Climate Change and Global Response
Humanity's focus has shifted from the climate agenda, with the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming target expected to be breached soon. The lack of funds from Western democracies to assist the developing world, coupled with developing countries' reluctance to compromise on growth, contributes to this shift. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that if current practices persist, global warming could range from 1.9 to 3.1 degrees Celsius by the century's end.
Classes of Climate Change Impacts
- Warming Effects
- Increased temperatures affecting life forms and human wellbeing.
- Necessity for better-designed homes, vehicles, and increased use of artificial cooling.
- Weather Volatility
- Higher frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves, storms, and floods.
- Need for enhanced capacity in dealing with climate-related emergencies.
- Climate-related Tipping Points
- Potential rapid and global climate changes triggered by local events.
- Examples include melting ice sheets, thawing permafrost, and disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
- Tipping points are unpredictable but more likely with higher global temperatures.
Geoengineering Solutions
In light of inadequate global cooperation, interest in geoengineering is rising, including:
- Genetic Modification: Altering plant life to sequester more carbon dioxide.
- Solar Radiation Modulation (SRM)
- Stratospheric Aerosol Injection: Releasing aerosols in the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.
- Marine Cloud Brightening: Seeding clouds to enhance reflectivity.
Challenges and Regulation of SRM
- Determining who can use SRM technologies, on what scale, and for what purpose.
- Necessity for a robust global monitoring and regulatory system to manage SRM activities.
The regulation process should involve:
- Developing standardized global reporting and research norms.
- Establishing a global body, possibly under the UN or G20, to oversee SRM proposals and actions.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges, proactive global actions and regulations can mitigate the potential impacts of climate change. The lack of action on climate warming in the past has led to present difficulties, emphasizing the need for urgent cooperation and intervention.
