Mitigating climate change through the use of the arts

Climate change as a global phenomenon is still on the surge and many concerned institutions and organizations worldwide are calling for stringent and urgent measures to address the situation. One of the human activities that also contribute to this event is deforestation. DEFORESTATION which is cutting down trees indiscriminately without replanting is a worry for all.

How does deforestation contribute to climate change?

Trees give out oxygen when they undergo photosynthesis and the oxygen(O2) is the gas that sustains human life. In the first place, the world's population is growing and with logic, it should be understood that the oxygen demand also is increasing with the population growth.

Trees help to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere

Trees or plants use CO2 in photosynthesis and this process reduces the amount of carbon dioxide present in the earth's atmosphere. This occurrence is very important because CO2 is a greenhouse gas and its too much presence traps the heat of the sun which results in global warming. The physical evidence of global warming and climate change is all around us with the happenings of unpredicted floods, irregular rainfall patterns, drought, crop failure, and much more. As it is said that a little drop of water makes a mighty ocean, the measures to curb climate change will surely begin with small individual behavioral changes all over the world. Many countries have realized the need for tree planting and are setting targets to plant millions of trees. Ghana in 2023 in addition to other measures launched the agenda of tree planting with a target of planting millions of trees all over the country which is the responsibility of schools, institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and every citizen to make the target a reality.

Trees cut are used for purposes such either as furniture or fuel.

Burning the dried logs for firewood or charcoal releases carbon into the atmosphere and this as said earlier results in global warming. Energy is a very essential need of man for diverse purposes but as countries have decided and agreed on the SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals) as a way of ensuring that the planet is protected from depletion and ensuring continuity human in comfort, urgent actions must be implemented to provide sustainable sources of energy that do not negatively affect the environment.

SDGs that relate directly to deforestation and climate change

• Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

• Goal 13: Climate action

• Goal 15: Life land

Stating these goals does not mean they are the only ones that touch on this menace but in general, all the SDGs unite to make sure our planet is protected, and humans live peaceful and comfortable lives.

Addressing Climate Change through artistry

One effective means of sending information to a target group and achieving results is the visual means. Artworks like drawings either in pencil, ink, paint, digital, sculpture pieces etc help employ the visual means of educating the world on this menace. Below is an artwork in illustration that presents a message on deforestation and it is to educate the public. Continue reading to understand the motive behind the creation of this illustration.

The artwork shows a truck packed in the rear with cut logs. There is als the presence of many cut logs or trees on the ground with a poacher of trees holding a saw with which he is cutting the trees. This poacher is cutting indiscriminately the trees and the illustration shows the forest trees moving away due to the act. What was the work meant to teach? 

It is to tell anyone who sees it that deforestation is a very bad habit considering the amount of danger it poses to the world when the trees aren't planted back. Educating the public with visual representations of the actions required of everyone can go a long way in making the message register in the minds of the people for learning is largely through the visual means.