The Politics of the Global Climate Crisis
It has been a long summer with many climate disasters globally, ranging from unrelenting heat waves in China, Western Europe, and parts of the USA to devastating floods in Pakistan, India, and sections of the USA. Many of the world’s rivers and lakes have subsided, to record low levels not seen in over 100 years. All these events have been pointing to the changing climate patterns. But, the world is divided into political camps for dealing with the problem.
The issue of climate change is not an immediately observable feature that produces cataclysmic reactions, as was witnessed in the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It is this slow-burning event that is resulting in irreparable damage over some time, hence it is not embedded in our psyche. Those who want to deny what is happening will quickly say that flooding, wildfires, and heat waves were always with us. The short answer to all this is yes, however, what used to be a 100-year event has now become a multi-year, or once every three years, event, with greater intensity and more devastating impact. Since the recording of global temperatures, four of the hottest years recorded have been in the last five years.
Political cracks on climate issues extend considerably beyond whether or not climate change is occurring or the extent to which humans are playing a pivotal role in contributing to the problem. This has resulted in conservative politicians across the world, including major players in Canada, the US, and Western Europe, to be on the denial trail indicating that their carbon footprint is very small and if they meet their climate accord targets it will amount to nothing because it is emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil who are driving the problem. Liberal governments in North America and Western Europe have put a price on carbon in the form of cap and trade and carbon tax. In essence, the carbon tax concept is a free market, idealized cognitive model in which the price of carbon should be determined by supply and demand. However, conservative governments in waiting are vehemently opposed to this construct as a tool to fight carbon consumption and are vowing to eliminate it and replace it with technology to fight climate change, although it is yet to be determined how.
The problem we face is that we have allowed a genuine global issue that is having, and will continue to have, catastrophic effects on present and future generations to degenerate into leftist and rightist ideologies. Liberal politicians sometimes thumb their noses at the local people and don’t show genuine concern for the sensitivity of their concerns when implementing certain policies to reduce carbon emissions. This approach leads to division and mistrust within the wider community.
The global climate crisis will have a greater impact on millennials, GenZ, and future generations. It is commendable that youth activists like Greta Thunberg, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Nyombi Morris, and others around the world are making their voices heard. Recently, youth climate activists in Ontario challenged the provincial government in court over greenhouse gas targets. The youths claim that the province has set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets very low and hence discriminating against young people who will bear a disproportionate burden of the impending climate disaster. The Ontario Government is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, indicating that no government can constitutionally take action now to avoid future climate-related harms. The youth activist constitutional challenge is likely to fail, but they have achieved most of their objectives in moving the discussion forward in communicating to Ontario and the rest of the country why strong emission targets are needed.
Some commentators and pundits argue that climate change may not be such a bad thing as more places in Canada will become warmer and hence more habitable. This is a short-sighted and selfish view as it is manifested that the poorest countries with the smallest carbon footprint bear the brunt of the many climate disasters. Climate change and extreme weather phenomena do not have political ideology nor do they discriminate against national boundaries. The real losers are the vulnerable people in our population. Those with certain health risks are more likely to suffer from dehydration during extreme heat events. Racialized groups along with low-income individuals, especially those who reside in large urban centres, lack adequate green spaces needed to moderate extreme temperatures.
While politicians of all stripes and ideologies argue over the impact of climate change, the frequency and severity of weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, atmospheric rivers, and floods threaten the lives and livelihood of the most vulnerable in our society while expanding the cycle of hunger and poverty. We need to act now.
Fernon Wilson is a Caribbean Educator living in Canada.
