Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most abundant greenhouse gases and a primary agent of global warming. It constitutes 72% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gases, causing between 9-26% of the greenhouse effect. This study focused on carbon-dioxide sequestration potential of trees in four tertiary institutions (Federal University of Technology Akure, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, and Federal College of Agriculture Akure) in Ondo State, Nigeria. Identification of trees located in built up areas, car parks and walk ways of each institution was done with an experienced taxonomists. Tree variables such as diameter at breast height (dbh), diameter at the base (Db), diameter at the middle (Dm), diameter at the top (Dt) and total height (Ht).) were measured using Spiegel relaskop and girth diameter tape. Carbon storage estimation was estimated using non-destructive method. Of the 100% CO2 in the institutions under this study, AAUA had 92.22%, FUTA had 3.40%, RUGIPO had 4.99% and FECA had 0.59% respectively. The amount of carbon-dioxide estimated for each institution in this study were comparably higher than what was obtained for Strict Nature Reserve (593.68 tons/ha) and Enrichment Planting Forest (326.14tons/ha). This study is an eye opener that much more carbon-dioxide could be sequestered if more trees are planted or retained in our tertiary institutions. Therefore, retention and planting of tree species in our tertiary institution is recommended.
This study was conducted using secondary data from the Meteorological Department obtained from five stations in Ratnapura District: Ratnapura, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Lellopitiya and Embilipitiya. The objective of the study was ‘to identify rainfall trend and variability analysis in the study area and to find the impact of climate changes on rainfall variability in the study area’. The average rainfall in the selected stations are: in Embilipitiya - between 112 mm to 170 mm, in Balangoda - from 170 mm to 230 mm, Lellopitiya – from 230 mm - 290 mm and both Ratnapura and Eheliyagoda - 290 mm to 360 mm. To identify the rainfall variability, the moving average technique was employed, using 7 years of data. According to the result of this study, climate change has impact on rainfall variability in the Ratnapura District.
Climate change has now become an inevitable truth. Anthropogenic CO2 emission accounts for 80% of total GHGs emission and is at the highest level (403 ppm) of CO2 observed in human history. According to the Global climate risk assessment, Nepal contributes only 0.01% of all global CO2 emissions and 0.025% of total GHGs emissions, but ranks 13th in the category of most vulnerable country. Nepal, being signatory of UN policies and strategies set out for global action, has begun implementing mitigation measures. Thus, Nepal’s government prioritizes climate change issues in its action plan, policies and acts. It is difficult. On one hand the poor economic countries such as Nepal are struggling under changing climatic circumstance, whereas on other hand, developed countries make this a political agenda. Still, alarmists and skeptics have their own opinion. Alarmists claim that we will be burning in hell by the end of the century. Skeptics assert that fear has been misplaced. This paper, prepared with thorough review of secondary sources via Web science, Scopus and Google scholar, aims to highlight the global climatic political debate that influences the climate change deal and recommends policies for the same.
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