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For the past 45 years, the issue of climate change has concerned scientists and those involved in designing development policies. The climate crisis is here, and it is showing its harshest face. As a result of climate change, extensive natural disasters are occurring worldwide. Torrential rains, tornadoes, intense hurricanes, and wildfires are causing incalculable ecological damage and enormous economic and social problems. The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident and more severe each year. The outlook for the future is extremely bleak.<\/p>\n
The European COPERNICUS Observatory reports that the summer of 2024 was the hottest summer ever recorded on Earth, with an average temperature more than 1.64\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change has a profound impact on the water cycle, leading to violent storms, floods, hurricanes, prolonged droughts, and shortages of drinking water. The disruption of the water cycle has a serious impact on public health and well-being. Beyond the destruction of agricultural production and livestock farming, natural disasters are responsible for human deaths caused by floods and fires. The figures reveal the magnitude of the problem. Twelve percent of the EU population and 11% of its hospitals are located near rivers, making them vulnerable to flooding. Thirty percent of the population living in Southern Europe permanently faces problems due to water scarcity. Approximately 15% of the population resides near industrial facilities in flood-prone areas, with an additional 650,000 people affected by combined sewer overflows. Although EU Member States have been co-financed through the Structural Funds to create basic water supply, sewage, and wastewater treatment infrastructure, the continuous deterioration of climatic conditions exceeds the capacity of the original planning, making larger projects and more costly interventions necessary. Beyond the immediate impacts of natural disasters, the medium- to long-term effects are also severe and harmful to human health.<\/p>\n
The impacts vary depending on the degree of exposure, which is influenced by occupation, age, and physical condition. Living in polluted environments, inhaling particulate matter from large wildfires, and lacking access to clean drinking water lead to damage to vital organs, affecting respiration and mental health.<\/p>\n
Since the 1980s, states have recognized the threat of climate change and have been discussing how to address the issue and mitigate its negative effects on health and the economy. However, there are still many who believe that climate change is a hoax. They develop pseudo-scientific theories and claim that climate change is part of a natural process that periodically repeats itself when conditions on planet Earth change or when some external factor affects it. Recent research based on data from eight different countries concludes that the typical believer in conspiracy theories is a young person with a right-wing ideology who distrusts scientists and adopts populist attitudes. The ideologization and politicization of global climate change significantly hinder the effective handling of the issue by policymakers.<\/p>\n
At the level of the United Nations, efforts continue to limit the rise in average global temperatures. While some underestimate the danger and persist in drilling for fossil fuels and using coal, fortunately there are several countries that continue to invest in alternative forms of energy, aiming to reduce or eventually offset the risk.<\/p>\n
However, it is particularly alarming that the world\u2019s second-largest polluter, the United States, does not have a consistent approach to addressing the issue. While Presidents Obama and Biden supported the Paris Agreement, President Trump withdrew the United States from the Agreement twice. The stance of the United States discourages smaller countries from fulfilling their commitments, and other international actors retreat from the priorities they had set to support the green transition. In any case, decarbonization is a complex process that involves significant changes in development models and labor markets in regions that depend on fossil fuel extraction.<\/p>\n
The International Energy Agency also forecasts that by 2035, total demand for clean technologies will have increased sixfold. This will be due not only to the production of electric vehicles, but also to the increased use of air conditioning, the support of artificial intelligence centers, and other electrical applications. Moreover, it is worth noting that today approximately 90% of the world\u2019s population has access to electricity grids, while around 700 million people live without electricity, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa. As Africa\u2019s population grows, it is evident that more people will need access to better living conditions, including water supply, electrification, heating, and transport, creating further demand for safe and affordable energy. Given the rapid growth of Africa\u2019s population, the demographic challenge will inevitably lead to changes that we cannot yet predict.<\/p>\n
The climate crisis is intensifying rapidly, and people may not be able to adapt to its effects. The recurrence of natural disasters and the scale of their impacts should reinforce efforts toward more decisive collective action to address the climate crisis, which threatens both the economy and human lives. International cooperation is fundamental and, above all, maintaining a consistent stance by the countries with the highest emissions is vital. Furthermore, developed countries have a moral responsibility to contribute larger budgets in order to encourage and support the efforts of less developed countries.<\/p>\n
All countries must cooperate to ensure that the average increases in Earth\u2019s temperature do not exceed the agreed in Paris 2015 Convention limits. Given the urgency, global actors should set aside their rivalries. Each country should contribute according to its capabilities and comparative advantage. Research into clean technologies is a concern for all countries, and the exchange of experience and best practices benefits everyone.<\/p>\n
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