Category: Current Affairs

Posted on

A New Study Predicts Severe Droughts in the Indus Basin

31 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

The Indus River is the 19th longest in the world. It originates in the Tibetan Himalayas, and flows through northern India and Pakistan into the Arabian Sea.

Since the development of the famous Indus Valley Civilisation in the 4th millennium BC, local livelihoods have relied heavily on its terrestrial water supply – that is, “the summation of all water on the land surface and in the subsurface”, including ice, river water, and soil moisture. For this reason, the Tibetan Plateau is often referred to as a major “global water tower” – which partially explains why the region is the object of so many geopolitical tensions.  

But a recent article from the New Indian Express shares the results of a recent satellite-based assessment of water changes in the region, quantifying the effects of global warming-induced glacier retreat, lake expansion, and below-ground water loss.

Without a significant increase in climate policy, the study projects an 80% water loss in the Indus basin by 2050. Such decline in freshwater availability over the Tibetan Plateau would entail a loss of livelihoods for 2 billion residents of India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

If we fail to meaningfully reduce the global carbon emissions currently generated by the burning of fossil fuels, we can expect colossal forced displacement flows in the region 25 years from now.

Posted on

COP27: An Opportunity for Egypt

white and blue boat on water near city buildings during daytime

25 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

A recent article from Arab News offers some insights on the 2022 edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly referred to as COP27, which will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) in November.

The upcoming summit represents an opportunity to raise awareness of the climate-related issues encountered by the MENA region, whose interests are often dismissed in global decision-making.

For example, during the 56th session of the Bonn Climate Change Conference that took place two months ago, a coalition of developing country representatives suggested that mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change throughout the Global South could be facilitated by implementing a Global North-funded international mechanism. However, despite wealthy nations being the main contributors to global warming, the initiative was rejected by the EU.

In addition, the event is providing Egypt with an incentive to address its own national climate challenges. For example, the high levels of pollution (especially in Cairo) are affecting air quality and, thus, causing health problems amongst at least 2 million residents each year.

After seven years of negotiations, the overall stake of COP27 is to prompt the implementation of the Paris Agreement at each country’s national level. As phrased by Zitouni Ould-Dada, deputy director of the FAO’s Climate and Environment Division, “the costs of inaction would be higher than the costs of action”.

Posted on

Oak Fire in California: Sparking New Fire Management?

people walking near fire

1 September 2022 – Willy Phillips

This piece discusses the Oak Fire in California and the future of fire cycles in the state. 

On July 22nd, the foothills of Sierra Nevada, California, saw the state’s most sporadic and unpredictable fire to date, called the Oak Fire. The Oak Fire burned nearly 18,000 acres in its first three days. About 2,000 firefighters fought to keep the blaze at bay, which destroyed numerous properties and left thousands without power. The CAL fire department reported over 6,000 people evacuated in the first 72 hours of the blaze. Today, over a month later, the fire is nearly contained, but still holds an ‘active’ listing on the fire departments website. As the fire season comes to a close, many fear events as unpredictable and rampant as this are soon to be commonplace.

California has faced some of the United States’ most severe climate challenges. From extensive droughts to unmatched heatwaves, the state is familiar with the impact of climate change on their fire season. Beth Pratt, a regional fire expert, spoke of the regularity of big fires, saying, “The fire cycle up here, before these 1,500-year droughts which we’re in, was like a big one every 15, 20 years, now we have multiple big fires every year.” 

The uptick in massive fires has not happened overnight. Instead, years of unrelenting drought, warmer-than-average temperatures, and a buildup of dry-brush fuel on the forest floor have created ideal fire conditions. Across California, fire crews and departments have cited “explosive fire behavior” due to the unprecedented lack of moisture. In fact, soil records reveal these are the driest conditions California has seen in 1200 years, with no hopes of moisture on the horizon. As even drier conditions take hold in California, fire management is due for an overhaul. Evacuation as a management strategy is entirely unsustainable, but can only be avoided with comprehensive and collaborative management.

To build these new strategies, the state and supporting agencies have much work to do. Citizens can do their part by adhering to evacuation strategies and being disaster-ready with supplies on hand. However, a large amount of fire safety must come from proactive state-wide efforts to address climate change, like fire-proofing buildings, and prescribed burns throughout the state. Previous fire management strategies utilizing rainfall and cooler temperatures have fallen short. In response, experts are calling for more proactive and comprehensive approaches that depend on multi-level cooperation and continued adaptation to the observed conditions. Undoubtedly a tough task, but one that is critical to the longevity of the state and its residents.

Posted on

Africa Getting a Fraction of the Finance it Needs to Fight Global Warming

17 August 2022 – by Cosmo Sanderson

A new report has revealed that Africa is receiving just 12% of the finance it needs to reduce emissions and adapt to global warming.

Africa needs an average of US$250 billion in climate finance annually from 2020-2030, according to a report released last week by Climate Policy Initiative, but received just US$29.5 billion in 2020.

The San Francisco-headquartered think tank says this falls “dramatically short” of what African countries need to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions, the commitments made by states in the Paris Agreement to cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Africa is the region that is both least responsible for the climate crisis and among the most vulnerable to its consequences,” says the report.

“It is crucial that sufficient capital is deployed in the continent to simultaneously support economic development, mitigate further environmental degradation, and help the population adapt and build resilience to the changing climate.”

The report says this will require significantly higher levels of investment, especially from the private sector. Due to “real and perceived risks” associated with investing in Africa, the private sector has so far played a “marginal role” in providing climate finance for the continent.

Africa currently accounts for just 3% of global emissions, despite housing almost a fifth of the world’s population according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation.

Global warming is already disproportionately affecting Africans, the IEA says, including through including water stress and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. These effects are in turn fuelling regional instability and mass migration.

A report last year by the World Meteorological Organization warned that Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly likely to suffer “climate conflicts” resulting from climate-induced political instability.

Posted on

Australia: New Report Warns Of Climate Change and Acknowledges Indigenous Peoples’ Role in Environmental Management

landscape photography of mountain under blue sky

12 August 2022 – Darina Kalamova

Every five years, the Australian government releases a report on the state of the nation’s environment, which details the most crucial environmental issues, repercussions and possible solutions.

The 2021 State of the Environment Report

Unfortunately, the findings of the most recent report state that climate change, habitat and species loss, pollution, and resource extraction are devastating Australia’s environment.

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently and over the last five years natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, and heatwaves have affected virtually every part of Australia. Millions of hectares of potential habitat for animal and plant species have been lost or heavily damaged. 

The marine ecosystem is in a critical state . While sea levels are rising, some of the most important river basins on the land are recording alarmingly low water flows. 

It is important to note that the report highlights some positive shifts. More investments are being made and people are becoming more involved in the climate change conversation. 

Indigenous peoples’ role in environmental management 

The relationship between the environment and people’s well-being, especially the interconnectedness of environment and culture, is emphasised as well.

There is a dedicated chapter on Indigenous peoples and their role in conservation. This involves aspects such as cultural principles, deep understandings of the flora and fauna, and land and sea management practices and is a part of a growing movement of climate reports that recognise Indigenous peoples’ role in Australia’s future.

Indigenous peoples have a deep connection to the land, which has developed for thousands of years and it has helped them adapt to shifting climates and radically different environments.  Traditional Ecological Knowledge could become a key element of environmental management, as it has the means to provide a new approach focused on culture and traditions instead of other values such as economic gains. 

Indigenous peoples are more likely to be impacted by environmental crises and therefore their inclusion in the decision-making process is vital. The report advocates for cooperation, improved application of existing environmental laws and regulations, as well as for new actions to codify Indigenous land stewardship. Excluding a group that has been on the continent for thousands of years, would mean disregarding any historical context, ongoing injustices and imbalances in power. 

Posted on

Can Climate-Resilient Seeds Prevent Nepal’s Imminent Food Crisis?

green plant on persons hand

12 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

Climate change is compromising food security throughout the Global South. The scale and frequency of heatwaves, fires, floods, and landslides are increasing, causing a significant drop in crop production. In addition to heightening the risk of famines, this jeopardises the livelihoods of farmers, as well as large-scale economies.

In Nepal, food production cycles are planned around the alternance of dry and rainy seasons. Global warming dysregulates and exacerbates these natural weather phenomena, to the point of undermining crop and vegetable production. On the one hand, excessive rainfall is flooding farmlands and aggravating soil erosion. On the other hand, droughts are hampering cultures that require lots of water, such as rice paddies. As a result, farmers become unable to meet the national demand for food, and the country has to increase its fresh vegetable imports – which takes a toll on the rest of the economy. Moreover, crop failure directly threatens the means of subsistence of over 3.2 million Nepalese families.

One of the solutions envisaged to sustain the country’s agricultural productivity is the adoption of genetically modified climate-resilient seeds, capable of tolerating extreme climatic stresses. Not only can they endure both submergence and drought, but they also contain more nutrients than regular seeds, and do not require excess maintenance or resources.

Practical considerations remain to be addressed, such as the raising of awareness among farmers who may be reluctant to adopt new types of seeds. Furthermore, we could wonder how those seeds would impact ecosystems, and whether their implementation would entrance Nepal’s dependency on foreign companies for its economic survival.

Posted on

Chile Prepares to Vote on New Constitution Recognising ‘Rights of Nature’

9 August 2022 – Cosmo Sanderson

The Chilean people are preparing to vote on a new constitution that would make the country only the second on earth to recognise the ‘Rights of Nature.’

The 4 September vote will see Chileans given the opportunity to radically overhaul their existing constitution, which was entered into in 1980 during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

The proposed new constitution enshrines in it the Rights of Nature, stating that:

“Individuals and peoples are interdependent with nature and together, they are an inseparable whole. Nature has rights. The State and society have the duty to protect and respect them.”

If approved, the constitution would reportedly make Chile the only country other than Ecuador to recognise such rights.

Chileans overwhelmingly voted to update their constitution in 2020, a year after a rise in public transport fees sparked a million-strong march in Santiago against inequality.

Last month, Chile’s constitutional assembly sent the final proposed text to President Gabriel Boric, kicking off a two-month campaign on whether to vote it into law. Aside from environmental protections, the new constitution places a fresh emphasis on social rights, gender equality and indigenous autonomy.

The fate of the new constitution hangs in the balance. A poll published late last month found that 47% of respondents plan to vote against the text, with 39% in favour of it and 14% undecided.

Reuters reports that the vote is being closely linked to Boric – the 36-year-old leftist former student protest leader – who took office in March and has been a strong advocate for constitutional reform. Boric has seen his support slump to 34% as of June 2022.

One of the groups most affected by global warming in Chile is its Monte Patria population in Limarí Province. Human rights think tank Climate Refugees reports that drought problems aggravated by global warming have forced many in the community to migrate to other areas in the country.

Posted on

Bangladesh Develops Resilient Cities to Accommodate Climate Migrants

3 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

As a low-lying country centred around a large delta plain, the geography of Bangladesh makes it particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, which are exacerbated by global warming. The Climate Reality Project estimates that by 2050, one in every seven people in the country will have been displaced by climate-related disasters. Already, more than ten million Bangladeshis have lost their livelihoods to floods, and have been forced to relocate to other regions.

Most of them seek refuge in Dhaka, hoping for job opportunities. But the capital has become so overpopulated that the government is now encouraging the economic development of alternative destinations for climate migrants. This strategy, labelled “transformative adaptation”, is based on the work of Professor Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (Dhaka). The goal is to “divert people to smaller urban centres with the capacity to expand and, crucially, jobs to sustain a rapidly growing workforce”.

Amongst them, one city stands out: the South-Western seaport of Mongla, where, in recent years, tens of thousands of dollars have been invested in climate-resilient infrastructure and in export processing industries. In addition, the government monitors the social inclusion of the city’s new residents – including in the field of education, through a dialogue with local schools and universities.

Mongla is currently celebrated for its uniqueness, but is designed as a prototype for future climate-resilient cities in Bangladesh and beyond. This type of initiative brings hope for forcibly displaced populations throughout the Global South, yet the situation remains extremely precarious, and the fight for climate justice is more urgent than ever.

Posted on

Recent Greenpeace Report Highlights the Neo-Colonial Dimension of Climate Change

Europe map

28 July 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

As a global dynamic generating an unfair distribution of power and wealth, colonialism is largely responsible for shaping the North-South divide that we witness today. Moreover, many aspects of our lives remain determined by its ongoing legacies. Whether glaring or more insidious, these legacies tend to underlie our relationship to the world, and should especially be factored in when analysing global events.

A recent Greenpeace report highlights the colonial roots of climate change.

“Colonisation established the model of a global extractive economy, [as well as] a model through which the air and lands of the Global South have been polluted or used as places to dump waste that the Global North does not want.“

Moreover, neo-colonial dynamics continue to protect the West from the consequences of its actions, while the rest of the world burns. The negative impacts of climate change tend to concentrate in regions that have barely contributed to the global greenhouse effect; this mismatch of vulnerability and responsibility coincides with a power imbalance stemming largely from colonialism.

The same dynamic is reproduced at a sub-national level in Western countries, where people of colour are overexposed to the consequences of climate change. For example, the London borough of Newham has both the highest level of air pollution and the highest Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority population in England.

By calling attention to the neo-colonial dimensions of climate change, this report provides us with conceptual tools to reflect on climate-induced migration – for instance, by supporting the inclusion of climate reparations in the global case for colonial reparations.

Read the report here!

Posted on

Torres Strait Islanders Finally Speak to the Australian Government over Climate Change Concerns

aerial photography of islands during daytime

29 July 2022 – by Ella Kiyomi Dobson

Torres Strait/Zenadh Kes Islander communities have been fighting for years to meet with the Australian government to express the devastating impacts climate change has on their homes. The lack of concern from the government resulted in a group of Torres Strait Islander people filing a complaint about the Australian government’s inaction to the UN Human Rights Committee, in addition to filing a lawsuit against the government. Still, last year the government refused to acknowledge the effect climate change has on this group of islands.

Torres Strait is a region on the northern tip of Queensland, Australia, home to low-lying islands inhabited by First Nations Australians. Previous research shows that the sea level rise on these islands is double that of the global average. From 2017 to 2021, Torres Strait Islanders saw a considerable amount of their land disappearing, with “eight metres get[ting] taken away” in just four years due to erosion, rising sea levels, and flooding. The shallowness of the islands lends itself and its communities to coastal inundation, which can contaminate water supply, destroy crops, wash away roads and the remains of loved ones, and damage sacred cultural sites. The communities rely on the sea for a large part of their diet, and one community member notes that “certain fish are not found on a particular reef when they used to be in the abundance. They are not there.” These threats of erosion, rising sea level and high investment in infrastructure are significant concerns that will continue to worsen over the coming years. 

After years of fighting, the Torres Strait Islander communities finally met with the Australian government to express the need for change and protections at the beginning of July. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has conceded that climate change does pose a “real and substantial” threat to these communities. Chris Bowen visited the Torres Strait Islands to hear first-hand what their concerns are, as well as to see the impacts these people are facing. While this may be a good first step, governments need to acknowledge and prioritise the concerns expressed by its people before it is too late to act. The consequence of the impacts on these islands may lead to the displacement of Torres Strait Islander people who have lived on the islands for more than 65,000 years.