CLIMATE change has occurred as long as human beings have roamed the Earth, as long as their thoughtless actions have influenced our planet's biodiversity — that is the balance, maintenance and sustainability of and between plants and animals. Commonly, climate change is deemed to have made the most significant impact since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the late eighteenth century, but altering weather patterns caused by mankind can be traced as far back as the Neolithic period (c.10,000 BC to c.2,000 BC) when a major shift in lifestyle took place, from a hunter-gatherer way of life to one of settlement and the introduction of farming. There can be no blame, of course, but ignorance and early experimentation meant the people of the Second (or New) Stone Age employed farming practices which exploited the land, rather than conserved it.
Mining not only produces high levels of carbon emissions, but through the creation of shafts also alters the balance of the soil. The ancient Egyptians dug for malachite and other minerals as early as 4000 BCE. In China evidence of coal mining can be found as early as 3490 BCE. In Ancient Greece coal mining began in the seventh century BCE and seems to have continued at least until the first century BCE. The Romans were the first miners in Britain, sourcing coal as well as metals like lead, copper, gold, silver, and tin, materials that were in high demand as the Roman Empire was established.
Now we are very nearly a quarter of a century into the new millennium, only the most hard-core individual will deny the obvious signs of climate change that we witness increasingly in all regions across the globe. Rising temperatures, an ever growing number of droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, the melting ice cap in Antarctica, the warming of our seas, alteration of acidic levels in our oceans.
Each successive COP conference promises so much, yet fails to deliver significant agreement between nations on the most effective measures, and the required finance, to prevent the world's carbon emissions rising by more than 1.5% on pre-industrial levels. Already scientists believe this is no longer possible and predict the figure could be as high as 2.5% or even 3% by the end of the century. As I wrote back in 2021, it seems incredibly hypocritical to fly thousands of people — government leaders, assorted supporting politicians, activists, journalists, etc. — a total of millions of miles to discuss …. wait for it …. CLIMATE CHANGE. This, in an age when we have the technology to remain in our usual locations and hold meetings via Zoom, Microsoft Teams or similar, sitting at a computer in our office or even at the kitchen table. It makes me angry all over again every time COP comes around. To add insult to injury, the last two events were held in what are known as 'petrostates', ie. countries whose economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and export of oil or natural gas. COP 28 was held in the Egyptian luxury resort of Sharm El Sheikh, while this year's COP 29 was in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku. In his opening speech, the OPEC Secretary General, Haitham Al Ghais stated that crude oil and natural gas were 'a gift from God'. With despicable, insular attitudes such as this, is it any wonder that the world is in the precarious situation it is?
Being housebound and neither a climatologist, environmental journalist or academic I only have a very small voice and limited ways in which to express my dismay at the harm mankind has been inflicting on the planet for millennia and its failure to comprehend the urgency of taking sufficient positive steps to prevent a catastrophic rise in temperatures through the use of fossil fuels and other carbon intensive activities producing greenhouse gasses and global heating. I do the best I can, as an individual of average intelligence, to employ critical thinking and read and learn as much as possible about the origins, effects and consequences of climate change. I live an eco-conscious lifestyle and shop only at small local independent shops where I know my food miles are minimal and my money goes into the local economy and not to some vast supermarket conglomerate already wealthy enough without my few meagre pennies. I'm a vegetarian, don't drive or own a dishwasher.
We all need to do everything possible to live sustainably and persuade governments, politicians and those in positions of influence to use their powers to instigate the tough measures required to prevent irreversible damage to our planet. Addressing the assembled delegates at the COP29 Climate Action Summit, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, urged leaders to take immediate steps to cut emissions, eliminate the use of fossil fuels and safeguard people from utter climate chaos. “Time is running out, but it is not too late,” he said.
It is our duty to ensure planet Earth is fit to live on for the generations who will follow in our footsteps. They deserve to know the environment at its best, be able to enjoy the flora and fauna and beauty that unspoiled nature offers. They do not need to suffer outrageous heat, devastating floods or failed harvests. They should not have to clean up the rivers their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents polluted or cope with the plastic detritus left by their elders. They didn't ask to be born, so they shouldn't be endowed with an apocalyptic legacy. In the words of the UN Secretary-General, “Time is running out,” so let's not waste any more. Let's repair what can still be salvaged.
24/11/2024
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