Amid the ongoing energy revolution and turbulent economic times, the latest news on global warming appears to be far from encouraging. By now, it is evident that our climate is changing and that, unless urgent action is taken, the consequences will be devastating. As temperatures continue to rise, extreme weather events, crop failures, water scarcity and widespread flooding are increasingly affecting global populations – a situation which is only exacerbated by the continuing depletion of natural resources and the ongoing exploitation of non-renewable sources of energy.
The evidence for human-induced global warming is overwhelming, with a consensus among the vast majority of the scientific community that consists of thousands of different experts on matter, from biology to geology. Year after year, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, resulting in a soupy mix of industrial and agricultural pollution that affects both ecosystems and economies. The World Bank estimates that, without measures to minimise global warming, the moderate temperature rise could potentially reduce global economic output by as much as 1.4 percent a year.
Climate change becomes even more worrying when we consider its cumulative effects, as other global challenges and insecurity are linked to it in multiple ways. Unsustainable levels of consumption – of land and natural resources – drive increased traffic, higher levels of pollution and the consequent impact on human health. In fact, global warming is already responsible for the displacement of people in vulnerable communities around the world, from small Pacific island nations to arid regions of Africa.
In response to the urgent need for action, a number of initiatives, both local and international, have been proposed to stabilise emissions and decrease the human contribution to global warming. Such include the UN’s Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, among others. Private industry and non-profit organisations, too, have taken a proactive stance in addressing the issue by promoting sustainable farming and environmentally friendly products, as well as renewable energy sources.
Researchers now confidently agree that while global warming alone presents an alarming problem that demands an immediate response, the problem is compounded when we consider its devastating effects on the vast array of interconnected elements which constitute the environment, from natural resources to the human population. Unless dramatic measures are taken to mitigate the consequences of our actions, it is all too likely that global temperatures will continue to rise and many more societies, particularly those in the most vulnerable regions of the world, will be disproportionately affected.
In the end, it is also up to every individual to take a moment and reflect on how our daily choices impact the planet. To reduce our environmental footprint we must all recognize our responsibility for the future. This can include small, everyday decisions, such as buying food in bulk, using public transportation and going paperless whenever possible. The challenge ahead will require everyone’s participation in order to ensure the health of our environment and take the necessary steps to prevent a continued escalation of the dangerous effects of global warming.
