CLIMATE change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on earth. Such shifts can be natural occurrences due to changes in the Sun’s activity but since 1800s, human interference and activities are mainly responsible for the accelerated climate crisis that we face today. Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a phenomenal reality that requires immediate attention and action. With constant rise in temperature, we are witnessing some massive weather shifts across the globe. The glaciers are melting at a much faster pace, unusual rainfall in deserts often leading to hailstorms and flooding which resultantly leads to human displacement and crop destruction. Floods, droughts, rising sea levels, heat waves, wildfires and super storms are becoming the new norm in today’s climate crisis.
Climate change is the long-term shift in Earth’s average temperature and weather conditions. Over the last decade, the world was on average around 1.2oC warmer than during the late nineteenth century. It is on record that global warming exceeded 1.5oC between 2023 to early 2024. That caused 2023 to be declared the warmest year on record. The need to identify the reason, to understand and to address the causes of climate change has never been so urgent. Currently, climate change is primarily driven by human interventions and activities. Fossil fuel burning, deforestation, including disruptions of eco marine systems and industrial emissions are major contributors for releasing green house gases into atmosphere. These gases comprise mainly of carbon dioxide and methane that traps extra heat energy over the Earth’s surface resulting the planet to heat up.
Climate change has far-reaching effects, disrupting ecosystems, economies and human well-being worldwide. Underdeveloped nations bear the brunt of these impacts, lacking resources and awareness to effectively address the crisis. They face challenges in securing food and water resources, while escalating natural disasters exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, posing significant health risks. Moreover, developed countries, having historically exploited natural resources for their own industrialization, now impose climate regulations on underdeveloped nations, hindering their ability to grow and develop. This dynamic underscores a profound disparity, as the very countries that once pursued unchecked development now seek to limit similar progress in others, purportedly in the name of environmental preservation and advancement.
Additionally, common dilemma faced both by countries that have efficiently managed the greenhouse gas emissions and also by such underdeveloped countries that do not have the level of industrialization which is present in the developed countries. The industrial giants in resourceful developed countries can carry on their blatant exploitation of natural resources and continue harming the climate by buying Carbon Credits from companies in underdeveloped countries, A standard that they have come-up with on their own and seems to have been forced down upon nations globally.
Among the most effective ways to address climate change is to transition away from fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower. Global powers need to come together and invest massively in clean energy infrastructures to reduce greenhouse emissions and create models for viable economic growth to enhance energy security. “Human kind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of Nature” – Xi Jinping. Deforestation is another disaster that is contributing to our current climate crisis. Forests, wetlands, and coral reefs play a pivotal role in regulating and balancing Earth’s temperature. Protecting and restoring these ecosystems is essential for preserving biodiversity. Conservation efforts, reforestations, and sustainable energy management can collectively contribute to deter the monster that we have unleashed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that in the near future, between 2030 and 2050, climate change will be directly responsible for two hundred and fifty thousand deaths per year due to malnutrition, insect borne diseases and heat strokes. In another study, The World Bank predicted that climate change can displace one hundred and forty million people from their home countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America by 2050. Addressing climate change requires collective global, national and individual efforts. Identifying and realizing the threat is one thing but working collectively on addressing the threat is the only way forward. Earth is the only home to humankind, and we have abused its bounties by taking them for granted. The threat of climate change is no longer a threat but a global emergency which is resulting in countless catastrophes. Through serious and genuine efforts, together we can work in saving our planet by creating and adapting sustainable solutions for ourselves and our generations to come. “If you really think that the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money.” – Guy McPherson.
—The writer is a film maker, freelance columnist and a travel influencer.
Email: sana.tauseef.3@gmail.com
