Pollution

Pollution is anything that makes our word dirty and unhealthy. 

Just think about all the dirt, grime, litter, and dark smoke spewing from the exhaust pipes of cars, trucks, and buses. In industrial areas, we also see thick smog pouring from factory smokestacks. Smog makes breathing difficult for animals and for people, especially children and the elderly.

Land, air, and water are all affected by pollution. Let's also think of all those plastic materials that we throw everywhere. These oil spills, fertilizers and other chemicals that penetrate our soils, which run off into the waterways.

Pollution contains harmful substances called pollutants which are harmful to the health of all living beings and the environment. Pollutants are in the air we breathe, and, in the water, we drink, and are generally, created by human activity.
 

Air, water and soil pollution, toxins from plastic debris and other waste materials are just some of the environmental hazards in Africa. The air in Africa is polluted due to multiple reasons. Around 3 billion people in Africa still cook and heat their homes using solid fuels such as fuel, wood, gas, crop wastes, charcoal, coal, and dung, in open fires and leaky stoves. Annually, over 4 million people die prematurely from illness largely due to the household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels.

As more people from rural areas move to cities, we see more motor vehicles, buses and taxis being used for transportation causing higher and thicker smog levels.

Access to clean, healthy water is a fundamental human right. In Africa, however, around 418 million people still lack even the basic level of drinking water, and 779 million people lack basic sanitation services. Like other parts of the world, many of Africa’s oceans, canals, rivers, and dams are polluted with plastic and other debris and waste caused by humans.

Poor farming methods and practises using pesticides and fertilizers have also contaminated our soil and water.
 

Pollution has a catastrophic impact on human life and the environment. 

Air pollution is one of the major causes of respiratory illnesses and other health issues. It is not only outdoor pollution that is a health hazard, but also indoor smoke for example, for people who cook and heat their homes with biomass fuels and coal. 
Carbon dioxide in the air contributes to greenhouse gas emissions causing extreme temperatures and aggravating climate change. Water pollution can cause illnesses. 

Consuming contaminated water can lead to serious health problems. From diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid, to death. It is estimated that about 5 million people die each year from drinking this water.
In addition, soil pollution may cause a variety of health problems, starting with headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, eye irritation and potentially resulting in more serious conditions like neuromuscular blockage, kidney and liver damage and various forms of cancer.

The causes and effects of pollution in Africa demands urgent attention.
 

This is about both regulations, reforestation, soil regeneration, using recycling material, proper waste management, carbon footprint remediation, etc. So achieving sustainable development to a pollution-free environment will require strong action on the part of governments, development partners, non-government organisations, academia, and civil society and businesses.
Businesses like Nestlé are taking vital steps to reduce their carbon footprint across the continent and working towards achieving net zero.

To further reduce emissions, farmers and suppliers should be encouraged to positively change the way food is grown and produced and move to sustainable farming practices. This includes, for example, using less artificial fertilizers and reducing soil tillage. The planting of trees and other plants also remove carbon and other pollutants from the atmosphere. Businesses like Nestlé are taking vital steps to reduce their carbon footprint across the continent and working towards achieving net zero.

Individuals should be encouraged in their day-to-day activities to be mindful of the choices they make. For example, using recycled shopping bags for shopping, carpooling with friends, family or colleagues, and recycling waste matter and buying products made from recycled packaging are all concrete ways to reduce harmful emissions to our environment.
Get inspired now with Ivorian environmental activist Andy Costa’s story!

If you take firm action, you can also Be A Champion.