There is a message from every corner of the globe and from all people especially the young that the issue of climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. Global warming has become the most important challenge of our time because the Greenhouse effect continues to warm our planet by trapping heat near the surface of the earth thereby threatening the environment at such rapid pace.
There is no sign that climate change will decrease and if this trend continues the global temperature will further increase causing human and material wreckage. As population increases in a very fast pace, greater number of people will have greater consumption and that will take more energy consumption resulting in global warming. And if uncontrolled, this will cause major catastrophe.
Generally, the negative impact of climate change, Greenhouse effect and global warming has been imposed on the less industrialized nations. As a result, climate change is causing drought and starvation as well as internal and external displacement and migration.
Although industrialized nations have more to do in causing the issue in question, it is so important that all nations, developed and developing must work together to resolve the problem before it is too late.
The global community must stand in unison on this single most important challenge facing humanity and put more and more pressure on governments and ask them to be very serious about it. They have to be put under pressure to force them listen to the outcry of the global community before the problem gets out of hand.
The irony is in fact, 75 per cent of Greenhouse gases, of which carbon dioxide accounts 50 per cent are created and produced by the industrialized nations. Here it should also be noted that developing nations have to also carry the responsibility as among other things deforestation, population explosion and the lack of family planning are contributing to global warming as well.
Climate change desperately needs action sooner than later or else future generation will face dire consequence. Climate change is an existential issue. That desperately needs immediate action and the people in power have to listen to the outcry of the public at large and do the right thing. And the right thing, it seems, is to come up with the right solution to the danger facing our current and future generations.
The young people are using modern technology such as the internet, web-sites, mobile phones and other media outlets to pass and send their messages across in a very unprecedented manner in order to be heard.
The people with political as well as fiscal power must comprehend and understand that they are dealing with people facing catastrophe; therefore, they have to do something about it. Some of the people in power who think that the issue is unfeasible have to think again and come to the reality. Climate change has become a very perceivable phenomenon. A total disaster and unimaginable cataclysm can happen sooner than later unless something is done about it.
People who are well aware of the effects of climate change have the responsibility to let those who are less aware know and understand more about its exponential impacts. Mordacity cannot succeed because the truth will always prevail. For that, the global community in general and Africans from within and the Diaspora must put much pressure on global leaders to answer to their demands and to become serious about the most important issue of our time.
Few days ago, the G20 leaders gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina to discuss, among others, the Paris Agreement and how climate change will impact communities and individuals. The primary goal of the Paris agreement is to keep global temperature from rising higher than two degrees Celsius. The G20 leaders said that Paris agreement on climate change is invincible and agreed on a climate and energy action plan which sets out concrete steps to accelerate the world’s transitions to low carbon and greater resilience to climate change.
They reiterated their support for the Paris agreement and underlined the commitment by developed countries under Paris in providing means of implementation notably climate finance to developing countries in order to both reduce green house gas emissions and adopt to the inevitable impacts of climate change notably to limit the global average temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius.
This is an opportunity for industrialized nations to listen to the victim’s solution: The African solution and take steps in the right direction and withstand the climate change. Africa went to Paris not to simply present its case or put forward its grievances regarding the climate change but rather to present a working framework that will bring about a lasting solution to the issue in question. For that, Africa has always been willing to collaborate even with the perpetuators of the problem as long as they are willing to work together for a mutual benefit and for a better future.
Therefore, this is an opportunity not to be missed by all actors because the whole global community is waiting and waiting rather anxiously for a positive outcome from the current G 20 meeting. Finally, whatever the outcome may be, Africa will be remembered in history as standing firm, united and unwavering with regard to bringing about a lasting solution to this global problem. The ball remains in the hands of the industrialized nations and they have the opportunity to play it safe.
Herald December 13/2018
BY YOHANNES GEBRESELLASIE (PhD)
