There is probably no need to define climate change. The devastating effects of the phenomenon on our planet is enough evidence for us. The biggest cause of this dangerous natural calamity is the exaggerating burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) which results in the release of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, etc. Also, the production, use, and disposal of plastics is the most harmful cause and effect of climate change. The Arctic and the Antarctic ice caps are melting. Rainfall patterns are ominously changing. The days of summer are becoming hotter each year and the winter seasons are becoming less cold. The water bodies such as oceans and seas are being damaged due to pollution and over-fishing. The ozone layer is getting teared up and is at its seams due to excessive air pollution.
According to various news sources, it has found through deep research that many cities/states/countries around the world are at a high risk of running out of water and its related facilities. To name a few, Chennai (India), Bangalore (India), Cape Town (South Africa), Cairo (Egypt), Tokyo (Japan), Beijing (China), Jakarta (Indonesia), and Sao Paulo (Brazil) are counted among this risk. The loss of forests and wildlife in wildfires (natural or man-made) such as the burning of the Amazon forests and the loss of flora and fauna in the bushfires of Australia have shaken humanity to its very core. However, bringing change or resolving this gigantic issue by making simple lifestyle changes is not enough. When people raise questions on the working of their government, they do not realise the problems and lengthy procedures of bringing such changes immediately.
The political issues blocking the path to reduce climate change includes factors such as ecological (natural constraints), economic (level of poverty, lack of financial resources), technological (insufficient knowledge, unavailability of adequate technology) and the weakness of state institutions. These problems are also intertwined with the ethical issues in stopping climate change. It is our ethics and principles which reminds us at all times to plan and prepare solutions keeping in mind the ramifications of the solutions on the present and the future generation. In light of this, Matthias Ruth, a professor in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities and the College of Engineering, and Joan Fitzgerald, the interim dean of School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, at the Northeastern University, have introduced Open Classroom series called “Climate Change. Challenges. Solutions.” to expand their knowledge in the private as well as the public sphere. The aim of this series to teach the public how to emphasise their policies and where and how to invest money to reduce the stress of climate change on our planet.
Therefore, the reduction of climate change is only possible when the public and its government work hand-in-hand to eliminate every possible obstacle of every field and work towards a clean and green world.
Dibyasha Das