Imagine standing by the banks of the once-vibrant Ogun River, its waters now littered with waste and coated in oil residue. The birds that once danced across its surface have retreated. The fishermen no longer rise at dawn, nets in hand. What used to be a community’s lifeline has become a cautionary tale.
This is not a distant reality. This is Nigeria. And this Earth Day, the story of “Our Power, Our Planet” begins here, where the tension between economic survival and ecological stewardship is not an academic debate but a daily lived experience.
Despite being Africa’s largest economy and one of its most resource-endowed nations, Nigeria sits at a dangerous tipping point. 85 million Nigerians still live without access to grid electricity. The country loses 400,000 hectares of forest annually to deforestation. Over 1.4 million people were displaced due to flooding in 2022, costing the economy an estimated ₦700 billion. Lagos alone produces 13,000 tonnes of waste every day, with over 40% ending up in waterways or landfills that leak toxins into the soil.
And yet, Nigeria contributes just 0.31% of global carbon emissions. We are paying the price for a climate crisis we did not create—but one we must now navigate with urgency and precision.
The journey toward environmental justice must begin at the grassroots, where urban sprawl, industrial expansion, and energy poverty collide with a vulnerable natural ecosystem. These are not abstract figures; they are real lives, real losses, and real consequences.
Moving beyond Nigeria, Africa presents both a warning and a window of opportunity. The continent: Accounts for less than 4% of global carbon emissions, holds over 60% of the world’s solar energy potential, and faces an estimated 15% GDP loss by 2030 if climate change remains unchecked.
The African paradox is stark: the continent is least responsible for global emissions yet most vulnerable to its effects. From droughts in the Sahel to rising sea levels in coastal West Africa, the environmental narrative is often one of crisis. But it can also be one of innovation.
Rwanda has banned single-use plastics. Kenya has launched one of the world’s largest tree planting campaigns. Senegal is investing in hybrid solar-diesel grids to electrify off-grid communities. These are not symbolic gestures—they are signs of a continent redefining resilience on its own terms.
The future lies not in carbon credits or distant pledges, but in empowering communities, strengthening policy enforcement, and financing clean infrastructure that is inclusive and indigenous to African needs.
The global picture is sobering. We must cut emissions by 45% by 2030 to avoid exceeding the 1.5°C global warming threshold, yet emissions continue to rise. Earth Overshoot Day in 2023 fell on August 2, meaning humanity exhausted the planet’s annual resources in just seven months. More than 1 million species are at risk of extinction due to ecosystem collapse.
And yet, the path forward is not sealed. From the EU’s Green Deal to the US Inflation Reduction Act’s $370 billion climate investment, the world is beginning to act, just not fast enough, and not fairly enough.
The truth is: the fight for the planet will be won or lost not in conference rooms but in communities. In the choices we make about what we consume, how we move, who we vote for, and how we treat our natural resources.
CSR-in-Action: Reclaiming Local Power for Global Change
At CSR-in-Action, we believe that sustainability must be local before it can be global. For over a decade, we have championed environmental consciousness through: Community Engagement Standards (CES) that embed sustainability into corporate-community dialogue, Sustainability education programs that equip professionals, CSOs, and students with practical skills in ESG and environmental management. Strategic partnerships that promote renewable energy, waste reduction, and nature-based solutions within industries.
Our focus is clear: Nigeria and Africa must no longer be passive recipients of global climate policy but active architects of their own sustainable future.
Whether through the Sustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI) conference, our upcoming IFRS sustainability reporting webinars, or our long-standing engagement in the UN Global Compact, we work every day to ensure that sustainability is not just a buzzword—it is a lived experience.
Five Ways You Can Use Your Power for the Planet
This Earth Day, we invite you to act. Here is how:
- Audit your energy use: Consider switching to solar, reducing generator reliance, and advocating for clean power access in your community.
- Support local climate organisations: Volunteer, donate, or collaborate with NGOs working on green projects.
- Reduce plastic waste: Carry reusable bags and bottles, and demand plastic-free alternatives from your favourite brands.
- Join our training programmes: Learn how to embed sustainability into your business, career, or community leadership.
- Raise your voice: Use your platform to speak out on deforestation, oil pollution, and waste management.
The Earth will survive. The question is—will we?
“Our Power, Our Planet” is not just a theme. It is the truth. We hold the power to heal the damage, to restore what has been lost, and to build a future that respects both people and the planet.
So, this Earth Day, let us move beyond performative awareness. Let us choose real change, because what we do today determines the world we leave behind tomorrow.
References
[1] World Bank – Energy Access in Nigeria
[2] FAO – Nigeria Deforestation Report
[3] NEMA – 2022 Flood Impact Report
[4] Lagos State Waste Report – LAWMA 2024
[5] World Bank – Emissions Data
[6] UN Environment Programme – Africa’s Emissions
[7] IRENA – Renewable Energy Potential in Africa
[8] UNECA Climate Impact Report