Time is Ticking, Lives on the Line; Hold the Global North Accountable

Over the passing years, the world has grappled with an ongoing and worsening issue of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations organization tasked with evaluating the science associated with climate change, stated that humans in the present time are experiencing unprecedented changes in the global climate. Some of these observable occurrences are deemed irreversible and will persist for hundreds to thousands of years.

The detrimental effects of this global issue have conspicuously manifested on a substantial and widespread scale. Approximately 11,000 square miles of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted in the last three decades, subsequently transforming into wetlands, shrub vegetation, and barren rock. This transformation contributes to the exacerbation of rising sea levels. Significant transformations are also evident in Antarctica, which has been having massive ice loss each year, including the detachment of the world's largest iceberg from its seafloor grip in November 2023—an iceberg exceeding twice the size of the capital city of Britain.

In addition, the national parks in Africa, which serve as a home to a diverse array of wildlife including lions, elephants, and buffaloes, face growing threats due to below-average rainfall and the establishment of new infrastructure projects. The drought poses a crucial risk to species such as rhinos, giraffes, and antelope due to the decreasing available food supply. Moreover, the escalating global temperatures and changes in weather patterns are leading to an increased occurrence of severe heat waves, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events in various nations.

The prevalent cause of the worsening climate change and its widespread impact on the entire ecosystem lies in the excessive emission of Greenhouse Gases, continuously adding significant amounts of gas to the atmosphere and trapping heat within the ecosystem. As affirmed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gasses resulting from human activities have emerged as the primary factor propelling observed climate change since the mid-20th century.

In response to this issue, leaders from various countries engage in collective efforts each year, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties, to find ways to combat the escalating threat of greenhouse gasses, which poses a major risk to the world. The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established to “stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.”

However, these annual talks appear to yield only marginal adjustments insufficient to comprehensively achieve their goals. Despite nearly three decades of these annual meetings, GHG emissions remain a significant threat, and climate change continues its devastating impact on the ecosystem. Countries, particularly those with a heightened responsibility to balance their carbon emissions, persist as leading contributors to harmful gases worldwide.

Based on a study done by The Lancet Planetary Health, the United States bears 40% of the responsibility for the current global climate breakdown, while the European Union accounts for 29%. Collectively, the Global North is accountable for a staggering 92% of the excess global carbon emissions.

In addition to the United States and European nations, the affluent countries constituting the Global North include Australia, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. These nations are recognized as significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to their advanced levels of economic and industrial development.

The extensive extraction of resources, deforestation for the acquisition of wood and minerals, and excessive processing for the benefit of wealthy nations play a crucial role in the rapid and severe emissions driving the current climate catastrophe. However, despite being the primary catalyst of deteriorating climate change, it is unjust that the impacts are not as profoundly felt by these affluent nations compared to the suffering experienced by poorer countries, which contribute less but bear the brunt of the massive effects of the climate crisis.

Based on the International Rescue Committee report, most of the vulnerable countries of climate disaster are in South Africa and Asia. Somalia tops the list, having faced a flash flood in March 2023 that affected 460,000 people, displacing tens of thousands, and worsening the challenges of drought and extreme food insecurity. Similarly, Syria has been grappling with severe drought and environmental challenges, exacerbated by over a decade of war, hindering effective response measures. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces disease outbreaks, including measles, malaria, and Ebola, along with flooding and landslides in May 2023 that impacted over 15,000 people and claimed over 500 lives. Other countries on the list, such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic (CAR), Nigeria, and Ethiopia, share similar struggles related to health, shelter destruction, and food security.

Looking at the disparity between the Global North countries and the less affluent ones, it becomes evident how the impacts of the climate crisis are disproportionately experienced, highlighting the unequal consequences of the global catastrophe. It is ironic that some must endure the ramifications for the benefit of more privileged nations.

With all the occurrences that have been continuous for several years, holding Global North countries responsible for their ongoing actions is of paramount importance. Exploiting their power for personal gain, even at the expense of harming the world, particularly the vulnerable ones, reflects a selfish act that must not be tolerated. It is crucial to amplify voices, utilizing social media and every available platform, to disseminate the call for accountability.

Greenhouse gas contributors typically include activities from their respective governments and other large corporations, which do not fully represent the entire population of their countries. In fact, there are still environmental activists in the Global North, along with numerous ordinary citizens, who have the choice to advocate for environmental preservation. Thus, the responsibility to combat this issue extends beyond the most affected countries; even individuals in affluent nations can take a proactive stance by voicing their call to halt excessive emissions that would certainly benefit all, especially the most affected ones.