World-class climate scientists issued a strong warning last year, stating with high confidence that “human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global warming.” The quotation appears in the sixth report of the International Panel on Climate Change, which brings together the most recent and best scientific data regarding the effects of climate change. These alerts should not be disregarded on this Earth Day since the dangers they pose are irreversible.
It is evident that the earth’s various climates are being harmed. The repercussions will becoming considerably more serious than they are now if existing emissions levels are permitted to remain, or worse, are increased. The IPCC reaffirmed with high confidence that “vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to the current climate change are disproportionately affected” and that “man-made climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe.”
Lumumba Di-Aping, the G-77’s chair at the time, referred to inaction and the commitments made at the meeting as a “suicide pact” in 2009. The G-77 is an organization that brings together developing nations to strengthen their negotiating position. In order to preserve the economic reliance of a small number of nations, [this] is asking Africa to sign an agreement to commit suicide or to be destroyed. “It’s a solution based on values that drove six million people into furnaces in Europe,” Di-Aping stated during the Copenhagen 2009 UNFCCC Conference of the Parties.
The argument is now supported by research, as the number of fatalities from environmental disasters and pollution is increasing year. According to a World Health Organization research from last year, the number of heat-related deaths has increased by more than 70% in just the past 20 years. But that’s all before we take into account that experts have determined that a rise of 1.5°C could be a tipping point that ushers in new horrors.
What actions are possible?
First and foremost, we need to cut back on pollution. It is impossible to defend any more inaction, but for some reason, a lot of the world’s leaders haven’t gotten the memo and are still pushing for the development of infrastructure dependent on fossil fuels. A severe warning was issued by the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) in its 2023 International Energy Outlook: global CO2 emissions are expected to increase until 2050.
With the exception of our Low Economic Growth case, all IEO2023 scenarios show a rise in global energy-related CO2 emissions until 2050, as shown by our forecasts, the report’s authors wrote. Although the team anticipates a considerable rise in the amount of energy produced by renewables over the next few decades, they caution that “current policies are not enough to decrease global energy-sector emissions.” According to the authors, “population growth, regional economic shifts toward more manufacturing, and increased energy consumption as living standards improve” are not taken into consideration by existing policies.
Nonetheless, there are excellent chances in these economies for nations that rely more heavily on fossil fuels to make investments in clean energy alternatives. Richer nations will need to invest more in moving their economy away from fossil fuels if they are aware that rising and low-income economies will need to use a larger portion of the global carbon budget. The politicians make it plain that this isn’t the case, and these nations are actually heading in the other way, according to EIA reports that demonstrate increased investments in infrastructure related to fossil fuels. The pursuit of development goals and the imperative to curtail emissions ought not to conflict, and worldwide planning will be necessary to guarantee the equitable implementation of the energy transition.
Earth is in turmoil
We must acknowledge that nature is in distress and that Mother Earth is trying to tell us to act quickly. The indicators are everywhere: oceans overflowed with garbage and growing more acidic; rising temperatures, wildfires, and floods that harm millions of people globally.
The reasons? They are intricate, with roots in crimes that destroy biodiversity, human intervention with the environment, and climate change. Among the man-made activities hastening Earth’s decline include deforestation, unsustainable land use, intensive agriculture, livestock production, and the burgeoning illegal wildlife trade.
Now is the moment to act; we need to take decisive action against these issues, making a change and protecting our one and only home.
CALLS OF NATURE
In his opening remarks for today’s International Mother Earth Day, which is observed globally, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Humanity is acting like Mother Earth’s delinquent child.”
The secretary-general continues by discussing the inextricable link between nature and human survival. It is the place from which we get our water, fresh air, and nourishment. But because of what we’ve done, the environment is in terrible shape. Pollution has ruined ecosystems and species, and excessive greenhouse gas emissions have disrupted the climate.
Both the environment and humanity are harmed by these acts. We are putting food production in jeopardy, contaminating our air and ocean, making the ecosystem less stable and more hazardous, and impeding sustainable growth,” he continued.
“Together, we must protect ourselves from harm, embrace sustainable production and consumption, and restore harmony with nature. As we do this, we will create jobs, lower poverty, and advance sustainable development.”
The need to stop the loss of biodiversity, reduce pollution, and cut greenhouse gas emissions was emphasized by the secretary-general. Supporting Indigenous Peoples, nearby communities, and those most impacted by pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are all necessary to achieve this.
It also entails swiftly raising money for climate action, environmental preservation, and sustainable development, as well as granting climate justice to nations who are severely impacted by the climate.
In order to keep the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius, he recommended that countries create new climate plans that would direct national investments and transitions toward sustainability. He further encouraged the G20 to spearhead a swift, equitable, and well-funded worldwide phase-out of fossil fuels, doing away with subsidies that damage the environment, such those encouraging an excessive amount of plastic manufacture.
“Restoring our relationship with Mother Earth is the foundation of all the problems facing humanity. To ensure that each of us has a better future, we must act today.