COP27: Addressing climate change is a task for all

By Yakubu Sani Wudil 

As the world reconvenes for the 27th conference of parties (COP27) in Egypt to re-evaluate the existing policies and formulate new strategies to tackle the devastating effects of climate change, it is imperative to highlight, in relatively non-scientific terms, how our daily actions contribute to the climate change and propose novel approaches to suppress the adversity. 

Climate is simply the long-term weather pattern of a particular place, while climate change describes the shift in the defined weather patterns over a long period. Although some natural causes, such as variations in the solar cycle, may lead to climate change, several human activities, such as the use of organic fuels like petrol, gas, and coal, have been the driving force behind the incessant disruption in climate patterns. 

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Burning organic fuels leads to the emission of greenhouse gases, which depletes the ozone layer and acts as heat absorbents. Methane and carbon dioxide are the two major greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Carbon dioxide is generally released from burning coal for heating a building, firewood for cooking, clearing land and forests, or using gasoline to power vehicles and generators. On the other hand, garbage waste is the primary source of methane gas emissions. Among the leading sectors facilitating the release of these gases are transportation, industries, energy, agriculture, and buildings.

A United Nations report showed that the last decade witnessed record warm weather. It revealed that the earth is 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than it was before the 1900s. 

The adverse effects of climate change are not limited to the rise in average global temperatures. That’s just the beginning of the story. It is worth noting that the planet earth behaves like a coordinated system where the function of one organ influences that of the others. The ravaging impacts of climate change include but are not limited to flooding, disastrous storms, declining biodiversity, melting polar ice, rising sea levels, severe fires, water scarcity, and intense droughts. 

Different people experience the effects of climate change in diverse patterns depending on their social setting, physical location, and level of exposure. For example, people living in developing countries and small island nations are more vulnerable to the catastrophic impacts of climate change. While protracted drought poses the threat of famine, conditions such as saltwater intrusion and sea-level rise have caused a dramatic increase in the number of climate refugees. Climate change can influence our health, shelter, safety, ability to grow food, and work. 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 desires to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact,” while recognising that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the fundamental international forum for negotiating the global response to climate change. The 2015 Paris Agreement was the first legally binding international treaty on climate change. It demands that signatory countries work toward limiting the average global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era. However, each country develops for itself the phases it will adopt to accomplish the objective. Although the current policies project a global temperature rise of 2.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, timely deployment of corrective measures can lead to a drastic reduction in global warming. 

Most of the proposed climate actions can offer economic gains while preserving the environment and protecting our lives. In general, there are three major approaches proposed to combat climate change: financing the needed adjustments, adapting to climate impacts and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. 

Currently, according to UN data, the global average carbon dioxide emission per person is 6.3 tons. However, to preserve the climate, the average emission per person is required to drop to around 2.0 to 2.5 tons by 2030. The disastrous effects of climate change can be substantially minimised if humans readjust their ways of life. For example, since most domestic heating and electricity is powered by gas, oil, or coal, it will be remarkable to use renewable and sustainable energy-based electric appliances, switch to LED bulbs, use cold water for laundry, and hang clothes to dry instead of using a dryer. Moreover, domestic cooling and heating can be reduced by installing better insulation in buildings. 

On the other hand, the transport sector has a critical role to play in curbing climate change. Nowadays, the world’s roads are occupied with vehicles that mostly use gasoline or diesel. If people adopt bikes or walk for short distances, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved, apart from the associated health benefits. Meanwhile, buses and trains can be employed for long-distance trips. It was shown that living a car-free life typically reduces one’s carbon footprint by up to 2 tons per year. One of the fastest ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce air travel. Generally, airplanes burn large amounts of organic fuel, producing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide gas. Therefore, switching to virtual meetings where possible, taking a train, or avoiding that long-distance journey would help considerably in preserving the climate. 

Avoiding food waste is yet another path to support climate action. When food is thrown away, not only is the food wasted but also the energy and resources used in its growth, production, packaging, and transportation. More deleterious is that if the food decomposes, it produces methane, a consequential greenhouse gas. Therefore, it is essential to preserve any leftover food. Additionally, our daily consumables like clothes and electronics contribute to greenhouse gas emissions at the point of raw material extraction, production, and transportation. To preserve the climate, it is recommended that people buy fewer and only necessary gadgets, repair them when damaged instead of replacing them, purchase second-hand items, and recycle them. 

Since climate action is a task for all of us, we must employ every possible measure to curtail the menace. We must ensure that we buy goods from companies that are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our investments should be directed to environmentally sustainable businesses. Finally, the least expected of everyone is to speak up. We shall talk to family, colleagues, friends, and neighbours about the consequences of climate change and the urgent need to address them. We may not be able to accomplish that as individuals, but together we can do it. 

Dr. Wudil is with the Renewable Energy Research Centre, KFUPM, Saudi Arabia, [email protected].