The most talked about topic at
the moment is the decision of the US Supreme Court, which, perhaps with good
reason, overshadowed other news. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is reason to
celebrate, but it would be great if the public would be equally passionate on other
issues, such as, let’s say, the survival of human beings!
One news which deserves far
greater recognition was the decision of the Dutch court in holding the state
responsible for the dangers caused by climate change. This decision was the
first of its kind and more of it is very much needed. I can’t stress the
urgency to address the issue of climate change. Most governments (perhaps
ignorant), and even the public in general are not aware of the dire situation
we are in. On that note, there is no point in celebrating gay marriages if
human beings have no future to begin with. Now let me point out to you why the
issue of climate change supersedes all other forms of concern.
Rising sea level
The ocean, lovely to indulge in
when calm, but when turns violent, can be the most devastating form of
destruction. The rise of sea level is insidious in nature. We might not realise
it, but the effects penetrate into our very existence. Did you know that the
two low-lying island states would perish underwater within the next 100 years?
Oh wait, most wouldn’t even have heard of these states. Kiribati and Tuvalu.
The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change’s (“IPCC”) most conservative estimate suggest that global sea
level will increase 8 to 30 inches above 1990 levels by 2090. The National
Academy of Science predicts that based on the 2009 levels, sea level could
increase anywhere between 16 inches to 56 inches. A 36 inch rise of sea level
would submerge Maldives.
Do you think Malaysia is exempt
from this? Many of our coastlines in Kedah, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak will be
affected by rising sea levels and will be underwater by the end of the century.
31% of the population in Peninsular Malaysia lives within the coastal zone. A
substantial part of the coastal zone is occupied by important industries (agriculture
and fisheries) contributing large amounts to our economy. This in turn would
affect the livelihood of millions of people. It would eventually boil down to a
scenario of mass internal migration, but where exactly are they going to
migrate to?
Natural Disasters and Extinction
The world is already five times
as dangerous and more disaster prone than it was in the 1970’s because of
climate change (World Meteorological Organisation). Let me put things in
perspective here. From 1971-1980, we had 743 natural disasters. From 2001-2010,
we had 3,496 natural disasters.
There is a drastic increase in
floods and storms, but the new emerging killer are heat waves. Heat waves was
not even a registered threat back in the 1970’s. By 2010, they represent the
leading cause of deaths in natural disasters along with storms. Climate change
also renders coastal flooding more severe. The number of floods from 2001-2010
was almost 8 times more than in 1971-1980.
The IPCC has confirmed that the
rising temperature is causing more floods and dangerous heatwaves. Based on the
current trend of fossil fuel burning, there could be a temperature increase of
between 3.7C and 4.8C by the end of the century. A warming of beyond 4C would
likely result in substantial species extinction and impacts on normal human
activities (IPCC).
Malaysia? The severity of the
recent floods? The drastic weather and the severe heat we are facing now? I’ll
let the facts speak for itself. Imagine the catastrophic outcome with our current
disaster management system in place.
Conclusion
The international community has
held various discussions, formed numerous committees and drafted multiple
treaties to address the issue of climate change. Has the situation improved?
No. Why? There is a lack of political will. The last form of hope when all else
fails are the courts. The Dutch court in its recent decision has provided us that
hope. We need more decisions like this to compel the states to take action. We
need the public to be aware of what is happening, as they are ultimately the
ones that set the wheels of change in motion. Climate change is a global
phenomenon. Malaysia by itself can’t do much. What it can do is to prepare
itself for the storm that is coming. It is the public that must provide the
stimulus for change.
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