Recently there has been a lot of advocacy and movement from groups pushing for the voices of young people to be heard at this year’s Rio+20 Earth Summit. The objective has been simple; let young people decide on the future they want to be a part of. That last sentence has been a driving force and a largely determining factor in choosing my career path. From being a starry eyed youth working as a civil-servant under the National Environment Agency, to an International Energy and Environment Development Centre, I was determined to help shape my world. The problem is, the world wasn’t changing fast enough.
My part of the world is Africa, to be more specific Nigeria. Host to over a 160 million people and with an abundance of mineral resources that would make even the industrialized nations cringe with envy, Nigeria is plagued with the blessing of the “Black Gold”. A commodity highly sort the world over it has become both a blessing and a curse. Gross mismanagement of key development sectors like agriculture and other mineral resources has left the country hanging by the thread of a mono-economy – oil.
Currently Nigeria produces about 1,500 MW of power, at full capacity it would produce about 6,000MW – pittance compared to the about 22,000 MW of power the nation needs to attain its development goals. The consequence? Highly unstable, and epileptic power supply resulting in the shutting up of businesses, and leading to the loss of livelihood.
The nation now runs almost entirely on diesel and petrol powered generators to meet its energy needs. At a time the planet is faced with the challenge of reversing from its near tipping point of carbon emissions to ensuring sustainable development, Nigeria is stuck in a catch 22 situation. It needs to meet its urgent energy demands so it utilizes fossil fuel powered generators, a resource that is mined from the now environmental catastrophe area called the Niger-Delta.
Internationally renowned energy companies pay zero regard for eco-systems and biodiversity, poisoning the very soil that local people need to survive.
Further more, the nation is forced to import its own crude oil from foreign refineries, due to its inability to refine its own crude. Equally frightening is the stark reality that our prized asset, oil, is a finite resource with conservative estimates giving another 25-30 years for the oil reserves to dry up.
With very little concern given to alternative energy resources, and the poor state of energy infrastructure, Nigeria runs the grave risk of running into a new kind of energy and economic slavery by 2040.
With its entire economy tied to a diminished fossil fuel resource and its inability to invest in alternative energy, it is now dependent on other more visionary nations for energy and economic assistance. Locked in a perpetual cycle of having to borrow to pay for the energy it gets from the new-world/clean energy brokers, it would forever be at the mercy of the administering nation or body.
So when you see me go to Rio+20 to engage world leaders on the delivery of sustainable development centered agreements, or join an eco-club, take part in a “we are the world” type concert with a rock band, or work with pressure groups in my home country to urge government action and policy development concerning sustainable development, I do it with the edge of a person who has a little more at stake, and a lot to lose. I am unwilling to see the current pace of inter-governmental action on sustainable development continue.
Indeed, I am connected to a larger world, and the winners would always lose if the losers don’t win. I have seen large parts of a possible future, a future I do not want, and I am willing to engage the process to correct it.
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