I could only begin a mental journey into the past years when such news came to Nigerians. It is an annual ritual, which always has a way of leading to what is known as “caution fatigue”. When people wait for the disaster to come upon them without preparation, because they are tired of staying on the alert mode.
I must say that the NIHSA warning did not get me anxious. Rather, it got me angry. I am angry at the type of political leadership we have in our country because such warnings always seem to fall on deaf ears. In a best case scenario, the government will prepare for knee-jerk emergency response. As India’s weather becomes more extreme, monsoon floods have presently displaced millions of citizens. In the latest incident, at least 22 people have been killed after monsoon-season floods triggered a landslide in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Houses were swept away after the torrential rain and flooding late in the night, while rescuers rummaged through the landslide.
Of course, the ecological tallies are skyrocketing as a result of climate change. And the COP is not happening this year. This is why for those who love the environment, COVID-19 hit below the belt.
Some observers noted that though not directly related, the postponement will give the international community time to respond to the outcome of the United States presidential election. This is crucial because incumbent president Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, but can only do this if he wins this election; while his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, has pledged to stay in the Paris Accord and increase ambition to reduce emissions.