DON’T DOWNPLAY CLIMATE CHANGE

Sir,

The laxity from different countries and people around the world in dealing with the climate crisis is slowly catching up with us. The unfortunate part is that we still have people who insist on implementing and facilitating projects that would have a bearing on the climate and will further lead us down a slippery slope. What many are failing to comprehend is just how crucial the climate issue has become. According to the United Nations, rising temperatures are fuelling environmental degradation, natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, conflict and terrorism.

Burning

Sea levels are rising, the Arctic is melting, coral reefs are dying, oceans are acidifying, and forests are burning. It is clear that business as usual is not good enough. As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. The direct damage costs to health is estimated to be between US$2-4 billion/year by 2030. Areas with weak health infrastructure – mostly in developing countries – will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution.

Safe

While no one is safe from these risks, the people whose health is being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are the people who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it - people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. The climate crisis threatens to undo the past 50 years of progress in development, global health, and poverty reduction, and to further widen existing health inequalities between and within populations. While the reasons for pushing for the retention of fossil fuels might seem valid to some, it remains critical to look at the bigger picture. Fossil fuels are a quick solution which will bring long-term turmoil and unfortunately, Africa will be the most affected.

Projects

We cannot afford to drop the ball now and push for projects that will benefit the current generation but bring misery for the next. By allowing leaders to derail us from combating climate change, we are setting a bad precedence for our children and their children and might just be premeditating the deaths of the generations to come. Some might think the last bit might be an exaggeration, but I have never been more serious. Leaders around the world continue to be at fault and the sole downplayers of the climate crisis. There is no excuse for leaders to bolster quick fixes, which would be at the detriment of each country in the long run, what the people are owed in terms of the climate crisis are accountability and action which would push us towards a net zero emission target by 2050 at the very least.

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