Prepare adequately for future pandemics and challenges like climate change

The Panel appointed by the World Health Organization and which was co-chaired by former Liberian President Ellen Jonson Sirleaf has finally released their report, showing that effects of COVID -19 pandemic could have been mitigated had the people trusted with making critical decisions acted in time. It also shows that there is need to address inequality issues around the globe to enhance coping strategies for COVID -19 and other likely challenges. Stakeholders and citizens must understand that their actions towards utilization of available information and data is critical for the survival of the human race beyond the current situations. There is need for behavioural changes towards the pandemic and also current challenges attributed to humans’ behaviour. Challenges facing the human race calls for serious actions now or we collectively regret later. One of these challenges is global climate change and associated disasters and diseases like Covid -19.

We have watched as the climate change phenomena keeps growing and becoming catastrophic, it will be the next catastrophe globally unless measures are taken now. Stakeholders have acted in denial; others have refuted the idea or even denied that climate change is a serious threat at all for humans. This means that we must start undertaking measures that will safeguard the globe from its effects including enacting climate change and adaptation measures and policies as Kenya has done. Eventually, we must move towards financing options for climate change adaptation and some agencies in Kenya are starting to work towards that direction. Recently Kenya Rural Roads Authority secured financing from European Union for climate proofed and semi-arid lands roads projects, which is a step in the right direction. Unless we climate proof our infrastructure and developments, the ever surging climate change will make us perennial cry-babies. Through climate proofed development financing, mechanisms for water harvesting should be availed in cases where there is flooding, and also undertake construction of climate change resilient infrastructure that can survive the worst of climate change disasters. Planting of some tree species has been known to have a positive effect on water and flooding control and also abilities to attract rain formation in areas that are traditionally dry. We should also preserve our wetlands/ water catchment areas and adhere to planning standards. Urban areas should also control urban flush floods, greening initiatives to reduce the slide towards concrete jungle, which increases urban heating and hence more global warming