Combating Climate Change With Collective Action

Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the planet today. If not dealt effectively, it may pose existential threat to the humankind along with other living things. Human activities have been contributing to climate change since the time immemorial. Exploration of coal and other fossil fuels and their widespread use as the source of energy for industrialisation were primarily responsible for the emissions of a huge amount of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, triggering the process of climate change. The more the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the quicker and severe the climate change. 

The United Nations defines climate change as a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shift occurs as the greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, emitted into the atmosphere in a substantial amount work as a blanket around the globe. It prevents the heat to escape away from the atmosphere resulting in the warming of the planet. The current problem of climate change is human induced. Human activities, like deforestation, use of fossil fuels, transportation, farming, food consumption and industries are responsible for the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Global warming and changing weather patterns are the striking features of climate change. Depleting snows in the Himalayan mountains, melting glaciers, unbearable heat, dry winters, excessive rains, devastating floods, spread of diseases, climate refugees and other problems have become rampant across the globe. No country or region is untouched by the impacts of climate change. The rich could afford to tackle the impacts of climate change to a large extent. However, the poor are most affected by it and find adaptation most challenging. 

Every 0.1˚C of heat matters. Every fractional increment of global warming increases serious consequences like the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfalls and droughts. It is important to limit the global warming at the lowest possible level with urgency to avert the impacts of climate change and preserve a liveable planet. The global average temperature from 2014-2023 is estimated at around 1.2˚C, the warmest 10-year period on record. The Paris Agreement pledges to keep the long-term global average surface temperature increase well below 2˚C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5˚C by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

For every problem, there is a solution. The world has already witnessed the success stories of human efforts in tackling the problems of acid rain and depletion of ozone layers. Reversing global warming and climate change phenomenon demands substantial reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and effective application of measures for the adaptation to its impacts. Scientists, researchers and leaders are working round a clock to limit the impacts of climate change and reverse global warming and adverse weather patterns. 

All countries are not affected by climate change with the same intensity. It has made the developing countries vulnerable to poverty, extreme rainfall, floods, displacement of the people, heatwaves, droughts and wildfires. Tropical diseases are spreading in the highlands. Its impacts on least developing countries (LDCs) are more severe than other developing countries. For instance, Nepal, which has topographical diversity, fragile geological structure, sensitive ecosystems, and diversity of climate and micro-climate zones is more vulnerable to climate change impacts. Inadequate early warning system, and institutional and financial limitations are serious constraints for LDCs in coping with the impacts of climate change. 

The least developed countries have negligible contribution to climate change. Nepal has contributed to fractional 0.027 per cent of total global emissions but bearing the brunt of the severities of climate change. The ecosystem that spreads from the Himalaya to the sea is badly hit by global warming. The Himalayan region of Nepal is warming at the rate of 0.057˚C per year, which is higher than the global average. As a result, snow covers are depleting and glaciers are melting rapidly. Depletion of snow not only disturbs the ecosystem of the Himalayan region but also accelerates the climate change process. 

Countries have made several attempts at international and national levels to adapt to climate change and reverse its trend to normality. The Kyoto Protocol and its Doha Amendment, Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework and Sustainable Development Goals are major multilateral instruments in this direction. 

Climate change and climate action intersect with multiple dimensions of human and nature. Therefore, measures should be taken considering their cross-sectoral nature. Poverty alleviation needs top priority as the poor has limited capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change than the rich. The trend of deforestation should be reversed.  ‘Produce more with less’ policy is necessary especially in farming. Improvement in the resilience of crops against drought, floods and heat is required.  It is essential to improve food consumption patterns and control food wastage. Renewable energy should replace fossil fuels. Climate friendly technology should be made affordable to LDCs. 

Commitments made for LDCs in international agreements should be implemented effectively. Supporting actions as envisioned in the Paris Agreement and other relevant international agreements should be materialised for LDCs and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives through appropriate provision and mobilisation of financial resources, a new technology framework and enhanced capacity-building. The developing countries should be compensated by the developed countries as latter are the main emitters. Attempts of the developing countries, like Sagarmatha Sambad, the climate initiation taken by Nepal, should be encouraged. The LDCs should have better say and representations at policy levels in relevant international institutions.

Countries including Nepal should further reform and strengthen their legislations, institutional and financial mechanisms in line with the aims and commitments made in these international agreements and their needs. 

Human activities for centuries have brought our climate at this point. There is no magical way to reverse it instantly. Enduring efforts are required to bring it down to normal condition. There is not a silver bullet to combat climate change. However, silver linings are there. With the collective actions at local, national and international level, it is everybody’s responsibility to contribute to adaptation to climate change and ultimately reverse this dangerous phenomenon. 

(The author is working as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in Germany.)