Epworth Local Board vows to tackle climate change through clean-up campaigns

By Kudzai Jakachira

Harare-The Epworth Local Board is on an undertaking to tackle climate
change and reducing air pollution through clean-up campaigns that will be conducted every Monday of the week in the once
informal settlement now slowly attaining a town status.

This was confirmed by Epworth Local Board Town Secretary Dr Wilton
Mhanda on the sidelines
of a clean-up exercise
conducted on Friday in at Dombo shopping center.

Dr Mhanda said such campaigns were instrumental as they made the community clean through removing litter and waste that can pollute the environment. The campaigns also acts as an educating exercise, promoting
the importance of an environment-friendly community.

“Clean-up campaigns contribute to decreasing air pollution by directly
removing litter and wreckage that can discharge detrimental substances
into the air when burned or decomposed,” said Dr Mhanda.

“Furthermore, clean-up drives also raise awareness about the importance of environmental responsibility and promote viable practices, leading to long-term declines in pollution,” added Dr Mhanda.

The Epworth Local Board Town Secretary expressed concern on the effects of air pollution, saying that pollution can effect climate
change thereby leading to climate setbacks, something which the community
can avoid.

“Cleaning up our community reduces direct emissions because, air pollution significantly contributes to climate change by emitting
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide, which also trap heat in the
atmosphere and causing global warming,” said Dr Mhanda.

He said air pollution can damage the soil structure thus destroying its fertility and richness and in the process weakening its
capability to produce.

“Air pollution can alter soil chemistry and microbial activity, impacting the soil’s ability to store carbon, further contributing to climate change. Some air pollutants, such as aerosols, can alter the
amount of sunlight reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, further
impacting temperature,” said Dr Mhanda.

The Epworth Local Authority Town Secretary articulated that clean-ups help to protect uncontrolled landfills preventing them from polluting the air, an activity that protects the environment. A landfill is a site where waste materials are disposed of by burying
them in the ground.

“Improperly managed landfills release harmful gases like methane and
volatile organic compounds, which contribute to air pollution, and therefore
clean-up efforts can divert waste from landfills, reducing these
emissions,” said Dr. Mhanda.

He said clean-up events create a sense of community
proprietorship and accountability for the environment, stirring people
to take action and participate in activities that improve air
quality, identifying economic benefits in clean-up campaigns. The exercise also engenders social cohesion and the
promotion of sustainable practices.

“Economic benefits as in recycling initiatives, often a part of clean-up campaigns, can generate income and support local economies, further incentivising participation and promoting long-term
environmental responsibility,” he said.

“Also in clean-up campaigns social cohesion is brought up as clean-up campaigns can bring people together, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration, which can lead to increased community involvement in other environmental initiatives.

“Lastly promoting sustainable practices in clean-up campaigns can
serve as a catalyst for adopting other sustainable practices, such as
reducing, reusing, and recycling, which collectively contribute to
better air quality,” added the Town Secretary.