Climate change a huge threat to life on earth

Global warming acts as a ‘threat multiplier’, adding to existing burdens, writes Farouk Araie

Global warming is a grim reality. Environmental changes can threaten global, national and human security.

As a global community we must takes decisive, collective action to alleviate the incredible threat posed by climate change.

While sceptics continue to dispute the existence of global warming and climate change, policy makers now accept there is sufficient scientific data to conclude that the challenges posed by adaptation and mitigation will cause significant threats to life on earth.

If temperatures continue to rise, we can expect an additional 395 000 battle deaths by 2030. In most parts of the world, the intensity of tropical cyclones have increased. Heat waves in Europe are more frequent.

Societies with more climate-sensitive economies, largely in the developing world, will be most affected as climate change acts as a “threat multiplier” and adds to existing burdens.

Rising temperatures will mean that diseases such as malaria occur in regions they are currently absent from. Food crops will plummet if droughts become more frequent and longer lasting.

Global warming is a challenge so far-reaching in its impact and irreversible in its destructive power that it alters radically human existence.

Let us not underestimate the magnitude of the threat posed by climate change. We ignore it at our peril.