Environmental Citizenship – SS2 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Environmental citizenship is the responsibility every person has to care for the land, water and air that everyone shares.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain who an environmental citizen is.
2. State the cause of climate change and three of its effects in Nigeria.
3. Describe the wrong and right ways of handling waste, including the 3 Rs.
4. Explain what sustainable living means and give examples.
5. Suggest ways a student can act as an environmental citizen.

What is an environmental citizen?

An environmental citizen is a person who takes responsibility for protecting the environment for people living today and in the future.

• Shared space: Nigeria is like a big house that all citizens share.
• Linked places: Waste thrown in a gutter in one city can block drains, pollute rivers and affect people far away.
• More than rights: Citizenship covers voting and holding a passport, and it also covers how we treat the land, water and air.
• Future generations: An environmental citizen thinks about the children who will live here after us.

What is climate change?

Climate change is a long-term change in the Earth’s temperature and weather patterns.

• Signs: Hotter days, late or irregular rains and more frequent floods.
• Main idea: Heat from the sun is trapped around the Earth, so the planet becomes warmer.

What causes climate change?

Climate change is caused mainly by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, building up in the air and trapping heat.

1. Coal, oil, petrol, diesel and wood are burned for energy, in power plants, vehicles, generators and cooking fires.
2. Burning releases carbon dioxide into the air.
3. Trees that normally take in carbon dioxide are cut down, so more of the gas stays in the air.
4. The gases form a layer like a blanket around the Earth.
5. The blanket traps heat, and the temperature rises.

What are the effects of climate change in Nigeria?

Climate change affects Nigeria through flooding, desertification, poor harvests and health problems.

• Floods: Heavy, unexpected rains wash away houses and farms, as seen in Lokoja and Bayelsa.
• Desertification: In the North, the desert spreads southwards as dry weather and tree cutting leave the soil bare.
• Poor harvests: Drought and floods make it hard for farmers to grow food.
• Health problems: Warm, wet conditions let mosquitoes breed, which spreads malaria.

What is waste management?

Waste management is the collection, handling and disposal of waste so that it does not harm people or the environment.

• Government agencies: Bodies such as LAWMA (Lagos State Waste Management Authority) and PSP (Private Sector Participation) operators collect and dispose of waste.
• Individuals: Waste management also starts with each person at home and in school.

What is the wrong way to handle waste?

• Littering: Throwing “pure water” sachets out of moving buses.
• Open burning: Burning plastic bottles releases poisonous smoke.
• Blocking drains: Dumping refuse in gutters causes floods.

What are the effects of poor waste disposal?

• Flooding: Blocked drains cannot carry rainwater away.
• Disease: Dirty surroundings breed flies, rats and mosquitoes.
• Pollution: Smoke, bad smells and dirty water harm the air and rivers.

What is the right way to handle waste? The 3 Rs

The 3 Rs are reduce, reuse and recycle.

What is sustainable living?

Sustainable living is using resources today in a way that leaves enough for future generations.

• Example of the idea: Resources used wisely now will still be available to children born in 2050.

How can we live sustainably in Nigeria?

• Save energy: Turn off the fan or light when you leave the classroom, so less power and fuel are used.
• Plant trees: Trees take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen. If you cut one tree, plant two more.
• Avoid burning tyres and bushes: The black smoke pollutes the air and burning damages the soil.
• Support local farmers: Food grown nearby needs less transport, so less fuel is burned.

What is your role as a student citizen?

A student can act as an environmental citizen even without owning a factory or holding office.

1. Lead by example: Keep your biscuit wrapper in your pocket until you find a bin, and friends may copy you.
2. Organise a Clean-Up Day: Spend 30 minutes every Friday with classmates picking up plastics around the school gate.
3. Speak up (advocacy): Use social media to share the benefits of a clean street and to encourage others.

Revision table

Evaluation

1. Who is an environmental citizen?
2. Explain how burning coal, oil and wood and cutting down trees lead to climate change.
3. List three ways climate change affects Nigeria.
4. State the 3 Rs and give one example of each.
5. What is sustainable living? Give two ways to live sustainably in Nigeria.

Class discussion question

If you were the Governor of your state for one day, would you ban “single-use plastics” (like pure water sachets and takeaway packs) to save the environment, even if it makes things more expensive for people?

Assignment

Write a short paragraph on one environmental problem from this lesson. Say what causes it and describe two things you can do about it in your school or community.