories studying the Zika virus.
“We have noticed that dengue has spread to areas that were previously too cold for it, like the south of the country. The number of mosquitoes is increasing, their area of activity is increasing and contact with populations who have never before had contact with dengue is increasing. Global warming is probably collaborating with its spread to previously free areas,” he said.
Christovam Barcellos, a geographer at the Fiocruz Institute in Rio de Janeiro, said: “We have noticed that dengue has spread to areas that were previously too cold for it, like the south of the country.”

Kenya launches Green Universities Network

MORE than 160 participants from Kenyan higher education institutions last week attended the launch of the Kenya Green University Network (KGUN), which is aimed at including environmental and sustainability practices into the curricula, campus designs and research projects of Kenyan universities.

Speaking at the launch of KGUN, a joint initiative of the Commission for University Education (CUE), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said that Kenya is seeing fast progress in higher education.

“With the increase in student enrolment, there is more reason, challenge and opportunity to integrate sound environmental practices and knowledge-sharing into the higher education fabric. Many Kenyan universities have already recognised sustainability demands and have responded in ways that are worth sharing. They are investing in greener campuses, greener curricula, and ways of engaging staff, students and community,” Steiner said.

Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities of Kenya, said that the network marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between 70 universities in Kenya that will address sustainability issues through the adoption of low-carbon strategies, mainstreaming environmental sustainability across the curriculum, and engaging with community and other stakeholders at various levels.

The National Environment Management Authority, through its Director General, Professor Geoffrey Wahungu, also expressed its commitment to continuously work with universities, through various initiatives including this network to harness synergy and mobilize resources for capacity building to enhance environmental sustainability.

Waste is a resource; it is a currency —Bilikiss

Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola is the CEO and co-founder of Wecyclers, a company that offers waste collection and recycling services to Lagosians. She speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on what it takes to run a recycling business among other issues.

What exactly influenced Wecyclers?
Wecyclers is a social enterprise, and the idea came from a class I took in business school, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where I was exposed to the issues people face in countries like Nigeria. According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, about 70 per cent of Nigerians live in poverty. We face a lot of issues such as lack of access to finance, poor environmental sanitation and waste management systems.

So we wanted to turn waste management from being a problem, because many people live in very dirty environments where drainages are blocked; they are exposed to mosquitoes and sorts. All of these are because waste is not managed properly. Waste is a resource; it is a currency. It is valuable, so we wanted to teach people that instead of living in such environment, they could actually take control of the situation by making money from the waste.

So how does it work?
We designed cargo-bicycles that we deployed in communities around Lagos to pick up waste. So we tell people to separate their waste; they separate their plastics, bottles, pure water sachet and cans, so when we go and pick up the waste from them, we weigh it and for every kilogramme of waste they give to us, they get points. As the points accumulate, they can then exchange the points for something, choosing from one of the different items we have which ranges from plastic bowls, toasting machines, pressing irons, and even things that can empower them like generators, sewing machines and even cash.
So people are using it as a way of empowering themselves and we have several people that engage with us within the communities; those who don’t have any job see it as an opportunity to earn something.

Was it easy convincing people to partner with you as regards their waste?
It wasn’t. We actually targeted the grassroots because we felt that the people in the rich areas already have adequate waste collection system. So it is the people in the poor areas that need it. Many of them were very sceptical initially when we approached them and that really shocked me, because they actually throw this waste away. But when we told them we needed them to keep the waste for us, they felt we wanted to scam them.

So we had to spend a lot of time building their trust, talking to them and we even get members of their community that believe in us to talk them. Whatever we say we would give them, we ensure that we do so. And having done that consistently for some time, there is a lot of trust now.

Environment Ministry resuscitates sanitation day in Abuja

BY DOYIN ADEOYE

WITH the theme, ‘Clean Environment: Our Collective Responsibility for a Healthy Living,’ the Ministry of Environment on Saturday, 30 January, launched the monthly sanitation day programme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, stated that the national environmental sanitation day was introduced in 1984 by the Buhari-led administration, and 32 years later, the idea of designated sanitation days at states, local governments, as well as markets across the country has remained a legacy.

“Sanitation is vital for human health, as healthy people are more productive at workplace and healthy communities offer a more lucrative market for our goods and services. That is why the Ministries of Environment, Health and the FCT are collaborating to ensure providing clean environment for healthy living in the FCT and there is a strong commitment to make the collaboration sustainable.

“The theme was carefully selected to highlight the fact that most of the common illnesses our people suffer from such as malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, scabies and even Lassa fever etc, occur as a result of poor environmental sanitation and hygiene practises,” she said.

The minister at the event also reiterated her commitment towards giving Nigerians the desirable change in the environment sector, adding that it is her “strong desire to consult with states, local governments and other relevant stakeholders to create a strong interface to bring back the national environmental sanitation day.”

The launch which took place at the Kuje Area Council saw to the cleaning of Kuje Modern Market and environs, and a visit to the Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

In his address, the FCT Minister, Honourable Mohammed Musa Bello, also urged the members of the communities to cultivate the habits of cleanliness, while the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jubril, noted that the essence of the communal environmental sanitation exercise cannot be overemphasised.

Traditional rulers in the FCT including the Bomo of Kuje and Ona of Abaji, who were at the event, pledged their support to the success of the campaign.

Landmark Paris Agreement opens for signing April 22

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
ALTHOUGH the world rightly celebrated when 195 countries adopted the new international climate agreement at the COP21 in Paris in December last year, what is important to ensure that the Agreement quickly comes into effect and is fully implemented, is that each country must now sign and indicate their consent to be bound by the Agreement.

To this end, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has invited all world leaders to a signing ceremony on 22 April, for the climate agreement. Coinciding with the observance of the International Mother Earth Day, the UN executive is also using the occasion to further engage business leaders to put the new agreement into action.

“Leaders’ participation could also facilitate the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement and provide for the smooth finalisation of the operational details needed to give effect to the provisions of the new Agreement,” Ban Ki-moon said in his invitation letter.

For many stakeholders, it is until the agreement is signed that nations can then begin to celebrate, because at least 55 countries, representing at least 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, are needed to ratify the agreement before it can take legal effect.

The Agreement which is aimed at keeping a global temperature rise at no more than 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius if possible, for the period 2020-2030, is a critical turning point towards a climate-resilient world.

“The adoption of the Paris Agreement caps a remarkable year of multilateral achievements for people and the planet. It provides a solid foundation for the low-carbon, climate-resilient transformation of the global economy. And this transformation will help secure a future that is safer, healthier and more prosperous for all,” Ban Ki-moon said in his invitation.

The signing event will take place at the UN Headquarters in New York on 22 April, after which it will then be opened for signature for one year, that is until 21 April, 2017.

Ever heard of the Sick Building Syndrome?

BY DOYIN ADEOYE
FOR many, once they enter a building, they begin to feel dizzy; develop eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry or itchy skin; or even have difficulty in concentrating, such, among others are the symptoms of the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

The SBS is believed to occur when occupants of a building experience discomfort that appears to emanate from the building. Although it has no known cause, there are many risk factors responsible for this condition.

A 1984 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, suggested that up to 30 per cent of new and renovated buildings worldwide may be subject of complaints related to poor indoor air quality.

Basically, the SBS occurs in modern buildings with closed mechanically ventilated systems, as its causes are often related to poor ventilation and air conditioning systems. On many occasions, lack of fresh air is the major factor responsible for SBS, which in turn causes discomfort for many individuals.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2006), inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from outdoor sources, chemical contaminants from indoor sources and biological contaminants, are the four major causes of SBS.

While chemical contaminants from indoor sources within the building may include pollution from adhesives for carpeting, upholstery, chemicals from copy machines, pesticides and so on, sources of air pollution from outdoor pollutants may include fumes from car exhaust, plumbing vents, etc.

Biological contaminants on the other hand, are as a result of bacteria and viruses in the building. They may breed in stagnant water or on wastes that are not properly disposed. Individual negligence and attitude towards caring for the environment, is a major contributory factor to this.

To some others, especially those in an office space, poor lighting could also have adverse effect on the eyes. And in areas where they rely solely on power plants for electricity supply, the loud noise could cause headache for many residents in such areas.

To maintain good and healthy conditions in buildings, as well as resolving the problem of SBS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2006) recommended increase in ventilation rates and air distribution; purification of air; removal or modification of the pollutant sources, as well as education and communication.