Tourists carry sun umbrellas when visiting the Forbidden City amid the heatwave in Beijing, capital of China, June 21, 2023. /CFP
Editor's note: Rizwan Basir, a special commentator for CGTN, is a sociologist who works as a Climate Finance Specialist at Climate Resourcing Coordination Center based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
The blazing inferno sweeping across the globe has left a wake of unprecedented devastation. Climate change, heedless of borders, has unleashed its wrath, sparing no country from its impacts. Although some countries may exhibit better adaptive capacities, the toll of human suffering cannot be discounted – every life is equally invaluable.
The repercussion of these climate-related disasters extends far beyond communities, exerting a profound influence on the global economy and security. For vulnerable countries, this unforgiving cycle of crises has become an insurmountable challenge, leaving them entangled in a web of persistent vulnerability.
Perhaps people aren't yet suffering enough for policy makers to take climate change seriously. Why else, then, do we continue to witness disagreements on how to address climate change? The science is clear, and the need for collective action has never been more apparent. No single country can confront this colossal challenge in isolation. Collaboration and regional thinking must be the keystones of our response.
The global climate landscape
Planet Earth experienced a scorching June, the hottest ever declared by a major climate-tracking organization. Shortly after, July 4 set a new record for the hottest day. This record again was quickly surpassed by even higher temperatures on July 5 and July 6. The intensity continued to build, with the World Meteorological Organization and the Japanese Meteorological Agency confirming it as the hottest week on record.
Phoenix, Arizona experienced an unprecedented 19th consecutive day of scorching temperatures, breaking a decades-old record. The heatwave's impact extended beyond North America, affecting millions in Asia and Europe. Wildfires ravaged parts of Canada, Greece, and Spain while a remote town in China's Turpan Depression recorded a staggering 52 degrees Celsius, setting a new temperature record. As the effects of El Nino intensify, the situation is expected to worsen.
A thermometer shows that the surface temperature reached 70 degrees Celsius on Flame Mountain in Turpan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 17, 2023. /CFP
Gone are the days when scientists merely conveyed their apprehensions about climate change through models and forecasts. Now, the impact is visceral, felt by humanity day in and day out, across the globe. The once-distant future of climate change has become the relentless present, and the only certainty we face today is the daunting uncertainty of what lies ahead.
Will the unprecedented average daily global temperature of 17.23 degrees Celsius finally serve as a sobering reminder of the urgency to address climate change? The world may find itself with no other viable option.
The climate poly-crises
The ecological impacts of climate change are undeniably concerning, but the socio-economic consequences are even more alarming. Climate change is reshaping the world's economic geography, affecting production, GDPs and overall welfare on a global scale. Different regions are bearing varying degrees of impact, with the world's poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America facing the harshest repercussions. This exacerbates the already-troubling issue of inequality, both within countries and internationally.
As droughts and disruptions of global food systems become more frequent, water resources decline, extreme heat persists, and rural populations seek better living conditions by migrating to urban centers. Coastal residents, dependent on agriculture and tourism, also face displacement as sea levels rise. This migration influx will strain urban infrastructures, amplifying issues of sanitation, healthcare and housing accessibility.
Compounding the issue further, climate change could also potentially fuel conflicts within and between countries. Existing tensions can be amplified by factors like water scarcity and competition over resources, leaving societies more vulnerable to climate-related adversities. The situation at the Indus River could pose one such scenario, where ongoing disputes over water resources, worsened by climate disasters, may potentially act as triggers for conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Regional cooperation is the only way forward
Amidst the daunting challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope as the world holds immense potential for progress and unity. Technologically-advanced countries like China, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates possess the capacity to lead the charge in crafting innovative climate solutions on a global scale. By forging partnerships with international organizations, cities and corporations, they stand to gain economic and diplomatic advantages.
The least developed and most climate-vulnerable countries, too, must embrace regional action. Climate change transcends borders and necessitates a borderless approach to find solutions. It is imperative for these countries to come together, unite and align their diplomatic efforts to amplify their voice on the global stage – an opportunity that awaits at COP28.
Regional collaboration in critical areas such as agriculture, phase-out of coal, energy efficiency and renewable energy has the potential to fortify long-term stability and open up promising prospects for business, academia and humanitarian efforts. Needless to say, the possibilities are endless. But for progress to take place, egos must be set aside. The world cannot afford to function in isolation any longer.
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