EAC countries urged to build more environmentally friendly factories

ArushaEast African Community (EAC) countries are being challenged to build more factories that produce environmentally friendly products and absorb carbon, in a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to protect people, plants and livestock from the negative effects of climate change.

The call was made by the Director of the Institute for Climate and Environmental Studies at the Aga Khan University, Arusha Campus, Dr Emmanuel Sulle, who was speaking to journalists about environmental conservation.

He said that eco-friendly products provide sustainable employment and preserve trees which are important for carbon capture and environmental protection.

According to Dr. Sulle, communities in northern Tanzania are experiencing the effects of climate change due to drought. This encourages the institution to step up its efforts in environmental protection.

The institution works with communities to gather indigenous knowledge about environmental conservation.

“If we decide to grow the industry, we must ensure that they produce environmentally friendly products. Such efforts for environmental conservation should also involve students at the lower level so that they become ambassadors for real change,” he said.

According to Dr. Sulle, climate change has a major impact on peripheral communities and he calls on everyone to protect the environment.

He added that Kenya and Tanzania experienced heavy rainfall and flooding last year, which were mainly caused by deforestation and land degradation due to human activities.

He stressed that more trees should be planted in various places to attract fresh air and eradicate various diseases caused by climate change.

He also urged moving away from unsustainable farming methods and promoting the use of alternative energy sources such as natural gas and solar energy, as they reduce environmental pollution.