The world is in for another round of Climate Change
It has finally happened. But this time, it’s occurring at a rapid pace. The endless need to satisfy human consumption has reached dizzying heights and with it the dire consequences of wanting too much and giving little back.
Source – Mitigation and Adaptation
As the world’s population expanded, there have been more needs that had to be fulfilled.
The world has changed since the beginning of time, that’s for sure. Instead of open fields we now have big-city towers that dominate the landscape in each country. As we keep building and expanding, our ecosystems have weakened. What was once abundant has been reduced to preserving what little we have.
Source – Taal volcano eruption: Philippines alert level raised as thousands flee ash clouds
Now, what is climate change? Why should we care about it? in defining this properly, Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns. Climate change is also connected with other damaging weather events such as more frequent and more intense hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms.” ( source – Climate Change)
This deadly menace slowly crept into our lives until it has finally caught us unprepared for the battle ahead.
Governments ended up blaming each other instead of offering a helping hand and with the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2. Things aren’t as different. Globally, the economy has collapsed, yet our government officials continue to bicker behind face masks and promote their political motives via social distancing.
Now how is Climate Change and COVID connected? These two are intimately intertwined with each other, a kinship that dictates the fate of our planet.
Although there is no scientific evidence that backs up the emergence of COVID due to Climate Change, these two are connected because of how world leaders respond to times of crisis.
This showed during the times of natural disasters that marred the last few years before 2020. Volcanoes are now active after several years in the Pacific Ring of Fire, stronger earthquakes are felt, sea levels have risen, and stronger storms are tearing cities apart.
People, such as Greta Thunberg, have called on world leaders to act on pursuing the imminent threat of Climate Change – while this has not fallen on mostly deaf ears, it was too late to act.
Source – Mission 2020: A new global strategy to ‘rapidly’ reduce carbon emissions
The same thing could be said about COVID, while yes, global emissions have lessened to a stunning percentage, a question to be asked here is – If the pandemic didn’t happen, are we still going to be how we were?
As far as repercussions go, this pathogen’s effects will eventually decrease and economies will recover. But in reality, the same can’t be said about our environment. Climate change poses an increasing threat to our biosystems and it will keep doing so unless we act as one in facing the challenges ahead.
While the transition to a low-carbon economy may be a bit far off, it isn’t impossible. If anything, the virus has exposed the immense need for permanent change in all institutions that would surely have a positive long-term impact on the “New Normal.”
Article by Cyan Leigh