IPCC, (Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change) UN’s climate body has released a new report on climate change which has rung alarm bells across the world. This report reveals that the dreaded 1.5 rise in Earth’s temperature is expected to become a reality sooner than the predictions made in the Paris climate agreement of 2015.It’s is being said that there already has been an increase of 1.3 Celsius which has wreak havoc across the world. Climate change is not a thing of the future now, it is an unfolding crisis, its impact is already being seen in various countries across the globe from USA to India.

The rise in temperature and the corresponding rise in sea level has made draughts, floods, heat waves and wildfires a frequent phenomena. The human and economic cost of the catastrophe is unimaginable and turning a blind eye to this can only worsen our chances of survival. It is pertinent that all the Governments start responding to this challenge with the seriousness and the expediency it requires. The governments should get on board all the stakeholders, impose carbon taxes and invest in green energy and incentivise non -renewable energy resources. Governments should also spend hefty amounts on research and development of non-renewable energy resources and decarbonisation, this along with the use of technology like solar geo engineering, a technological fix which mimics the volcanic eruptions and sends back the solar radiations thereby cooling the earth's surface, can help us in mitigating emissions and cooling the earth's atmosphere. While governments all over hold a significant responsibility to formulate an effective response to climate change but the primary responsibility to slash emissions and fund the global south for a switch to green energy lies with the global north which is and has been major contributor of greenhouse gases. It must start taking accountability and playing its role with all sincerity. Effective policy making at this time is crucial to pursue sustainable development and save lives and livelihoods.

Dania Sheikh

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