Global temperatures are rising and, to stop this worrisome trend, Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable living, wants more young people to be included in the international climate conversation.
And, in order for youngsters to play a role in addressing the issue, the group stressed that they must be adequately educated and equipped with the essential skills.
According to Aliyu Sadiq, co-founder of EDF, this need drove him and his team to create Play, Learn, and Act Now (PLAN), an environmental card game they designed to bridge the knowledge gap and empower young people to take climate action and foster a sustainable future.
PLAN’s other purpose, he explained, is to accelerate the development of new, environmentally friendly remedies to the nation’s ecological concerns.
Speaking at the official launch of the card game, which took place on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, in Abuja, Sadiq described the event as the beginning of a highly impactful endeavour that will stimulate young people’s participation in addressing devastating environmental issues that endanger human lives and ecosystem services.
He went on to say that his establishment intends to distribute over 500 card games to 100 schools over the next year, with the goal of impacting 5,000 young people across Nigeria.
“We invite you to join us on this lasting journey of positive change,” the EDF co-founder said, emphasising that the current war for ecological survival can be overcome and accomplished together.
With less than 35% of people in developing countries having a fundamental understanding of climate change, Aliyu Muhammad Ali, CEO of EHFAAz Recycling Solutions, pointed out that climate education is more than just statistics but also a timely reminder of the need to act.
According to him, the card game appears simple but crucial in terms of boosting environmental education. So, the launch of the ground-breaking game signifies a path towards environmental awareness and climate action.
He praised EDF for their unwavering commitment to this noble cause, stating that it is through their vision that PLAN has come to light because climate education is about cultivating a sustainable attitude, which they truly exemplify.
“As we embark on this journey together, keep in mind that we are not just launching a game today, but a movement that educates the public and calls on the government to take action to effect change. And PLAN is the catalyst we require,” he said.
Similarly, Dr. Priscilla Achakpa, founder and global president of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), believes that young people’s involvement is vital in combating and driving climate change action.
The youth are the ones who are powerful enough to propagate this message and carry the campaign to vulnerable communities, according to Dr. Achakpa, who listed a few of the environmental problems that have plagued Nigeria for a long time, such as floods, droughts, and erosion.
This, she claims, is why her organisation collaborated with EDF to launch the PLAN game, because they trust that climate change is an issue that requires the participation of young people to address.
She bemoaned that Nigeria has a deforestation problem because, typically, when you visit communities, people take down trees and don’t replace them, and the land is becoming more and more depleted as a result of human activity.
Furthermore, the WEP chieftain also criticised the fact that people throw their solid waste out irresponsibly, clogging most of the seaways in urban areas.
In this regard, she said, “We strongly believe that raising awareness is necessary, but it should be done by young people themselves, which is the main goal of the PLAN game.”
During his remarks, Dr. Ishaq Salako, Minister of State for the Environment, expressed his happiness with the PLAN initiative and made a commitment that his ministry would continue to support any innovation that would further environmental enlightenment.
The minister, who was represented by Dr. Aliyu Yauri, a deputy director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC), described PLAN as the type of innovation that the country requires to involve young people and increase climate change awareness.
“Environmental and climate change education are everyone’s responsibility because the consequences of climate change do not have boundaries,” he said. “So, we are calling on all the relevant stakeholders to play the game and act now.”
He promised that the ministry would continue to support environmental education through its numerous school projects in Nigeria’s six geographical zones.
The PLAN game can be played by a minimum of two and a maximum of five people. This initiative was supported by EHFAAz Recycling Solutions, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), and the Women Environmental Programme (WEP).
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja
