Ogun State and Environmental Pollution: The Place of the Church

Climate disasters are on the rise with pollution as one of the major causes. Around 70 per cent of disasters are now climate related – up from around 50 per cent for more than two decades ago. The study explored the issue of environmental crises which is one of the major concerns for humanity. These environmental pollution related disasters take a heavier human toll and come with high impact. The cost of responding to such disasters has risen tenfold between 1992 and 2008. Destructive sudden heavy rains, intense tropical storms, repeated flooding and droughts are likely to increase, as will the vulnerability of local communities in the absence of strong concerted action from all quarters. Therefore, this paper concluded that an environmental and ecological crisis, pollution in particular, demands the active role of the Church for solution in such a way that it will foster development. To tackle these identified environmental pollutions and its attendant ecological crises like depletion, desertification and deforestation, climate changes, drought and floods and other natural problems with pollution topping the list threatening life on earth, this paper recommended among other things that stemming environmental and ecological crisis demands that the Church take into account ecological norms as part of the mandate of Jesus in Matthew 28: 19-20 which is to preach the good news.