(CU)_The climate disaster across the globe has been intensifying over the recent years, with millions of people suffering amid catastrophic wildfires, chronic floods, prolonged droughts and heat waves caused by rising temperatures. Meanwhile, the very existence of several Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are currently under threat, with millions of populations in over 50 countries facing unique social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Researchers have discovered that if greenhouse gas emissions across the globe continue along their current trajectory, the Earth will heat up by an estimated 2.7°C by the end of this century. Therefore, with the goal of tackling this ongoing challenge, world leaders from nearly 200 countries, together with thousands of other delegates, are currently conducting discussions in Glasgow with the aim of reaching a deal to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as set out under the Paris agreement.
Meanwhile, the UN agency responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues is calling on the global community to also to be mindful of the need to adapt and respond to extreme weather conditions. According to a report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this week, the world must spend five or ten times more to assist vulnerable communities to respond to the inevitable environmental upheaval.
“Climate change is happening, impacts are increasing now and today, and we’re going to be committed to these growing impacts for the foreseeable future, as long as we can actually imagine,” Henry Neufeldt, the chief editor of the UNEP’s Adaptation Gap report, said. “Adaptation is necessary […] even if we stopped emissions today.”
Unfortunately, emissions have not stopped. After a significant decline in carbon emissions amid the pandemic, studies have now revealed that greenhouse gas pollution has almost completely rebounded on the back of increasing use of coal and natural gas.
The UN report, which was unveiled during this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP26), laid bare the unfortunate reality. It is becoming increasingly evident that the global community is unlikely to meet 1.5°C by mid-century, which means humanity must brace itself for catastrophic consequences of further warming over the coming decades.
“People need to prepare for a lot more,” Corinne Le Quere, a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia, said. “You need to mitigate for 1.5 degrees and prepare for 3 degrees, essentially.”
