TOXIC WAR AND GRIM UNRESOLVED CLIMATE CRISIS-by N.S.Venkataraman
Year after year, global climate meet take place in one part of the world or the other , ever since year 1995 , with 29th Conference of Parties (COP) that took place in November, 2024. Several global leaders attend such global climate meet with active participation.
Proceedings of such meetings are well publicised in the media all over the world, raising hope that tangible solution would be evolved and strategies would be worked out to overcome the climate crisis. However, the ground realities indicate that nothing much have happened and the intensity of climate crisis remain unabated.
In every COP, leaders of governments deliver what it now looks as “ ready made speeches “with announcement of stringent targets and tall promises . Animated discussions take place .particularly with regard to providing funds for climate management in developing countries by developed ones. In such meetings, invariably it is stressed that use of fossil fuel should be cut down drastically, as an essential pre requisite for preventing global temperature rise. Need for curtailing the emission of noxious gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane are highlighted as necessary condition to protect the global climate.
However, as on date , it is reported by several meteorological agencies around the world that global temperature is not showing any sign of declining but it is only increasing. Due to this, it is reported that ice melting in Arctic region is taking place at alarming level , monsoon / weather conditions in different parts of the world are changing and becoming erratic with so many other adverse developments.
In spite of leaders of governments delivering eloquent assurances in COP, the several of these government leaders have no hesitation in indulging in war between countries due to various issues.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the war between US/Israel and Iran and attack on Lebanon by Israel, ongoing war between Afghanistan and Pakistan and several other skirmishes between countries are resulting in use of weapons and missile attacks , that are causing huge pollution . Adverse effect of such pollution are not confined to the countries at war but spreads everywhere.
In the ongoing wars, drones and thousands of missiles have been sent by the countries involved in the war that cause destruction of buildings and infrastructure as well as killing of innocent humans .
Missile attacks during war cause severe, long-term environmental issues, including air, soil, and water contamination, habitat destruction, and significant carbon emissions. Explosions release hazardous substances—such as heavy metals and explosive residues—while triggering fires that reduce air quality and destroy ecosystems.
Unfortunately, the citizens of the world who are not part of the decision making team of warlords are helplessly suffering due to climate changes caused by conflicts and wars.
Scientists across the world are toying hard to find appropriate solutions to prevent emission of noxious gases by developing alternate eco friendly technologies such as promotion of electric vehicles , development of hydrogen process technology , promotion of renewable energy source such as solar and wind power etc.
However, the indulgence in war by leaders of government due to one reason or the other are undoing the positive work of hardworking scientists and making the COP conference proceedings as exercise in vacuum. While the scientists and technologists can certainly find solutions for the global warming and consequent ecological problems , the question is who will make the warlords develop responsible behaviour and avoid getting involved in war exercise. The net impact today is that the global climate issue continue to remain unresolved and grim while the leaders of governments who participate and speak in global climate meet are only indulging in “lip talk” without really being committed to the cause of healthy global climate.
Further, there is no reduction in the production and use of fossil fuel with several countries including China, India, Australia, Indonesia continue to increase coal production and use and crude oil / natural gas rich countries not taking any steps to reduce the production of crude oil;. Methane gas is another high level global warming gas and emission of methane gas is not showing any signs of decline.,
In such circumstances, with the warlords remaining unchecked and unrestricted , the hope of finding solution for the global climate crisis is only like mirage as of now. The basic issue seems to be lack of commitment of the governments to the cause of climate betterment , proving that loud talk and tall claims are not substitute for committed and positive actions to overcome the challenge of climate crisis.
While avoidance of war and prevalent of peace is one of the important requirements to ensure climate protection, this is not happening.
