By Awa Macalo
Clean Earth Gambia on Saturday trained its volunteers on enhancing capacity for better advocacy, effects of climate change and hazardous factors that lead to environment destruction.
Clean Earth Gambia and other organizations embarked on a series of climate activities to at least limit the risk of climate issues and sensitize Gambians on the impact it has on people’s lives and the environment.
Gambia’s sea level rise and coastal erosion present serious long-term challenge to the country’s development. There is consensus that climate change could result in up to one metre rise in sea level if solid actions are not in place to solve it.
Bakary Ceesay, volunteer of Clean Earth Gambia, said he is ready to stand with his organization and help in the struggle to mitigate the effects of climate change. He explained that the issue of climate change should be a concern to everyone since it is a global trend, and it requires professionalism. “We have many organizations that are fighting for the climate but what we must put into consideration in this fight is, bringing on better approaches, ways of helping people to better understand the concept of climate change and professionalism,” he said.
Isatou Jaiteh, volunteer coordinator for Clean Earth Gambia, said the training was timely as it would give volunteers the maximum capacity and knowledge needed for their subsequent activities, help them be better climate change and environment advocates.
Omar Malmo Sambou, lecturer at the University of The Gambia and a climate advocate, explained that the impact of climate change could lead to drought, sea level rise, decline in agricultural products among other factors if serious cautions are not taken.
He also said climate and environment advocacy requires accuracy, critical thinking, understanding of the logistic connection between ideas and being able to identify, construct and evaluate arguments related to climate and environment issues.
