By Jemimah Chungu
Air pollution
Studies have confirmed that air pollution in Africa is more deadly to people directly than other environments. Air pollution and the ultimate illnesses are responsible for more than 40% of deaths on the continent irrespective of the minimal (about 5%) greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the greenhouse gas emissions cannot be ignored as to be a drive for climate change that affects the well being the environment (the planet) and that of humanity. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) projects that Africa could prevent more than 800,000 deaths per year by taking action on air pollution.
Economic crisis
The African economic environment is an independent threat to many people on the continent. Many African countries Malawi, Kenya, DRC, Madagascar, Garbon, Ghana and the Sahel region among others have been toiled with economic crisis. Neighboring countries- regions of these countries are also naturally affected economically.
The economic crisis has been driven by environmental factors such as the 2023 cyclone Freddy, east African dry spell, political- social unrests, environmental degradation and uneven distribution of resources. The continent has also been hit by deadly plagues including murbug, ebola, monkey pox, malaria, dengue fever, COVID 19 variants, among others that stressed economic resources, physical resources, human resources and other environmental resources.
The east African oil pipeline construction.
Regardless of current current benefits, the crude oil pipeline being constructed in east Africa is posing threat to nature and humanity in the east African region. These damages may not be reversed or fixed at costs.
Crude oil construction- mining causes a lot of pollution on the immediate environment and ultimately the ozone layer. In this case the construction and the latter mining is being carried out near a water source (Lake Albert) and is resulting damages to life in water, people that access the water, agricultural activities and the ecosystem at large.
The construction is also jeopardizing other important natural resources in the region such as Murchison falls and national park. This includes the rich biodiversity; wildlife, fauna and flora they encompass. Additionally, the pollutants are being extended to the Tanzanian coast.
This pipeline is described as the world’s worst pipeline.
Uganda already ranked a struggling economy has had its socioeconomic affected by crude oil development. Millions of Ugandans have to be displaced from their homes. Their primary livelihood and, agriculture has been jeopardized by grabbing their land, polluting their water as well as their earth ( soils). This is pushing more into poverty or simply worsening their economic status.
