Motorists and generators are cited as the main sources of air quality deterioration in Lagos State, Nigeria. In a statement issued on 15 January 2024, the local government stresses the need for green and improved air throughout the state to ensure healthy living.
Toute l'actu sur la protection de l'environnement
Motorists and generators are cited as the main sources of air quality deterioration in Lagos State, Nigeria. In a statement issued on 15 January 2024, the local government stresses the need for green and improved air throughout the state to ensure healthy living.
On Monday 15 January 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria, the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) issued a statement noting that current air quality in many parts of the state is poor. According to IQAIR, a platform that publishes real-time data on air quality, the air pollution index in Lagos is currently 152 US AQIs, 13.4 times higher than the concentration of PM2.5 particles recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
PM2.5 are fine particles, emitted mainly during combustion processes. They have a diameter of 2.5 microns (μm). Like all particles, they are made up of a mixture of different chemical compounds.
Stressing the need for green and improved air throughout the State to ensure a healthy life, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, Director General of LASEPA said that such a high level of air pollution is dangerous for human health. Residents of the affected areas could suffer from respiratory diseases such as lung infections, asthma, cystic fibrosis, mesothelioma, pulmonary hypertension and runny noses, among others.
Second leading risk factor for death in Africa
Having identified emissions from generators in residential areas and vehicle emissions as the main causes of poor air quality in certain regions, LASEPA is urging people to switch to biofuels, which are safer and more environmentally friendly than diesel or petrol.
The agency is also advocating reducing the number of vehicles on the roads by carpooling or preferring public transport to people putting their cars on the road every day.
This situation is becoming more widespread across the continent. According to the report on « The state of air quality and its effects on health in Africa » recently produced by the State of Global Air initiative, air pollution is the second most common risk factor for death in Africa. In 2019, for example, air pollution contributed to 1.1 million deaths, 63% of which were linked to exposure to household air pollution (HAP).
Fanta Mabo
National roadmaps could play an important role in creating a favourable environment for the adoption of the circular economy in Africa. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has made the circular economy its priority in order to popularise it on the continent. The financial institution reaffirmed its commitment at the Global Circular Economy Forum 2023, organised by the Finnish Sitra Innovation Fund in Helsinki, Finland from 30 May to 2 June 2023.
The circular economy is a
model of production and consumption that involves sharing, renting, reusing,
repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as
long as possible. It represents an enormous advantage for environmental
protection, in that it reduces our impact on nature and cuts down on the
exploitation of natural resources. Hence the interest of the African
Development Bank (AfDB).
To promote the transition
of African economies to this model, the pan-African financial institution is
banking on a regulatory framework developed in a consensual and inclusive
manner in each of its member states. "National governments need to
create the right legal and policy foundations to encourage financial flows to
move towards circular economy solutions," said Anthony Nyong, the
AfDB's Director of Climate Change and Green Growth, at the Circular Economy
Global Forum 2023, organised by the Finnish Sitra Innovation Fund in Helsinki,
Finland from 30 May to 2 June 2023.
Through the African
Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), a multi-donor trust fund, the African
Development Bank is supporting five African countries in developing national
roadmaps to enable the transition to a circular model. "It is important
that the process of developing the roadmaps is inclusive in order to achieve
sustainable, locally-owned results," added Anthony Nyong.
A study cited by the World
Economic Forum indicates that the circular economy represents a $4500 billion
opportunity by 2030.
Fanta Mabo
AFRICA: the AfDB’s commitment to the transition to the circular economy
National roadmaps could play an important role in creating a favourable environment for the adoption of the circular economy in Africa. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has made the circular economy its priority in order to popularise it on the continent. The financial institution reaffirmed its commitment at the Global Circular Economy Forum 2023, organised by the Finnish Sitra Innovation Fund in Helsinki, Finland from 30 May to 2 June 2023.