The Cost of Carbon…….who pays the price?

24^t

Carbon pollution has adverse effect on the individuals, their health and also the environment. These effects attract a cost that is either borne by the people or the environment. What is the price of carbon pollution commonly referred to as carbon price? It refers to the amount that must be paid to a public authority such as carbon tax, or as emission permit exchange such as emissions for one tonne of carbon doixide into the atmosphere or purchasing emissions allowance. This can also be based on international emissions trading agreement between countries. The purpose this is implemented to ensure the “polluters pay principles” are enforced within a system. This will enable emitters to be responsible for at least a certain percentage of the cost of pollution and ultimately climate change.

Climate change has economic and social costs, which has an implication on those that are affected directly or indirectly, it has a negative impact on the flora and fauna, families, local community, the government and the nation as a whole. The sect that is least affected is the organization or companies that engage in activities that contribute to climate change because there is little or no enforcement through taxes, fines or penalties.

It is our responsibility to enlighten these organizations, the government and the public on the devastating effects of carbon on our health and the environment. This awareness will bring about change in attitude and approach of industries activities that contribute to climate change and also investment in more sustainable and greener technologies. Therefore the major contributors to climate change will bear the cost of their action and be responsible for ensuring we have a more sustainable world to live in.

The Climate reality project has developed a tool for calculating the carbon cost in different continents but unfortunately the tool has not been activated for Nigeria therefore you cannot check the cost of carbon for Nigeria at the moment. This tool highlights the effects of carbon pollution in various aspects of life and then the risk associated with such effects are classified from a range of extreme risk to low risk. The aspects considered with this tool are higher food prices, water scarcity, reduced water quality, property damage, loss of wildlife/wetlands/agriculture soil, ecological damage, higher insurance premium, spread of diseases, river or lake water level decline, heat related illness . This is just one of the various ways of highlighting the cost of carbon. What suggestions do you have on how to combat this  growing concern? We want to hear from you…….

More information on the carbon cost can be found on http://www.thecostofcarbon.org/.

More information on the Climate reality Corps can be found http://climaterealityproject.

                                      

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2014.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

United Against Cancer: Fighting today for a cure tomorrow.

                                          

The fourth day of February every year is declared for the celebration of the world cancer day and the theme for this year is “Together it is possible” we can all fight against the scourge of cancer. Let us dispel all the myths and misconceptions we have about the disease and join hands to eradicate this disease. This period the world over is dedicated to promoting awareness on cancer, emphasizing early detection and treatment. On this occasion the Empire State building in New York will be lit orange and blue, the fourth year in a row for the promotion of cancer. The good news is that a lot of people are being educated on the devastation the scourge of this disease is bringing to a number of families. There is a geometric increase in the ratio of new incidence detected in Nigeria daily. The focus is mostly on breast cancer (women) and lung cancer (men). Although these cancers can affect all population but it could be gender based as indicated.

Nigeria, some individuals, non governmental organizations, private organizations and even the federal government have set up programs events to provide education, early detection and treatment for cancers as the need may be but is that enough? Treatment of any form of cancer can be very expensive ranging from the chemotherapy, medications and surgeries. What can we do to support the cases that require treatment? There is a need to provide machinery such as mammograms and more cancer centers for mammogram used for diagnosis of breast cancer. Early detection of cancers have been identified as the key to total eradication of cancers for they can be treated in time before there is a spread of vital organs of the body. Therefore the constant need to promote and increase awareness of breast self-examination and routine screening.

One of such events sponsored by an organization on 9^th of November, 2013 was the Zumbathon dance for a cure was held in Lagos as an avenue where celebrities came together to create awareness on the need to promote early detection and support the cancer cause through a dance session. It was highly entertaining and fun and also a source of exercise for most of those that attended for the dance was intense and vigorous. The event was organized by WOW Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed Sisters (Divas) a celebrities that were involved include Neato C,  Mrs Udo Maryann Okonjo, Rita Dominic, Julius Agwu, Sophie Mbakwe, Dr Ebele Alaka, Betty Irabor, Weird MC, Ego Boyo, Frank Edoho to mention a few with Genevieve magazine, Seplat Petroleum, Pillar Oil, Staoil and This Day Style as some of the sponsors. Some pictures of the event are shown below.

                                                

As this year’s theme implies, together we can fight for a cure by organizing events around our communities, host festivals, run/walks, seminars, public information campaigns to raise awareness and educate people on how to fight cancer through  screening and early detection, quitting smoking, adopting healthy eating habits, increasing physical activities and persuading government and policy makers to give priority to cancer prevention.

 Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited, 2014

Twitter: @O Reese2

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