Climate Crisis: Why do we care again?

We started 2020 with the news being filled with catastrophe after catastrophe. It’s gloomy. However, it is crucial to understand the reasons behind this and what humanity is doing to prevent further damage. The Earth's climate is warming, and we are falling short globally in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Insufficient investment is being made in large-scale projects that aim to sustain us. The four biggest polluters—China, the United States, India, and the European Union—are too slow at making changes, their efforts are inadequate to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement or to effectively reduce environmental waste. This lack of action has resulted in weekly climate-related disasters that have a significant impact worldwide. Addressing this complex issue requires united efforts.

In a nutshell:

Climate change is primarily caused by the accumulation of carbon pollution in the atmosphere, which traps the sun's heat energy and leads to a hotter planet. The consequences include severe storms, hurricanes, droughts, devastating floods, the melting of glaciers (such as those in Greenland), and dangerously rising sea levels. According to NASA, the polar ice caps are melting at a rate of 9% every decade due to thermal expansion and melting ice. Countries like Australia are experiencing slow water evaporation, leading to droughts and wildfires. It's even happening in the rainy UK. The consequences of climate change are intensifying and causing more damage than ever before. The global cost of climate-related disasters on infrastructure exceeds £400 billion.

Methane, which accounts for 19% of greenhouse gases, is a significant contributor to climate change and comes from the meat and dairy industry. Animal agriculture not only adds to deforestation but also contributes to species extinction. If we fail to make changes, such as reducing meat and dairy consumption, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and making more sustainable and environmentally conscious choices (especially regarding plastic waste), we will leave the world and future generations worse off. Climate change is one of the greatest health risks of the twenty-first century, and we must give more than we take to address it.

Despite the crisis, there is some positive news. Renewable energy is often more cost-efficient than fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which contribute to carbon pollution. Policymakers are showing signs of driving developments with lower emissions. The more carbon and pollution we emit into the air, the higher the costs. Many parts of the world, including rural areas in Africa and India, are investing in solar energy as it becomes more accessible and affordable. This makes sense from both an economic and environmental standpoint. Recently, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, pledged £10 billion to fight climate change. In an Instagram post, he emphasised the need for collective action from big companies, small companies, nation-states, global organisations, and individuals. (He's a hypocritical billionaire - but his immense influence comes hand in hand).

While there is momentum in the movement to save the planet, not everyone is fully engaged. There are still political denials and sceptics influenced by the backfire effect, and their views need to be refuted. Science is on our side, and all factors must be considered. We can find hope in the efforts to restore the world to its natural balance. Ideally, we should aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions two decades later.

The climate crisis is causing death, destruction, and displacement. Even a temperature increase of 1.5-2 degrees Celsius can have detrimental effects on nature, the environment, and human health. Climate change may not appear as an immediate threat, but it is a pressing global issue that affects everyone on the planet, both now and in the future.