The call to confront climate meltdown globally is getting more frantic than before. Everything is changing – it is hair raising!
In the chilling lead-up to the UN climate change conference (COP28), Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded the alarm on the rapid disintegration of Antarctica’s ice due to global warming, among many other things.
The urgency of the situation, he insists, demands a united global effort to combat the existential threats posed by climate change.
He says:
“If we continue as we are, and I strongly hope we will not, the Greenland and West Antarctica ice sheets will cross a deadly tipping point.”
Guterres, who recently visited Antarctica, emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive strategy.
He asserted that only a global agreement to triple renewable energy usage, double energy efficiency, and ensure universal access to clean power by 2030 can effectively address the escalating challenges spurred by climate change-induced global warming.
Speaking to journalists in New York, Guterres described the alarming speed at which the ice in Antarctica is melting as:
“profoundly shocking,” and surpassing the rate witnessed in the early 1990s by threefold.”
This acceleration in ice loss poses a direct threat to coastal communities worldwide, as rising seas endanger lives and livelihoods.
Sea Ice Depletion and Unprecedented Statistics
According to recent figures reported by UN News, sea ice at the South Pole is now 1.5 million square kilometers below the average for this time of year.
This stark statistic is equivalent to the combined surface area of Portugal, Spain, France, and Germany.
The interconnected nature of our world means that what transpires in Antarctica has far-reaching consequences, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action.
Guterres also underscored the well-known solutions to address these challenges and called world leaders to their positions:
“Leaders must not let the hopes of people around the world for a sustainable planet melt away.”
He also issued a stark warning that without a reduction in fossil fuel extraction, the world is on course for a calamitous three-degree Celsius temperature rise by the century’s end.
Health at Risk: Climate Change as a Global Health Challenge
In parallel with the climate conference preparations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health community are amplifying their call for urgent action on climate and health.
Recognizing the inseparable link between climate change and human health, the WHO is urging world leaders to prioritize health in global discussions.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stressed the necessity of prioritizing health as the foundation of resilient societies.
As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, climate change exacerbates health risks, contributing to a rise in heat-related deaths and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases.
The IPCC report has highlighted the vulnerability of nearly half of humanity—about 3.5 billion people—to climate change.
Urgent action is imperative to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and prevent a future marked by intensified climate impacts.
A Global Call to Action: From Melting Ice to Strengthening Health Systems
As the climate crisis unfolds, displacing populations, challenging food systems, compromising water sources, and catalyzing the spread of infectious diseases, the call for decisive global action becomes more urgent.
Guterres, echoing the sentiments of global health leaders, insists that confronting the climate crisis is not just an environmental necessity but a fundamental health imperative.
The UN Chief calls on leaders to change the conversation, emphasizing the immense benefits of robust climate action on health and well-being.
The COP28 conference serves as a pivotal moment for world leaders to demonstrate their commitment to a sustainable future.
The choices made in Dubai will shape the health outcomes that societies expect and urgently need.
The time for action is now—to confront the Antarctic meltdown, protect our planet, and build resilient health systems for the challenges that lie ahead.
Culled in by Fortune Omosola
