ENVIRONEMTAL CRISIS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Environment protection and management has become one of the urgent interest and focus of many societies in modern times. This is because man and indeed the human society, is largely dependent on the survival, growth and continuous progress of the natural environment. Africa as a continent is undoubtedly un-isolated in this quest for environmental sustainability and progress. It is an open secret that the African continent is hugely blessed with enormous natural resources, green vegetation, wild life, oil and other valuable resources that contribute meaningfully to the wealth of the continent and many countries of the world. Africa’s natural resources, remain fundamentally essential to the progress of African countries and indeed Africa as a continent. These resources have remained some of the world’s greatest treasure. One cannot but affirm, that Africa’s natural resources contributes meaningfully to the progress of many countries and continents around the world. It remains one of the major host to the world’s natural reserve. However, Africa’s natural environment has continuously been threatened in recent times. Africa’s natural environment is faced with the challenges of flooding, erosion, bush burning, deforestation, destruction of aquatic animals and water body, killing of wild lives, gas flaring, illegal mining, oil spillage and many other activities that are largely detrimental to the natural environment. Africa’s environmental crisis is a constituent of both human activities and natural occurrences. It is disheartening to note, that the continuous destruction of the natural environment remains detrimental to the existence and progress of the human society. It is an open secret, that the progress and sustainable development of any society, is largely dependent on leadership. The rise and fall of nations and indeed human societies is dependent on the effectiveness and competence of its leadership. Leadership in Africa, remains essential to the progress and development of the African continent and African countries. The preservation, nurture and sustainable development of Africa’s natural environment is largely dependent on its leadership. Hence, Africa requires effective leadership to nip on the board and address all environmental challenges, for optimal productivity. This work holds, that leadership is essentially fundamental to environmental sustainability in Africa.