Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has called on residents of the state to inculcate environmentally responsible habits such as tree planting, proper waste management, etc. in their daily lives.

He made the call in Benin on Friday during a symbolic tree planting to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day.

The World Environment Day is marked as part of effort to deepen global awareness on the significance of trees to environmental health and safety.

Represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo, while noting that this year’s theme: ‘Urbanization and Climate Change’ is both timely and urgent, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to climate change resilience through tree planting.

The governor commended stakeholders in the environment sector and added: “Let us keep our surroundings clean, plant more trees, reduce waste, protect our waterways, conserve energy, and support policies that promote sustainable urban development.

“Protecting the environment is not the responsibility of the government alone; it is a shared duty that requires our collective action.”

Okpebholo, who described trees as essential to life, and not just symbols of life, stressed: “Trees are not just symbols of life, they are essential to life. They help purify the air, provide shade, reduce erosion, absorb carbon dioxide, support biodiversity, and improve the beauty of our communities.

“The theme for this year speaks directly to one of the greatest environmental and developmental challenges of our time.

“As our cities grow and urban populations increase, we must ensure that development does not come at the expense of the environment or the wellbeing of our people.

“We are all witnesses to the effects of climate change across the world.

“Rising global temperatures driven largely by greenhouse gas emissions that trap solar heat in the atmosphere are causing serious consequences. These include rising sea levels, wildfires, heat waves, and changing weather patterns.

“The warning from the global scientific community is clear, unless we act decisively, the world may soon exceed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming, with devastating effects on ecosystems, livelihoods, and human survival,” he stated.

Okpebholo noted that the World Environment Day is not just merely ceremonial, adding that it is a call to responsibility.

According to him, It is a reminder that every level of government, every institution, every community, and every individual, has a role to play in building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.”

The state Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Nosa Adam stated that the tree planting ceremony was a commitment by the government to the Green initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which places relevance on tree regeneration and reforestation.

“Today’s tree planting event is symbolic, important and strategic as it falls under the United Nations directive for countries to rejuvenate their forests, turning cities to green city’s based on the fact that the greener the city, the more your carbon credits.

“It shows the Edo state government’s commitment to turning the Benin metropolis into a greener and cleaner city.”

Photo caption: Governor Monday Okpebholo reprented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa during the symbolic tree planting on Friday.