Taking a Stand

At this moment, the Earth’s permafrost is melting, yet most people don’t realize the danger this poses. The melting of the permafrost will only lead to a further acceleration in climate change.

Permafrost is known to have gas methane trapped within it. We also know that methane is one of the worst greenhouse gases. As permafrost melts, large quantities of methane will be spewed into the atmosphere, further warming our climate. The continued warming will in turn further melt the permafrost and a positive feedback cycle will ensue.

This week, delegates from nearly 200 countries are meeting in the Qatari capital of Doha to lay the framework for a potential deal that could cut greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of ensuring that world temperatures do not rise more than two degrees above what was recorded in preindustrial times. “Temperatures have already risen about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit according to the latest report by the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change].”

Talks such as these have been going on for decades. Typically, the talks and the chance for any deal breaks down when rich and poor countries are pitted against each other. The rich countries are trying to ensure that any deal doesn’t affect their economy or industries. The poor countries are looking for help from the rich countries to offset the costs of implementing such emissions controls. Everyone is looking out for their own pocketbook rather than opening their eyes to what is occurring with our planet.

The current talks are further complicated by the fact that delegates are trying to determine whether developed nations will agree to an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, which is a legally binding emission reduction agreement that would be in effect until 2020. While Kyoto once included all industrialized countries except the United States, today there is a chanced that only the European Union, Australia, and some smaller countries would be signatories. These countries combined account for less than 15 percent of global emissions. While their commitment is not insignificant, it is only a drop in the bucket. And the United States’ offer to cut its emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 is still a far cry from cuts needed to stem the tide of climate change. Furthermore, the US offer isn’t even legally binding.

But the United States isn’t the only country at fault here. Developing countries like India and China have failed to make any significant efforts to cut their emissions. They argue that the poverty plaguing their countries necessitates that they focus on building their economies first to improve the standard of living of their citizens. Then they can tackle the environmental threat. But in the meantime, increased emissions will just be the cost of doing business as they try to eliminate their countries’ poverty.

            The question is when will everyone be ready to fully commit. In 2020, when Kyoto expires? Or will it be much later? Despite the evidence that climate change is only worsening and the threat growing, the pressure to finally take this threat seriously and do something is still lacking. Just this week, in conjunction with the Doha meeting, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations’ weather agency, released its annual report on the effects of climate change. The report highlighted that not only did the world see record-breaking weather events, including droughts affecting huge portions of the United States, Russia, and Europe, and floods affecting west Africa, a chunk of Artic ice, bigger than the United States, melted this year. The rate at which the ice in the region is melting is alarming and clearly illustrates the immediate threat of climate change.         

            Something needs to be done. The proof is there. The delegates in Doha need to act responsibly and commit to cutting emissions. The world needs to make a dent in emissions or the prevalence of droughts, flooding, and ice melt are only going to worsen. The delegates in Doha need to take a stand.