Act to tame climate change
Environmental experts are warning that climate change impacts may actually be worse than previously projected. This explains the highly worrying shifts in temperatures and water patterns observed globally.
Human activities are the main driver of climate change, and this is largely due to the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. This generates the greenhouse gas emissions that end up trapping the sun’s heat and hugely raising temperatures.
Climate change impacts may be more severe and occur faster than previously projected. Scientists are now cautioning that time is fast running out for mankind, hence the need to take decisive action.
They did so during the launch of the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7). This is one of the most authoritative assessments of the threats to the planet.
The combined weight of climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and waste is inflicting costly damage on the planet, its people and economies.
These interconnected crises undermining human well-being and caused by unsustainable systems of production and consumption need to be seriously addressed. Between 20 and 40 per cent of the land area globally is now considered to be degraded, directly or indirectly affecting at least three billion people.
Biodiversity loss has also increased, with one million of an estimated eight million species threatened with extinction. Nine million deaths annually are attributed to pollution. There is a compelling case for transforming the economy and finance, assessing materials and waste, energy and food, and the environment.
Countries should take advantage of the recent United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) deliberations to reaffirm their commitment to tackling climate change disasters.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
