Vulnerable Earth

Dixya Poudel

As 2023 trails on its second-half, it has set a cautionary warning over extreme weather. In one particularly adverse week in July, regions of the US, Asia and Europe saw instances of wildfires, flash floods, landslides, and torrential rain. This summer, Iran set a two-day holiday in response to the heat waves that gripped the nation while devastating floods inundated regions of South Korea, Japan, and China. 

European and Asian cities scorched in the heat waves as Greece, Canada and US state, Hawaii saw their worst wildfires, some of which are still ongoing. 

In Nepal, Kathmandu Valley saw an unusually high rainfall that disrupted lives of its residents. As such, these are just a few examples of climate disasters that are wreaking havoc throughout the world.  

It is a bitter truth that the global average temperature is increasing steadily which means that the weather could get even more erratic in future. It could mean heat waves that lasts longer, frequent droughts that lead to a shortage of harvests and worsening inundations. Now that the world is at a critical juncture, there has to be an immediate action when it comes to mitigating climate change. 

As per experts, the worst may be yet to come as extreme weather becomes the new norm. While cities are seared and baked, or inundated and submerged in water, there is a growing call for a solution. 

However, the solution may not be a simple one. There happen to be climate deniers and naysayers in the high and mighty places of power. 

And for quite a few politicians and businessmen globally, it is beneficial to run industries in coal, fuel vehicles in petroleum and diesel, and manage household utilities through non-renewable sources of energy. 

Despite the science and the evidence, such climate deniers are turning a blind eye to climate change that could lead the world to a tipping point. And at worst, there could be a tipping point from which there is no return. As the earth sees melting ice on the poles, as the sea temperature rises and as the climate change leads to devastating consequences, the future of the planet hinges on the very humans who are perpetrating climate change. Hopefully, according to scientists, there might still be a window of opportunity to limit the global average temperature well below 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

First-off, carbon emissions must be curbed. Thankfully, due to the popularity of electric vehicles, climate-friendly alternatives are in place when it comes to vehicles. As car manufacturers such as Tesla aims to create electric semi-trucks, not to mention its EVs that are already highly marketable, there may be hope when it comes to curbing vehicular emissions. 

Likewise, industries will have to look for alternative sources of energy such as hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, etc. 

Research is underway for hydrogen fuels which has both potential and challenges but is nonetheless promising. Likewise, forestation and green and sustainable livelihood too are quite essential. In the vastness of the universe, the earth is by far the only known habitable planet which is currently at a perilous juncture. 

And time is running out when it comes to climate change. As such, climate-smart policies must be put to use so that the world doesn’t see further deteriorating consequences.