Record level emissions

With the UN Climate Conference 2022 (COP27) right around the corner, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has made a startling statement that years 2020 and 2021 witnessed the greatest significant one-year jump in methane concentration. While this rise is not surprising, what is puzzling the scientists is that fact that no factor, other than theoretical assumptions, can be determined as to why such a sharp rise occurred.

It must also be noted that all three greenhouse gas emissions — nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane — peaked at a record high last year. This, in part, shows how futile these climate conferences are unless immediate and radical action is not taken. Many scientists have constantly been warning global leaders that the world is heading in the “wrong direction” and carbon emissions need to be curtailed immediately. Others believe that the point of irreversibility has been reached and there is no going back. It must be realised that climate change is a vicious cycle as rising temperatures will provide an ideal environment for greater production of greenhouse gas emissions.

This will in turn accelerate environmental degradation and have a permanent effect on phenomena such as polar ice loss, ocean warming and sea level rise. The ecological crisis must be fought at a global level and on multiple fronts. It is an unfolding event that will continue to make the earth uninhabitable for humans, resulting in our extinction. The first and most crucial step is to reduce carbon emissions, as we have seen positive results of this during the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to do this, major carbon emitting countries must stop relying on fossil fuels. This will be particularly difficult as major superpowers make significant money and contribute heavily to the $2 trillion industry.

To tip the scales here, a shift towards sustainable energy is required. This can be done through adopting new technology, making more investment and bringing in legislation. However, it remains astonishing that world leaders are still in the phase of trying to convince organisations to reduce a meager amount of emissions in a fairly lengthy time frame. The truth is that time is not on our side and the situation is spiraling out of control. Sadly, we refuse to realise this. We must still be hopeful that the COP27 — scheduled on 6-18 November in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt — will yield significant results, and changes will be initiated thenceforth. What is required most is a radical shift in the global order and the foreign policies of global superpowers.