Global warming causes migration in Upper West

Wa, June 10, GNA- An Assistant Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Wa has identified global warming as one of the causes of labour migration from the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions to the southern parts of the country. He said global warming has also contributed immensely to the high poverty levels of the people and was responsible for the occurrence of cerebro-spinal meningitis in these regions during the dry seasons. Mr Emmanuel Lignule was addressing students of environmental clubs from various schools in the Wa Municipality to mark this year's World Environment Day in Wa on Monday.

He Lignule reminded people in the three Northern regions that their economic activities were the sources of carbon emission into the atmosphere that was causing global warming.

He mentioned the slash and burn agriculture, bush burning and high dependence on fuel wood as some of the negative environmental practices that the people were involved in and appealed for a change, to control global warming.

"The deficiencies in rain fall pattern, the inability of farmers to provide enough food and the experience of perennial water shortages for domestic and livestock rearing among others, must be a worry to all" he said.

Mr Lignule said the EPA has been making serious efforts to encourage communities in the regions to avoid wildfires, indiscriminate felling of trees and adopt agro forestry practices. The EPA was also sensitising people in the communities to establish woodlots to serve as reliable sources of fuel wood to help reduce high dependence on the natural vegetation for fuel. He said carbon emission into the atmosphere was caused by human activities and that required collective action at the international, national, regional and local levels to control the incidence of global warming.

The Day was on the theme: "Kick the habit-towards a low carbon economy" with the accompanying local theme: "Plant a tree-reduce global warming". The students planted various species of trees in their schools as part of their contribution towards afforestation.