Let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be: if global temperatures rise by 3.1°C, it’s not compatible with human survival. That’s exactly where we’re heading unless immediate action is taken. Currently, the world is on a trajectory to surpass 1.5°C of warming and could potentially hit an increase of 2.6-3.1°C by the century’s end.
For most of us, the daily choice between a sweater or a coat doesn’t seem significant. However, for humanity, it’s about the stark reality of survival versus extinction. Major cities like Paris and Berlin could bake under relentless heatwaves, while New York might endure recurrent storm surges. Coastal communities face the grim prospect of being submerged, affecting 800 million people living on lands that could soon be underwater.
The heat in the tropics and Gulf regions may surpass levels tolerable for human existence. We don’t have to look far into the future; the catastrophic impacts of climate disruption are already occurring. A Monash University study indicates that from 2000 to 2019, extreme weather was responsible for 9.4% of global deaths. Just this past year, heatwaves claimed 1,500 lives in Myanmar; floods displaced over 700,000 in East Africa and more than 400,000 in southern Brazil; and wildfires destroyed over 14,000 homes in Chile.
Moreover, we’re facing a dramatic loss of biodiversity. In the last 50 years, we’ve lost more than two-thirds of wildlife worldwide.
If our leaders felt real empathy, the current climate crisis would be enough to spur action. In the absence of empathy, let’s be blunt: the climate crisis threatens everyone.
Without immediate intervention, events deemed “once-in-a-generation” like flooding in New York subways, typhoon-like winds in China, or devastating forest fires, will become everyday occurrences. Politicians abandoned the goal of halting climate breakdown years ago. Now, we must prevent it from spiraling into uncontrollable disaster.
We must avoid hitting critical “tipping points” that could lead us down a path of irreversible damage. For example, the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation would disrupt vital rain patterns that support billions in India, South America, and West Africa. Thawing permafrost could unleash unstoppable carbon emissions, while losing the Greenland ice sheet might set off catastrophic melting.
Most politicians no longer deny man-made global warming. Yet, governments often substitute this with another form of denial: the belief that small steps will suffice.
The Labour government, for instance, has already halved its £28 billion green investment pledge, putting its trust instead in a £22 billion carbon capture initiative. This policy inadvertently allows the fossil fuel industry to continue harming our environment. Coincidentally, the Labour party accepted a £4 million donation from a Cayman Islands-registered hedge fund invested in oil and gas.
This administration is not just failing to challenge fossil fuel titans; it’s also neglecting to address the economic structures that empower them. The wealthiest 1% are responsible for more carbon emissions than the bottom 66%, yet there are still no wealth taxes in place to address inequality. Unless our government bravely reconfigures our environmentally destructive economy, climate goals will soon become another set of broken promises.
Mere words won’t cool our planet; immediate systemic change is essential. A Green New Deal could direct investment into publicly owned renewable energy and water systems, create millions of green jobs, support sustainable agriculture rooted in agroecology principles, and foster a human-centric economy instead of one driven by corporate interests.
The climate crisis is a global issue demanding global solutions. At the very least, our government should respect countries that have contributed the least to global warming yet stand to suffer the most. When the prime minister dismisses reparations, he overlooks the lasting colonial inequalities that expose vulnerable communities to climate disaster. Facing such historical negligence, it’s no surprise that smaller nations temporarily withdrew from Cop29 negotiations.
In some respects, the UK leads globally in clamping down on climate activism. British police arrest environmental protesters at nearly triple the global average, highlighting an approach that criminalizes those working to preserve our environment while benefiting those who endanger it. Our government also seems intent on winning the global race to tighten border controls.
The prime minister knows the implications of referring to British “open border experiments.” Such statements fuel the kind of animosity witnessed on streets last summer and contribute to demonizing individuals escaping the very climate crisis that remains unaddressed.
Despite challenges faced by marginalized communities, resigning ourselves to climate despair isn’t an option. As long as life persists on Earth, there’s a reason to defend our shared humanity. The outlook may be daunting, but it’s never too late to strive for a better, sustainable future.
Jeremy Corbyn is an independent MP for Islington North and was the Labour party leader from 2015 to 2020.
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