In light of the pressing issues surrounding climate change and global warming causing extreme weather conditions, it is crucial to emphasise the substantial focus they are receiving at conferences held globally.The international community has acknowledged the grave implications of these conditions.
Despite the numerous agreements reached to mitigate global warming by restricting the emission of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases, failure to implement these measures has resulted in people in many regions enduring exceptionally high temperatures. Recent reports from foreign media highlight the severity of the situation.
Over the past few weeks, India, Pakistan, and Japan have faced unprecedented heatwaves, impacting various parts of these countries and posing significant health risks to the populace.
Local health authorities have issued warnings about these health risks. In areas such as New Delhi, North India, and Karachi, Pakistan, temperatures soared above 50 degrees Celsius, tragically leading to multiple fatalities.
Experience of India, Pakistan and Japan
The persistently high temperatures have significantly harmed agricultural crops, with the comprehensive assessment of the extent of the damage still underway.
The dwindling water sources have resulted in a critical shortage of drinking water. Climate scientists emphasise that the current extreme weather conditions are a consequence of global warming, highlighting the urgent need for world leaders to take more effective measures to address climate change.
The recent prolonged heatwave in northern India and Pakistan serves as a concerning indicator of the escalating impact of climate change, with experts drawing parallels between the current conditions and living in an electric oven.
The broken global unity
At the 2015 Paris Conference on Climate Change, global leaders gathered to create and implement a unique program aimed at mitigating the effects of global warming.
The primary objective of these proposals was to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius, with an even more ambitious goal of capping the temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Regrettably, these targets have not been achieved on a global scale. A recent report from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Office has revealed that the global temperature has surged by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in the one year from June 2023 to June of the current year.
This increase significantly exceeds the temperature levels observed in the 1800s, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change.
A temperature of 52 degrees Celsius
In June of last year, it was reported that it was the hottest period on record recently, with temperatures soaring to over 52 degrees Celsius.
This extreme heat caused a significant number of fatalities in the city of Karachi in North India and Pakistan. Additionally, thousands of people were reported to have suffered from heat stroke or related health issues.
Japan also experienced extremely high temperatures, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius recently. Reports of scorching weather were also recorded in numerous parts of America and several European countries.
There is a risk of further temperature rise in the future
Dr Carlo Buontempo, the director of the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Office, recently emphasised that ongoing global warming poses a significant threat to the planet’s future.
He has pointed out that the continuous escalation of industrial activities has led to a surge in the release of harmful greenhouse gases, further exacerbating the existing environmental challenges.
Despite international efforts, the world has failed to effectively regulate these emissions, resulting in a disturbing rise in global temperatures, reaching unprecedented levels.
Moreover, Dr Buontempo highlighted that data from climate scientists reflects an average global temperature increase of 16.6 degrees Celsius in June of this year, underscoring the alarming impact of this phenomenon.
He also shed light on the profound implications of global warming on regions traditionally characterised by colder climates, such as Alaska and Siberia, further emphasising the urgency for immediate action.
Dr. Buontempo has urged world leaders to prioritise concerted action and collaboration to address this pressing issue and mitigate its consequences.
Glaciers are melting faster than ever
The impact of climate change has led to the deterioration of the world’s glaciers, exacerbated by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases.
One striking example is the Okjökull Glacier in western Iceland, which succumbed to the effects of global warming, making it the first glacier to disappear from the region. In 2019, a poignant funeral was organised in Iceland to memorialise the loss of the glacier.
The event saw a significant turnout, with over a hundred individuals, including dedicated scientists tirelessly working on understanding and addressing climate change, as well as prominent figures such as the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrin Jacobsdottir, and representatives of the United Nations.
Today, all that remains in the once-glacier’s location is a large rock, serving as a solemn reminder of the irreversible consequences of global warming.
All glaciers will disappear in 200 years
The scientists are warning that within the next 200 years, all the glaciers in the world could disappear. This is a significant concern that highlights the urgent need to address the effects of global warming on the human community.
Julian Weiss, a professor of aerodynamics at the University of Berlin, emphasises that while the visible loss of glaciers is alarming, the broader impact of climate change is not easily perceived by the human eye.
He stresses that these changes are occurring at a rapid geological pace, contrasting with the relatively slow process from a human perspective.
Furthermore, Rhys Howe, an assistant professor at Rice University in Texas, points out that the potential disappearance of more than 400 glaciers in Iceland by the year 2200 presents a grave concern, considering that about 11 per cent of Iceland’s land is currently covered by ice sheets.
This, in turn, raises the urgency for global attention and action to mitigate the dangerous and irreversible effects of climate change on the world’s glaciers.
