By Siddiqah Shaikh.
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our times. Intense weather destroys lands, livestocks and crops.
In this present day, we’re all experiencing climate change; some parts of the world affected moderately while some the most.
People living in fragile areas are prone to be affected by climatic crisis the most and are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events; lives of the people in these areas are lost easily as essential food supplies, homes, lands, livestock are lost.
Apart from this, food supplies and essential necessity prices have skyrocketed as they abate in number; overall resulting in people decreasing their food consumption and rising malnourishment.
Some most affected places are forced to experience disaster after disaster nonstop with no time to recover.
South Sudan, one of the most affected countries has been experiencing four years of consecutive flooding and a massive hunger crisis.
The country’s global temperatures are increasing at two and half times the global average.
The extreme weather conditions have left half of the country underwater while some parts of the same country have experienced extreme droughts.
Madagascar, one of Africa’s most disaster prone and food insecure country experiences harsh cyclones and droughts.
In south of Madagascar, the driest conditions force people to survive on locusts, raw red cactuses and wild leaves.
Somalia has been experiencing failed rainy seasons and no end in sight of droughts.
Such weather conditions prevent people from having any livestock.
Total crop failure adds to massive hunger crisis in Somalia and lack of rural opportunities add on to the trauma provided by a climate crisis.
5 million people in Somalia are facing crisis levels of hunger, including 200,000 people experiencing the worst form of hunger.
Many other countries are affected with wildfires, droughts, floods, hurricanes et cetera due to climate crisis.
India is the third most polluter responsible for the climate crisis with 3.5 bn tons of CO2.
All 36 states and union territories are affected due to global warming.
India all together in 2023, saw its warmest August and September in 122 years.
The country witnessed extreme weather conditions throughout the year almost every day.
Out of 365 days, 318 days were spent with harsh climatic conditions.
3,287 Human lives affected, 2.21 million hectares(ha) of crop fields damaged, 86,432 houses destroyed and 124,813 animals dead.
Himachal Pradesh was recorded to have the highest number of extreme weather events, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
Bihar suffered the most deaths by 642 due to extreme weather accidents. Haryana had the most affected crop areas. Gujarat had the highest amount of damaged houses and Punjab with the most animal deaths.
The most vulnerable to climate change in this time is underlined as the commercial capital, Mumbai with the high risk of rising sea levels.
Air pollution contributes the most as a climate change issue in India.
CO2 emissions from human activities are now higher than any point in history.
Climate change is a global issue that needs to be sought after immediately.
Avoidance of much worse climatic conditions will be reduced with the decrease of emissions to 0.
As quoted by Greta Thunberg, A Swedish Activist, “we have the truth on our side, we have technology on our side, we have science on our side, we have morality on my our side” what else do we need to be better to save our own world which we cannot live without.
We can all save the planet if we’re conjunct and all have the same goal to reduce their part in global warming.
The smallest changes can lead to a better future.
If you’re not experiencing a major part of climate crisis from where you are, always remember there are parts in this world that suffer it terribly; Can you wonder how they survive? Can you wonder how they experience death? Can you wonder how they eat or drink water?
Climate crisis, if not stopped soon, will find a way to reach you in a worsened condition.
We’re all one and we must speak up if even one of us is facing major problems.
Siddiqah Shaikh
