By Yemi Olakitan
Whether it is observed through the seemingly unstoppable firestorms that ravaged Australia from 2019 to 2020 or the intense drought in Somalia that has caused more than a million people to become afflicted by starvation, the problem of climate change has become the singsong reality of the modern world.
The effects of climate change are having a detrimental impact on the world and making people feel uneasy.
Climate change is the end result of the burning of fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, which leads to the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. This phenomenon is caused by the sporadic growth in human activities that has resulted from the advancement of technology.
The greenhouse gases work like a blanket that is wrapped over the earth, which traps the heat from the sun and causes temperatures to rise.
Accepting the truth of the breakdown in the hemisphere is required in order to deal with climate change.
In addition to this, it implies being aware of the linked nature of everything.
It has an effect on the economics of wealthy countries as well as underdeveloped countries:
Because of this relationship, we have an obligation to respect nature, to develop domestic regulation, and to participate in international treaties that preserve what is required.
Problems presented by climate change
When it was initially brought up in general discourse more than three decades ago, climate change was more like a narrative, and people’s reactions to it were largely uninterested and uncaring.
In the preceding two decades, it was anticipated that it would take place extremely gradually and in the far off future.
The phrase “our grandchildren’s time” appeared quite frequently in the conversation.
According to the end-of-the-world prophecies of a variety of religions, the effects of climate change, which include droughts, persistent rainfall, firestorms, and hurricanes, are evidence of the wrath of God on humans because of their ongoing moral deterioration. These predictions refer to the fact that humans are responsible for causing these natural disasters.
As a consequence of this, the vast majority of religious authorities have decided to employ prayer and other forms of religious devotion as a means of ideologically reducing the consequences of climate change in their individual regions.
This distributed, gradual, atmospheric, invisible, worldwide problem has many origins and manifestations, and the remedies are likewise dispersed and manifold. It was a challenge to get a handle on the problem because of its various causes and manifestations.
But the problem is with humanity now.
The long-held belief that human activity is not contributing to climate change has been rendered largely irrelevant (outside of social media) as a result of recent natural disasters caused by climate change all around the world as well as the efforts of climate activists and journalists.
It’s possible that the fact that voices coming from the climate change movement have finally been successful in making the great majority comprehend it and that many people care deeply about it will be the single most important triumph the movement will have.
Changes in the climate and the role of scientists
However, in recent years, researchers from all over the world have challenged the validity of such religious doctrines, labeling them as superstitious and useless in the fight against the deteriorating impacts of climate change.
In either case, the dilemma has been recognized by both scientific experts and religious authorities as an unsettling topic that has altered the nature of humanity.
Industrial activities
Some businesses, upon becoming aware that the current deteriorating situation of climate change was brought on by industrial activity, have made the decision to minimize the amount of carbon emission that occurs during the production of their goods and services.
For instance, Apple and Samsung have began developing methods that will allow them to produce mobile phones that will not generate any carbon dioxide during the manufacturing process. This will allow the corporations to become more environmentally friendly.
Additionally, economically successful businesses such as Tesla acquired an increasing amount of acclaim as a direct result of the company’s innovative production and distribution of electric luxury vehicles.
Unfortunately, Tesla’s goods are not for those who are not willing to take a significant financial risk, as the price of each of the company’s electric vehicles is quite high and can only be afforded by those in the top and middle classes.
Controversy
However, despite the gravity of the situation, it is more difficult to identify a ‘fake’ friend than it is to identify a ‘honest’ enemy. Phony friends’ false answers, delaying tactics, and empty promises can be difficult for non-specialists to understand.
It is still an awkward subject to bring up at international forums when leaders of states are present.
One of the leaders of state who has persistently rejected its existence is Donald Trump, the former President of the United States. He has referred to it as “an expensive fraud,” “mythical,” and “non-existent.” Other chiefs of state have also made similar claims.
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In addition, worldwide conspiracy theories have revealed that climate change is either a sociopolitical or economic ploy, and the only people who have the courage to believe it are those who are emotionally weak.
However, it should not come as a surprise that Africa is the only continent on which there is no evidence of people denying that climate change is happening.
African leaders of state perceive it not as something to be denied but as something that threatens the existence of humans.
In an opinion essay dated November 9, 2022 and published in ‘Washington Post,’ Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that climate change has led to Nigeria experiencing the worst case of seasonal flooding that has since caused some parts of the country to become submerged in water. This was done as a result of the flooding caused by climate change.
President Buhari further disclosed that African leaders are troubled by the hypocrisy that is being displayed by first world countries over the issue.
The comment made by the president draws attention to an essential fact, which is the fact that the harsh effects of climate change are felt more strongly in developing countries in Africa.
Despite this, the United Nations is of the opinion that every nation on the planet is feeling the consequences of climate change, albeit to varying degrees.
The unequal impact of climate change, as shown by the United Nations, demonstrates that African nations do not have the economic means to mitigate against the effect of climate change, whereas Western nations, which are the architects of the crisis, have the economic strength to contain the effects of climate change in their individual territories.
The United Nations is of the opinion that wealthy nations have a duty to assist less developed nations like Nigeria in meeting the difficulties posed by climate change through the provision of financial assistance.
According to the findings of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) 2022 African Economic Outlook, the total amount of climate funding that is owed to Africa is anticipated to fall somewhere between $4.76 trillion and $4.84 trillion between the years 2022 and 2050.
This equates to an annual influx of between 163.4 billion and 173 billion dollars.
It is illuminating to have an understanding of the substantial connection that exists between GDP per capita and the escalation of climate change.
And if Africans, who are currently suffering disproportionately from the effects of climate change, do not receive funds for climate-related initiatives, then the situation could become even more dire.
This climate financing is necessary for the African continent in order to construct climate resilience in order to endure the effects of climate change.
During the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark, wealthy countries pledged to a collective aim of raising $100 billion per year by the year 2020 for climate action in developing countries.
The monies that were raised were intended to be used toward initiatives that will have a real impact in mitigating the negative effects of climate change in Africa.
The commitment has not yet been carried out.
Akinwunmi Adesina, head of the African Development Bank (AfDB), reported in October 2022 that Africa urgently needed climate financial commitments from industrialized countries. The demand was made by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
He stated, “Africa is experiencing the consequences of something it did not cause.
A very long time ago, the developed world made a commitment to fund climate money for developing nations in the amount of one hundred billion dollars each year.
What we receive instead is a lot of talking but no actual financial support.
It is time to make amends because Africa is going through a terrible ordeal as a direct result of the effects of climate change.
It is Africa’s turn to host the Conference of the Parties, so let’s deal with Africa’s issues by putting money on the table.
In an earlier report, the African Development Bank (AfDB) made the suggestion that the Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments and funding from multilateral development banks (MDBs) should be treated as separate and distinct from the $100 billion commitment, which should instead be regarded as new or additional financing.
As President Buhari highlighted in his essay for ‘The Washington Post,’ there is a need for developed countries to seek assistance from developing countries in their efforts to combat the impacts of this crisis. This assistance should come from developed countries in the West.
Many prominent African leaders, such as President Buhari, hold the view that they have not yet been given the promised funding.
This situation is more analogous to a race against time, and in such a race, the only species that will suffer at the expense of humans is humanity itself if the environment is not safeguarded.
This indicates that while some governments continue to withhold funds to mitigate against climate change, developing countries, especially across East Africa, will continue to experience the worst effects of climate change, despite the fact that their minimal participation in the office present state of the climate. This is the case despite the fact that developing countries have minimal influence on the current climate.
Activism
Popular programs like National Geographic have kept up their efforts to bring people’s attention to the debilitating effects of climate change by continuing to sponsor correspondents from a variety of different countries. This is part of their ongoing effort to continue the fight against climate change.
According to a story published by national geographic, experts are working tirelessly to put into action an afforestation program known as the Great Green Wall. This initiative entails restoring various ecosystems to the northern portions of Africa and involves planting trees.
The decision made by experts to bring eco-friendly order back to the African region provides irrefutable evidence that afforestation is a crucial means by which individuals and institutions could mitigate the effects of climate change.
However, because customers continually need industrially produced commodities, individual afforestation activities may have little to no effect on climate change. This is because consumers continue to seek more and more products.
