Climate change is the most significant issue of our time, and is occurring quicker than we had hoped. However, we are not impotent in the face of the global threat. As Secretary General Antonio Guterres pointed out in September, “the climate emergency is an ongoing race that we’re losing but it’s one we can win”.
No region of the globe is spared from the devastating effects caused by climate changes. The rising temperatures are causing environmental degradation, natural disasters extreme weather conditions food and water shortages as well as conflicts, economic disruption and terror. Sea levels are increasing as they are rising, the Arctic is melting and coral reefs are dyingoff, oceans are becoming acidic while forests burn. It’s evident that the status quo is not enough. As the costs of global warming hits the point of irreparable highs, it is the time to take radical collective actions.
Global TEMPERATURES INCREASING
Millions ton of tons of CO2 is released into the atmosphere each year due to coal or oil production. Human activity is generating greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time level, and there is no sign to slow down. Based on a ten-year review of UNEP Emission Gap reports, we’re on track continue on an “business as normal” direction.
The past four years were among the four most hot ever recorded. According to the report from September of this year’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report We are currently at least 1 degree Celsius above the preindustrial level and near what scientists call “an unacceptable risk”. In 2015, the Paris Agreement on climate change requires that warming to be “well lower than” the two-degree mark Celsius and the determination to limit the rise more, to 1.5 degrees. If we don’t reduce the global emissions, temperatures could increase to more than three degrees Celsius by the year 2100, which could cause additional irreparable harm to our natural ecosystems.
Ice sheets and glaciers in the polar and mountain regions are melting faster than they have ever before, which is which is causing sea levels to rise. Nearly two-thirds of all cities with populations exceeding five million reside in areas that are at risk of sea-level rise, and nearly 40 percent of the world’s population lives within 100km of a coastline. If there is no action taken on this climate crisis, the entire cities in New York, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Osaka, Rio de Janeiro, and numerous other cities could end up submerged within the next few years which could result in the displacement of thousands of residents.
Food and water security
Global warming has a direct impact on the security of water and food for everyone. Climate change is the direct reason for soil degradation, which reduces the amount of carbon the earth can to store. Around 500 million people reside in areas that are which are affected by erosion. as much as 30 percent of food waste is either destroyed or wasted due to. In addition, climate change is limiting the supply and quality of drinking water as well as agriculture.
In many regions, agricultural crops that have been flourishing for long periods are struggling to sustain and food security is becoming more fragile. The impact of these changes tends to focus on the most vulnerable and vulnerable. Global warming is expected to cause the gap in economic output between most prosperous and least developed countries increase.
NEW EXTREMES
Climate-related disasters and extreme weather have always been part of our planet’s system. They are however getting more frequent and severe because the climate is warming. Every continent is a target and droughts, heatwaves storms, typhoons, as well as hurricanes creating massive destruction all over the globe. 90% of all catastrophes are now classified as being climate-related or weather-related which cost the world economy 520 billion dollars each year, and the lives of 26 million individuals are driven into poverty as a consequence.
A CATALYST for CONFLICT
Climate change poses a serious threat to security and peace. The consequences of climate change intensify the competition for resources like food, land and water, causing tensions in the socioeconomic realm and, more often, causing large-scale displacement.
The climate is one of the risk multipliers which can make already-existing challenges worse. Dry spells across Africa as well as Latin America directly feed into violent conflict and political turmoil. In fact, the World Bank estimates that, absent intervention over 140 million people living in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America as well as South Asia will be forced to move out of their areas by 2050.
A PATH FORWARD
Although science has proven it is unquestionable but it also tells us that it’s possible to reverse the current. It will require radical changes across all areas of society , including how we produce food, manage transportation goods, land, and drive our economies.
Although technology has played a role in climate change, the latest and effective technologies are able to help reduce net emissions and help create the environment to be cleaner. Technology solutions are readily available for more than 70 percent of the emissions today. In many countries, renewable energy is the most cost-effective energy source and electric vehicles are on the verge to become a commonplace.
While we wait the natural-based solutions offer breathing space’ as we attempt the process of decarbonizing our economy. These solutions enable us to limit a part the carbon footprint, while helping to support vital ecosystem services such as biodiversity, access to clean water, better livelihoods, healthy diets as well as food security. Solutions based on nature include improved farming practices, land restoration conservation, as well as the eco-friendly foods supply chain.
Innovative and scalable new technologies and natural solutions will allow us all to move forward to a cleaner more resilient and sustainable world. If businesses, governments as well as civil society, young people and academics work together to build a sustainable future in which the suffering of people is reduced and justice is defended and peace is restored between humans and the planet.
