Environmental Information Crucial In Solving Climate Woes
By Noxolo Ndlovu
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has called on the need for private and public bodies to ensure that members of the general public have access to environmental information.
It is important as it enable citizens to know and understand what is happening in the environment around them also assists the public to participate in environmental decision making in an informed manner.
Ms Ratidzai Mwenga, the PR officer at EMA Westgate said although gender inequality is also not a direct environmental problem, solving problems like inadequate access to birth control, health services, and education has a positive impact on the economy and environment.
“Women across the country need to be educated and made aware that inequalities in homes, schools, workplaces, organizations, communities etc will eventually impact the state of the environment.
For example, imagine the population impact of women not using contraceptives because of religion”, she said.
However the long standing environmental problems like wasted natural resources, plastic/air pollution, global warming, veld fires, illegal deforestation etc still pose a serious threat if not dealt with.
Millions of tons of municipal solid waste reportedly goes to landfills instead of being recycled, upcycled, composted, or used for something else resulting in a lot of wasted natural resources that originally came from nature, in one form or another.
In a circular economy, these natural resources would not be wasted.
Instead, they could be upcycled, recycled, or used to regenerate other materials.
The public therefore plays a pivotal role in aiding to solve these problems provided they are fully accessible and aware of the situation on the ground,dos, don’ts and how they can minimize causing further damage to an already fragile environment.
EMA is a statutory body responsible for ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and protection of the environment, the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation.
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