Keeping the rise in global average temperature

Dr. Kevin Trenberth, the Nobel laureate and distinguished scientist says “Some of the Human induced changes are occurring 100 times faster than they occur in nature and it worries me more than the climate change itself”.

Undoubtedly, Mother nature has endowed denizens of planet earth with everything to sustain their lives. But, reckless anthropogenic activities have put mankind at the forefront of nature’s wrath. In vengeance, nature is striking back and he is left alone without any sanctuary; to evade. Therefore, from North America to South Asia the situation is the same, the climate change phenomenon has become the most formidable term to discuss.

Global temperature is rising rapidly, its implications can be felt in every nook and corner of the world. In September 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued an awful warning that the temperature of the Arabian sea had unusually risen - From 29°C to 31°C. Comparatively, it was an alarming hike because normal global oceanic surface temperature remains between 0.8°C–0.9℃.  

Evidently, over the past 20 years, the temperature of the Arabian sea has been drastically increasing. Gradual increase in ocean surface temperature draws more energy to feed cyclones and rain storms. In the aftermath, South Asian countries Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been greatest victims of climate change.

The scope of damage wrecked by climate change is mounting beyond infrastructural damage and loss of lives. Now it is causing global economic insecurity. To tackle this hovering threat, we shall retrospect what causes contributed to this dangerous situation. While looking into the historical evidence we see that climate has never been constant. It always changes.

Once there was an ice age and planet earth was much cooler than ever and once it went up 3,600° degrees Fahrenheit. In the last 100 years, Earth's temperature increased only 1° degree Fahrenheit thereby making it still habitable. Probably, it can be contained in between 1.0° & 2.0° C but a slight increase in the long run will have dreadful implications.

The contributing factors to these changes are rapid and reckless industrialization, overpopulation and excessive unfettered pollution. To reduce average global temperature there is dire need to curb urban activities which are causing a major contribution of emission and pollution. Instead of conventional sources we should rely on renewable resources of energy, sustainable and nature friendly transport.

To minimize the chances of smog and pollution in crowded urban cities, projects like green cities and vertical gardens should be introduced. In this ongoing situation of climate urgency, forests and plantations can help us to thwart this danger by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Pertinent to the idea, former premier of Pakistan Imran Khan in my opinion has set the best trend for global leadership to emulate.

He initiated the Billion Tree Tsunami project and worldwide it has been acknowledged. Such strategies can only be executed with the help of community support. Such concrete and conclusive measures can produce long term results to achieve the ideal average global temperature of 1.5°C. In this regard, the COP27 summit at Egypt is a golden opportunity for global political leadership to unanimously formulate the future strategy regarding climate change urgency and call for immediate action on all levels.

Indeed, it is very much the role of politicians who are assumed to do what is in the interest of the entire global community. It shall not be focused only on restriction but sustainability, and for the greater interest of the global world let the window of social, economic and political change be open.