Climate Change and the Global South
Climate Change and the Global South
By Sameer Cheema*
Global warming and climate change, two terms used interchangeably yet both point towards an impending doom, are the perfect example of what happens when the US and other affluent countries are left unchecked in their relentless pursuit of economic growth. Powerhouses of industrialisation such as the US, China and Russia are also mass emitters of greenhouse gases, which are the main culprit of climate change, due to their heavy use of fossil fuels and unsustainable consumption patterns. Therefore, it is heartbreaking to see these countries, that have unjustly and disproportionately benefited from their actions, clearly neglect the global crisis that they have largely caused.
Climate Change and the Refugee Crisis
In light of this, the need for affluent countries to open their doors to refugees escaping the effects of climate change has never been greater. It is not only a moral obligation, but a matter of basic human decency. Where these countries have gained, other countries have lost. Whether you can call it justice or compassion, admitting more people that were displaced due to climate related catastrophes or environmental degradation is only fair. Sure, it won’t turn back the clock and fix problems but it is a crucial step towards acknowledging the consequences of their actions and providing solace to the afflicted.
Corporate Responsibility for Climate Change
Based on an article from Oxfam, a UK based charity organisation, 125 billionaires are responsible for 1 million times more greenhouse gas emissions than the average person. These 125 billionaires have also invested north of 2.4 trillion dollars in the oil industry. They also mention that 71% of carbon emissions can be traced back to 100 fuel producers since 1988. Which is outrageous, as according to the Harvard Gazette, ExxonMobil's, an American oil and gas giant, own scientists established the link between fossil fuel related activities and the change in global temperatures from research starting in the 1970s. Yet Big Oil, backed by powerful lobbyists, continued to sully their hands and lining their pockets at the expense of rising global temperatures. Countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the list goes on; have contributed negligibly to the crisis, yet are suffering inordinately.
How Climate Change Impacts the Global South/Developing Countries?
The effects of global warming are many, including but not limited to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, extinction of flora and fauna, spread of diseases, stronger storms and winds. Formidable floods and spectacular tsunamis do make the headlines, but it is drought and famine that has donned the hood of the silent grim reaper, irritated by increasing temperature. A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross states that almost two-thirds of the 20 countries most affected by climate change are also disrupted by armed conflict, increasing tensions in these already distressed countries, some of which are mentioned later. On Oxfam's list of the countries most affected by climate change related hunger, Somalia is number one on the list. Rising temperatures, depleting water resources and unfarmable land thrust millions in the unforgiving jaws of starvation, further augmenting the already present political instability.
The crisis in Afghanistan paints a similar, sombre picture. A country ravaged by war and empty bellies, as one problem fuels the other, trapped in a continuous cycle. Degradation of farming lands due to extended droughts, exacerbates the already present poverty and further aggravates the instability, worsening the involuntary displacement of its citizens.
Adding to this painting of undue suffering is the Indian Subcontinent. As indicated by Al-Jazeera, in 2015 the Maharashtra region, often referred to as India’s agricultural heartland, received nearly 50% less rainfall than it did the previous year, and crop yields have been going down more than ever in recent years. Hundreds have lost their lives and even more their livelihood.
Bangladesh’s rice dependent agriculture is also under peril, due to its close proximity to the ocean and a rise in sea levels. The intrusion of saline water in its padi fields is concerning citizens, manifesting itself in community displacement and hightening conflict between resources in a country already beleaguered by poverty. Bangladesh also faces the unyielding wrath of catastrophic floods from the melting of glaciers in the North, further lowering food production and sending families into starvation.
With nearly two-thirds of the country under water, Pakistan’s citizens have nowhere to go. Having taken 1700 lives, according to UNICEFs website, and destroying more than 2.2 million homes. Pakistan only contributes to 0.9% of global carbon emissions but it remains powerless against the many calamities that come with global warming, making it as clear as day how rich are knowingly and willingly digging the graves of the undeserving while they feather their own nests.
The Case for Climate Reparations
According to the New York Times, 23 developed countries, which make up only 12% of the population, are responsible for half of all carbon emissions in history, yet as repeatedly expressed in this essay, the pain and suffering is inconsistent and incommensurable. From Somalia to Bangladesh, Afghanistan to Pakistan, the stories of these nations resound with the plea for concerted action. The impacts of global warming, from droughts and famines to floods and displacement, know no borders. It's a shared predicament that necessitates international cooperation, innovative policies, and sustainable practices.
The imperative for wealthier nations to extend their support to climate refugees, displaced by the very climate upheavals their actions helped foster, is more than just an ethical obligation—it is a testament to humanity's shared fate. While certain nations have reaped inordinate benefits, others have borne the disproportionate costs of environmental degradation. Admitting these displaced populations is an essential stride towards rectifying this imbalance, acknowledging the consequences of past actions, and extending a lifeline to those most affected. In lieu of this, let us collectively steer towards a more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate path, guided by the lessons learned from the scars of our environment and the resilience of the human spirit.
References
- Oxfam America. (n.d.). "Who is Responsible for Climate Change?"
- Harvard Gazette. (2023). "Harvard-led analysis finds Exxon Mobil internal research accurately predicted climate change."
- Oxfam Canada. (n.d.). "Extreme Hunger Has More Than Doubled in 10 of the World's Worst Climate Hotspots over the Past Six Years."
- International Rescue Committee. (n.d.). "How Climate Change Is Compounding Conflict in Afghanistan."
- International Committee of the Red Cross. (n.d.). "When Rain Turns to Dust: How Climate Change and Conflict Make a Deadly Combination."
- The New York Times. (2021). "Which Countries Have to Compensate for Climate Emissions? And How Much?"
- Al Jazeera. (2016). "India drought: Millions without steady water supply."
- UNICEF. (2022). "Devastating floods in Pakistan 2022."
- UNFCCC. (2022). "Pakistan Updated NDC 2021."
Sameer Cheema is an undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario in Canada.
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