A report by CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo has raised mixed reactions on the internet after he shared the state of floods in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. While most term it as intentional exposure of the state of African nations when it comes to dealing with natural calamities, it brings to our attention the ignorance and lack of serious concern since we have never experienced firsthand  such situations.

The issue of climate change and its subsequent effects have been hitting us for a long time but recently, things seem to be getting out of hand.

The Conference of Parties, the UN Climate Change Conference, was first adopted in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Later in March 1995, the first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany, which, has become an annual event.

In the Convention, the COP is the supreme decision-making body. As part of its mandate, the COP reviews national communications as well as emissions inventories submitted by Parties. The COP measures the effectiveness of the measures taken by Parties and progress made in achieving the Convention’s ultimate goal based on this information.

This year, COP 27 will kick off on November 6 to 18, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Our greatest wish for this event is for there to be the adoption of a global goal for adaptation and adjustment to the climate crisis, as well as the advancement of all issues it will focus on, including the continuation of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the promotion of cooperation among Member States, and the increase in climate financing.

The recent climatic changes, however, beg the question of what has been done and if any, is it enough to help conserve our planet? At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when production had been slimmed and emissions managed, the greenhouse effect seemed to be managed. It clearly showed that human activities play a significant role in climate change.

To lead the world in the right direction, a sustainable strategy must be crafted by world leaders, government representatives, experts, private sector and civil society representatives, academics, opinion shapers, and policy formulators who will be heading to Egypt. A successful engagement will have the utmost importance to the whole world as we strive to prevent a climate crisis.

Twenty seven years down the line, the COP conferences, as much as they have tried to come up with regulative measures for a better world, which embodies the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there seems to be a gap in the execution of the strategies. The lack of financial muscle in developing countries has also dealt a blow given the stringent budget at their disposal.

To this end, we have to salute all the efforts of individuals, organisations, and nations in however much effort they are making. Further, as corporates, our existence depends on the environment and the well-being of the populations we mutually depend on. As the beasts try to find an anchor, let us, wholeheartedly, stand up and help make the world a better place. Let us have our own COP in our organisations. The future generation depends on us. In the words of Guy McPherson, School of Natural Resources, the University of Arizona, “If you think the economy is more important than the environment, try holding your breath while counting your money.”