Global warming is one of the most pressing and serious issues of our time. Detrimental consequences of climate change already take place, yet there is still an alarming lack of public attention and concern across the globe.
Climate change is partly caused by human activities. Thus, although it may seem disconnected from our daily lives, its consequences can and will be felt by all of us. Unfortunately, the urgency of global warming is not grasped by large parts of the population. Many are satisfied with the measures taken by governments, which are far from adequate. Thereby, reluctance to act increases the risk of worsening scenarios for the future.
The main cause for people to turn a blind eye towards global warming are the gaps in communication between scientists and politicians. Too often, scientific research is not taken into consideration and urgency is not established even if findings clearly draw attention to the ongoing and worsening impact of climate change. Furthermore, people seem to rely too much on President Trump’s opinion of global warming, and when he declares it a “hoax”, the world simply accepts and believes.
Political leaders have the duty to build awareness and create a common understanding among all segments of society, which would be the right path to start interacting with global warming. Most societies perceive global warming as a distant issue, despite the fact that global warming already poses a threat to mankind and the environment. More people are surprised by the fact that it is not just an environmental issue but also a social, economic, and political one. It is estimated that by the end of the century, more than one billion people will be displaced due to rising sea levels. Another example is the natural disasters that will be increasingly frequent due to climate change, leading to the loss of lives, property and the struggle to survive for those affected.
In addition to focusing on the physical manifestations of climate change, we ought to rethink our economic logic as well. The idea of infinite growth and natural resources is no longer viable. Governments must start acting on alternative approaches to economic growth with safe levels of emissions. The recent discussion in France on the implementation of an ecotax is a good example of this trend. In other countries, though, people seem to feel the imminent of global warming and yet preferto counteract the consequences through limitations on population growth, rather than focusing on the root of the problem.
It is an issue of universal importance and should take precedence when considering policy. Scientists must have a stronger impact on the process and politicians must take a more active role in communicating the importance of addressing it. To create a global consensus on the issue, an increase in public knowledge is essential. In this way, people will hopefully become more aware the consequences of their actions and influence the decisions made by their representatives.
Climate change has serious implications on the world’s population and environment, and it requires global action from both from citizens and governments. It is acknowledged that until now there were many uncertainties about the effects of global warming. Nevertheless, now more than ever it is time to take a stand, the consequences are too serious to ignore and time is running out. Global warming is not something that can easily be shrugged off, and it is our responsibility to act on behalf of current and future generations.
