In his book, “This Animal Called Man,” published in 1998 after his release from prison, former military Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo, who later became a democratically elected president of Nigeria, posits that man is a contradiction—a complex and unique being that likely defies definition. Obasanjo explores humanity in its social, economic, and political dimensions, highlighting both its best and worst traits. He portrays man as a scheming creature, often plotting harm against his fellow beings. The annals of history and literature are filled with accounts of human intrigue and betrayal. However, scientists are increasingly alarmed by a more destructive aspect of human nature: the tendency to harm the Earth, our only habitat, without recognizing the potential consequences of making it uninhabitable for both man and the planet.
The destructive capabilities of humanity were starkly illustrated during the Second World War when the United States dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a grim testament to man’s self-destructive tendencies. Fortunately, this catastrophic folly has not been repeated, largely due to the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties, which have underscored the reality of Mutually Assured Destruction. There exists a convoluted logic suggesting that humanity’s current actions may lead to its own demise, akin to a tick parasite that kills itself while attempting to harm its host, the dog. Man’s reckless management of the Earth threatens to render it scorched and sterile, incapable of supporting vegetation.
Pests, defined as living organisms that disrupt human life, possessions, or the environment, can be plants, animals, or fungi that spread diseases or cause destruction. In agricultural terms, pests are often seen as destructive insects or animals that attack crops and livestock. While mistletoe, known as ‘afomo’ in Yoruba, can destroy its host tree or shrub, ticks are parasites that trouble both domestic and wild animals, and occasionally humans. The most significant contributors to humanity’s assault on itself and the planet include the industrial burning of fossil fuels and large-scale deforestation in the Earth’s rainforest regions, both of which have led to global warming. Experts estimate that in 2018, nearly 89 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions originated from fossil fuels, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to rising global temperatures. They warn that if global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, it will severely threaten the planet’s well-being.
The potential consequences of unchecked global warming are alarming: rising sea levels due to melting glaciers, extreme biodiversity loss, species extinction, food scarcity, increased poverty, unemployment, and a rise in health issues. Such a trajectory could lead to the end of humanity and its planet, a state that Christians might describe as perdition. In Nigeria, the situation is exacerbated by illegal fuel refineries operated by individuals lacking access to the technology needed for clean petroleum refining. Additionally, gas flaring—defined by the World Bank as the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction—continues to be a significant issue. This practice, which has persisted for over 160 years, is driven by economic constraints and a lack of appropriate regulations. The World Bank notes that gas flaring represents a monumental waste of a valuable natural resource, with approximately 144 billion cubic meters flared each year, enough to power all of sub-Saharan Africa.
Nigeria ranks among the top seven petroleum-producing countries that practice gas flaring, adversely affecting over two million Nigerians living within four kilometers of flaring sites. In cities like Port Harcourt and Effurun, residents are confronted with black soot that settles on their living spaces, clothing, and food, contributing to a slow and painful demise. Deforestation, another major cause of climate change, results in the uncontrolled destruction of rainforest regions, releasing harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Amazon rainforest, the largest in the world, is particularly vulnerable, having lost nearly 300,000 square miles in just 50 years. The shrinking of Lake Chad, which has decreased by 90 percent over the past sixty years, has left over 10 million people in need of emergency assistance.
Researchers believe that halting and reversing deforestation in tropical rainforests could reduce global carbon emissions by 18 percent. They also advocate for more efficient farming methods and strict enforcement of anti-deforestation policies as potential solutions. However, it seems that humanity remains largely unaware of its destructive impact on the planet. The recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Egypt, like its predecessor COP 26, was deemed a monumental failure. Although the conference established a fund for loss and damage related to global warming, it did not commit to phasing out fossil fuel use.
Meanwhile, the world celebrates advancements in electric vehicles, with entrepreneurs like Elon Musk gaining prominence for their innovative contributions to renewable energy. Musk’s investments in Tesla and SpaceX have solidified his status as the richest man in the world, despite significant financial losses. However, the looming threat of climate change suggests that humanity may face far greater losses than mere financial ones when the consequences of its actions come to fruition.
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