We are Running Out of Time to Save the Planet. Act now!
To those who suggest addressing climate change competes with other societal priorities, remember none can be resolved without managing the climate crisis.
Sustainability is at the core of every business now and rightly so. Soaring temperatures and changing weather patterns are blaringly sounding the alarm bells for immediate action. In a recent exchange with a friend from Dubai, I was astonished when they shared a video of a sofa kept on the balcony of a high-rise being swept away in heavy rainfall. Assuming it was footage from a past cyclone, I was taken aback to learn it was indeed from Dubai. Intrigued, I delved deeper into the topic and found out that the unprecedented rainfall was not the result of a cyclone, but rather a consequence of a regular weather system exacerbated by climate change. This incident underscores the pressing reality highlighted by climate scientists: the surge in global temperatures, largely driven by human activity, is fuelling a rise in extreme weather events worldwide, including intensified rainfall.[i]
While the Dubai incident might seem far from home, the problem is much closer. In Bengaluru, the Indian headquarters for various multinational companies, extreme summer conditions in March and April have led to severe water scarcity. Over the recent years, Bengaluru has experienced minimal rainfall, attributable to human-induced climate change. This scarcity has led to critically low water levels, especially in impoverished regions, dramatically driving up water expenses and rapidly depleting the available supply.[ii] According to city authorities, 6,900 out of 13,900 borewells have become dry, despite some having been drilled to depths of 1,500ft.[iii] These situations underline the urgent need to address climate change for human, animal, and planet health.
Worsening climate challenges
Recently, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, Simon Stiell, presented a roadmap ahead of COP30, titled “Two years to save the world.” He listed why the next two years are critical for our planet’s preservation in his address. Firstly, he said the urgency is evident with unprecedented heatwaves and economic devastation demanding comprehensive action.
He said we are entering a race to determine leaders in the new clean energy economy. With the global index of living standards in constant flux, each country’s climate responses will be key to whether they rise up the ladder or fall. Thirdly, many countries require substantial climate financing to enact robust climate plans. Fourthly, the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement is under scrutiny, as current national climate plans fall short of significant emissions reduction. The national climate plans — called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs — in aggregate will barely cut emissions by 2030. There is still a chance to make greenhouse gas emissions tumble with a new generation of national climate plans. Lastly, G20 leadership is pivotal, given their substantial emissions share, echoing their role in addressing global crises like the financial meltdown. He also mentioned that every individual’s contribution is vital in this transition, necessitating collective engagement now more than ever.[iv]
Therefore, to those who argue that addressing climate change competes with other vital priorities such as poverty alleviation, hunger eradication, pandemic control, or education enhancement, it is important to understand that none can be achieved without effectively managing the climate crisis.
Sustainable Practices
The imperative for adopting sustainable practices to combat climate change is indisputable. Our current consumption and production patterns are placing unprecedented strain on the planet’s ecosystems, depleting natural resources at an alarming rate. Adopting sustainable practices is essential to preserve biodiversity, protect vital ecosystems, and ensure the planet's long-term health. Moreover, by embracing sustainable practices, we can mitigate the impacts of climate change, build resilience in vulnerable communities, and safeguard the well-being of current and future generations.
Furthermore, transitioning to sustainable energy sources such as renewable energy and improving energy efficiency reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fosters economic growth, and creates jobs in emerging industries. Here are some ways of adopting climate-resilient practices:
· Renewable energy: Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources marks a pivotal shift in our energy paradigm, offering multifaceted benefits beyond reducing carbon emissions. Embracing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power mitigates climate change by curbing greenhouse gas emissions and catalyzes positive transformations across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
· Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency measures contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, air and water pollution, and resource depletion. By decreasing energy consumption, industries and buildings can lower their carbon footprint and mitigate their impact on local and global ecosystems. Furthermore, energy-efficient transportation options, such as electric vehicles and public transit systems, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and public health.
· Sustainable agriculture: Adopting sustainable agricultural practices offers a multifaceted approach to mitigating the environmental impact associated with conventional farming methods. Such practices prioritize the preservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, including forests. Instead of clearing land for agricultural expansion, sustainable farming methods promote land-use practices that maintain forest cover, such as agroforestry systems that integrate trees with crops and livestock.
· Circular economy: In a circular economy, products and materials are designed to be reused, repaired, or recycled rather than disposed of after a single use. This reduces the need for raw material extraction, which is often energy-intensive and associated with greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling and reusing materials require less energy compared to producing new materials from scratch. For example, recycling aluminium requires significantly less energy than extracting and refining virgin aluminium ore. Similarly, remanufacturing products or components consumes less energy than manufacturing new ones.
· Nature-based solutions: Protecting and restoring ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and mangroves can sequester carbon dioxide and enhance resilience to climate change impacts.
· Innovative technologies: Supporting research and development of innovative technologies such as advanced batteries, green hydrogen, and carbon-neutral fuels can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
· Climate resilience: Building resilience to climate change through infrastructure upgrades, disaster preparedness, and community adaptation measures is essential for safeguarding vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
Enacting policies that incentivize sustainable practices, price carbon emissions, and promote international cooperation can also help mitigate the impacts of climate change. As healthcare communicators, we are responsible for sounding the alarm bells loud and clear. We need to shine the spotlight on the urgency to battle this worsening crisis. By embracing sustainable practices and fostering innovation across sectors, we can fight the battle against climate change and build a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
[i] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-caused-storm-that-brought-dubai-standstill-2024-04-17/
[ii] https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/3/22/indias-bengaluru-fast-running-out-of-water-and-its-not-summer-yet#:~:text=In%20the%20last%20few%20years,and%20a%20quickly%20dwindling%20supply.
[iii] https://apnews.com/article/bengaluru-water-crisis-climate-change-india-17554235dba0741a266f2251b91aec8f
[iv] https://unfccc.int/news/two-years-to-save-the-world-simon-stiell-at-chatham-house
