To mark the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day on the 5th of June, global e-commerce and direct selling leader, QNET, has called for accelerated action to tackle climate change impacts that are disproportionately affecting developing countries such as Nigeria, even though they account for the lowest proportion of causal factors.
Mr Biram Fall, QNET’s Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
Fall said that much of Africa has already warmed by more than 1 °C since 1901, with an increase in heatwaves and hot days.
He said according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in the drought-prone sub-Saharan African countries, the number of undernourished people has increased by 45.6 per cent since 2012
He added that the same body reported that a reduction in mean agricultural yield of 13 per cent is projected in West and Central Africa, 11 per cent in North Africa, and eight per cent in East and Southern Africa, under the worst-case climate change scenario.
On the economic front, the African Climate Policy Center projects that the Gross Domestic Product in the five African subregions would suffer a significant decrease as a result of a global temperature increase.
For scenarios ranging from a 1°C to a 4°C increase in global temperatures relative to pre-industrial levels, the continent’s overall GDP is expected to decrease by 2.25 per cent to 12.12 per cent.
The QNET’s Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said, “It is evident that the time to act on climate change is now, and that every stakeholder must do their part.
“This is all the more important if we are to safeguard the gains made in developing Nigeria and Africa at large, while maintaining the momentum.
Mr Fall added: “At QNET, we simply believe that it is the right thing to do and has adopted environmental sustainability as a key pillar of our business operations.
“We call upon all and sundry to join hands to accelerate actions and initiatives designed to reverse the trend.
“In line with this, we have implemented a number of initiatives that directly and indirectly contribute to creating a more sustainable environment,” he said.
Fall said: “We partnered with EcoMatcher to launch the Green Legacy Initiative in 2021, with the goal of planting at least 10,000 trees by the end of 2022.
“Currently, we have planted 3,000 trees, spread across the Philippines, Kenya and the UAE, with plans to expand to more countries including Nigeria.”
He said that beyond external partnerships and projects, QNET had committed to making its operations more sustainable by implementing a meat-free policy within all its offices and events worldwide, given that the livestock industry is one of the biggest contributors towards climate change.
“The company also strongly champions sustainability at key events, and sponsors key stakeholder events.
“To drive home the essence of reforestation, Mr Fall stated that through its partnership with EcoMatcher, QNET is actively doing its part in protecting the planet by planting trees.
“Through this partnership, QNET is reiterating its commitment to actively protect the planet by planting trees that help improve local ecosystems and generate sustainable livelihoods for local communities.” fall said.
He said that other initiatives include partnering with Water for Africa to provide clean water for rural communities in Tanzania.
“At the 9th World Water Forum, QNET presented its first water filtration system, HomePure Nova, as a solution to safe drinking water designed with 10 years of research on water quality.
“This innovative product does not use single-use plastic, minimizes water wastage and does not require electricity to run — making it an ideal solution for homes and communities looking guilt-free, sustainable and easy access to clean water.
He said the company also plans to eliminate all plastic from its product packaging and switch to using solely sustainable materials by 2025.
Also, Mr Akeem Ajisafe, the CEO of Transblue, QNET’s partner in Nigeria, advised all stakeholders to recommit to the fight against climate change, because of it’s benefits.
“We particularly encourage the youth to consider this an investment in their future, given that a healthy planet makes for better livelihoods.
“We have heard on countless occasions, the adage: when the last tree dies, the last man dies. Now than ever, we must live it and work towards it,” he said.
Ajisafe commended other community initiatives implemented by QNET that aim to make communities more resilient.
He said, “These include the partnership between the RYTHM Foundation, QNET’s social impact initiative, and Water For Africa (WFA) that aims to provide access to clean water in rural Tanzania by building wells.
“The project also supports livelihoods through macadamia and avocado farming on a 50-acre land in Iringa, Tanzania.
“This not only generates revenue for local communities, but also provides funds for the construction and maintenance of the water wells.”
He said the company had also donated numerous water filters over the years to various hospitals and charitable foundations worldwide to increase access to clean water in those communities.
“Moreover, every year during Ramadan and on World Water Day, QNET gives back to society by donating HomePure units to communities in need of clean water in 30 countries.
“This commitment to humanitarian and environmental issues stems from QNET’s founders’ call to RYTHM (Raise Yourself To Help Mankind), whose central guiding principle is the idea that empowering others is key to one’s own success.
“In line with this, the RYTHM Foundation has three primary missions: education for all, promoting gender equality, and supporting sustainable community development,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
