Special Report by Kweku Bolton
To address the issue of Global Climate Change crisis at the Berlin Science Week 2023 journalism research grant in Germany, about 200 scientists, technologists, and researchers across the world, including journalists, gathered to partake in the program.
The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows clearly that, if we do not bend the global curve of carbon emissions by 2025, we would have no chance of staying within the global carbon budget that can hold the 1.5 degree Celsius limit. This revelation came to light at Berlin Science Week 2023 in Germany.
Research indicates that the Earth is likely to cross a critical threshold for global warming within the next decade, and nations will need to make an immediate and drastic shift away from fossil fuels to prevent the planet from overheating dangerously beyond that level. This clarifies the United Nations definition, which states that climate refers to a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns.
These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which produce heart-trapping gases. As a result of climate change, certain types of disasters are becoming more destructive and threatening the global economy and entire generation.
To address the issue of Global Climate Change crisis at the Berlin Science Week 2023 journalism research grant in Germany, about 200 scientists, technologists, and researchers across the world, including journalists, gathered to partake in the program.
Panelists shared their research findings on topics ranging from Rethinking Generation, Rethinking Urban Agriculture, Culture of Generation, Digitising Healthcare Development, Nuclear Fusion for a Decarburization Future Disruption in Chemistry, and Science Journalism, among others.
The scientists explained that the destruction of biodiversity and technological disruptions present threats. The extreme temperature increases are complicating interactions for water supply, food security, ecosystems, public health, and the economy. The combination of erratic rains and unpredictable weather patterns, as well as the drying up of major water and river sources, necessitates immediate and broad-reaching action.
In light of this, Prof. Dr. Ralph Muller, Director of the Institute for Biomechanics at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, pointed out that there are weak planets but stronger planets are needed now more than ever for a good combination.
“Climate science community assess that this is the last chance we have to start bending the curve on fossil fuel emissions. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows clearly that, if we do not bend the global curve of carbon emissions by 2025, we have no chance of staying within the global carbon budget. That can hold the 1.5-degree Celsius limit,” he said, adding that the scientists, researchers, and technologists preparing for COP28 will be discussing fossil fuels, climate finance, among others.
In line with COP28, research has indicated that generating electricity from renewable energy rather than fossil fuels offers significant public health benefits. Breathing difficulties, neurological damage, heart attacks, and cancer have all been linked to pollution in the air and water that is emitted by power plants that run on fossil fuels. It has been discovered that switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources lowers the overall cost of healthcare and prevents premature deaths.
He charged people to use data responsibly and stay away from fake news.
Prof. Dr. Johan Rockstrom, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and a Professor at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, said it is worth mentioning that six of the nine planetary boundaries are outside of safe space.
“And the energy transition is one of the pathways to bring us back. But the most important one is actually the food system transition. Because that would bring us back on freshwater use on biodiversity loss on pollution of marine systems from nitrogen and phosphorus overloading the loss of biodiversity land system change. And I think one of the most exciting developments we see among small scale farmers, particularly in South America, but also parts of southern Africa.”
Co-founder of RREEFS, Josephine Graf, hinted that people already suffer from the loss of curries and that we have one approach to withdraw.
It was revealed that Climate Change has impacted many aspects of human existence, just as it has disrupted education.
The recent Hurricane Ian that slammed the state of South Florida, Germany’s storm and flood disaster, the Tropical Cyclone Noru in Vietnam and Thailand, deadly floods in the Central African Republic, deadly flash floods in Rthat Ijeka, Croatia, deadly floods in India and Bangladesh, a third of Pakistan’s flooding, the severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in the south-east part of South Africa, as well as the tropical cyclone that affected Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya.
Other countries have taken their share of climate change. These disasters have caused damage that would take time and significant resources to repair. People have lost their families, jobs have been interrupted, and schools have been shattered. The evidence is clear: climate change is universal, quick, intensifying, and already affecting every region of the planet.
