Tackling Climate Crisis

Bini Dahal

Only nine years are left for the world to achieve of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of the total seventeen global goals, goal number thirteen is concerned with Climate Action. However, effects of climate change on the environment are growing at an alarming rate while and efforts being made to cope with them seem to be inadequate. The Himalayan region seems to have been facing adverse effects of climate change, with the rate of ice-melting increasing rapidly, posing a serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of people living downstream.

 The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), an important mountain range in Asia, has not become an exception. HKH covers eight countries namely Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The latest report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) shows that glaciers in the 3,500-kilometre region are found to be melting rapidly. Apparently, the range could lose around 75 per cent of the volume of the existing by 2100 if climate change persists globally. 

The report really paints a worrisome picture as the repercussions of this situation be very extensive. The report indicates increased instances of flash floods and avalanches. Likewise, availability of freshwater will also get reduced due to the fast melting of ice. In major rivers such as Amu Darya, Indus and Helmand, the level of water will go down significantly. As around 2 billion people in Asia rely on freshwater, water scarcity could become a common problem for all. 

Not just the direct effect, a rise in temperature has the potential to threaten the available biodiversity and ecosystem services. For instance, in the case of fauna, they could become extinct or could experience certain genetic and behavioural changes to survive in the changing environment. The Himalaya range is home to a large population that is incapable of coping with the vulnerabilities posed by climate change and its effects. 

The 2015 Paris Climate Conference had set a goal that the world should maintain its temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature. However, without any strict effort, it is quite impossible to achieve this figure. Since the industrialised nations are more responsible for such a worsening scenario, they have additional responsibilities in reducing the greenhouse gas emission as much as possible. For the vulnerable countries, preparedness is essential and key to tackle the effects of climate change. The Nepal government should also invest more and install such systems that can provide early warning. 

This can help reduce the number of casualties, to an extent. More studies and researches are also crucial that can guide policies and decision-making at the national and the international levels. Our generation is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Right now days are getting hotter and people are facing difficulties. As industrial and mindless economic activities continue, the effects will magnify considerably. And this will happen to the point that the humankind could be in peril. 

Therefore, there is a need for urgent support and finances. Allocation and mobilisation of financial resources has to be done to ensure better adaptation when it comes to loss and damage. Because sustainable development is concerned with the idea of inter-generational equity, it should be the major focus of the world. We should be able to live in a climate change-free environment and this should be the basic right of the future generations as well.