RAIN, in recent years, has undergone a significant transformation from being a source of joy to becoming a harbinger of destruction and death. The perception of rain among individuals has evolved drastically due to the alarming increase in destructive occurrences accompanying each downpour. The heavy spells of rain followed by flash floods, landslides and lightning strikes have become distressingly common, causing infrastructural damage and loss of life.
This year has been no exception as the recent spell wreaked havoc in different countries. In Pakistan and Afghanistan collectively, it killed over 120 people and destroyed dozens of buildings. Developed countries like Oman and UAE also experienced unprecedented amounts of rain. As per the UAE government, the country received the heaviest rainfall in the last 75 years. Likewise, Oman also experienced a record level of rain, killing 19 people. Everything was brought to standstill; the air operations were halted, schools and government offices were closed. While the UAE and Oman are economically resilient enough to work through the damage caused by this heavy rain spell, the already crippling economies like Pakistan and Afghanistan do not have the financial muscle to recover from the rain shocks anytime soon. But the question arises here: who is to be blamed for the climate damage causing unusual weather patterns? Surely, it’s the wealthy countries who are the primary perpetrators.
The developing countries have a negligible contribution to the carbon emissions driving this atmospheric change. For instance, Pakistan contributes only 1 percent to the carbon emissions but is still among the top 10 countries who bear the brunt of climate change the most. According to CNN, China, India, the United States and the European Union are among the top culprits. These countries collectively contributed 83% to the carbon emissions in 2022. It’s a bitter irony that the ones contributing the least to the harmful emissions are paying the heaviest price.
While 28 meetings of the United Nations Climate Change Conference have been held so far, nothing significant seems to have been achieved due to the hypocrisy of the bigger economies. A stark discrepancy exists in the rhetoric and action of the developed countries. While they advocate the transition from fossil fuels, the US, Norway, Australia, Canada and the UK collectively intend to extensively expand their oil and gas fields by the year 2050.
Furthermore, the establishment of initiatives like the “Loss and Damage Fund” falls short of the support required to mitigate the devastating impacts felt by vulnerable nations. While a report by the UN estimated that a hefty amount of up to $387B is required annually for making a substantial difference, the wealthy countries pledged just $700M. The U.S, which is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, promised to pool just $17.5M. The disparity between the colossal amount required and the meagre sum pledged clearly shows the indifference of economic giants to the plight of the struggling economies. It’s time the richer countries realised that mere lip-service won’t suffice and they need to take meaningful action before the issue goes completely out of hand. Whether they want to be remembered as “planet saviours” or “planet wreckers” in history, the choice lies with them.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
