Reflections on Earth Day Commemoration to Save the Environment

Currently, the Earth is facing the threat of collapse of its ecosystem due to increasingly unstoppable global warming.

AFP/LLUIS GENE

A kayak is stranded on dry land next to the low water level of Lake Sau, with the background of the Sant Roma de Sau Church, in the province of Girona in Catalonia, on Monday (15/1/2024). The Catalonia region in the northeast of Spain declared a drought emergency on February 1, 2024, for Barcelona and its surrounding areas.

The commemoration of International Earth Day is a moment of recognition that the Earth and all its ecosystems are home to humans and other living creatures. Unfortunately, currently the Earth is facing the threat of collapse of its ecosystem due to global warming which is increasingly unstoppable.

The United Nations (UN) designated 22 April as International Earth Day through a joint resolution adopted in 2009. The main goal is to stop ecosystem damage and improve the livelihood of the wider community.

In this decade, Earth Day is aimed at fighting climate change. The UN realizes that damage to the Earth is currently being escalated by human activities, ranging from deforestation, increasing contamination and contamination, to massive industrialization which increases carbon emissions globally.

The condition of the Earth is heading towards worsening due to the climate crisis. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that the era of global warming has ended and the era of global boiling has arrived in July 2023. A rise in global temperatures of up to 1.5 degrees Celsius can only be prevented through radical climate action by countries around the world that targets the main sources of carbon emissions.

The era of global education marks a decrease in Earth's carrying capacity for living beings. The biggest cause is the burning of fossil fuels. Sources of fossil fuel burning consist of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The Global Carbon Project (GCP) shows that the largest emissions come from China, followed by the United States, India, and the European Union region.

Also read: Natural Agriculture Protects Ecosystems and Maintains Earth's Sustainability

The issue of global warming is actually continuing without any signs of decline. The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the State of the Global Climate 2023, shows that 2023 is the hottest year ever recorded in human history. The average global surface temperature has risen by 1.45 degrees Celsius.

All indicators of global climate observation have recorded records, ranging from greenhouse gas levels, surface temperature, heat and ocean acidification, sea level rise, and glacier shrinkage. As a result, occurrences of heat waves, floods, droughts, forest fires, and tropical storms have drastically increased and quickly caused suffering to humans.

A research report titled "The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory" reveals that the condition of the Earth is far worse than in previous times. The report notes that 20 out of 35 indicators of Earth's health are in extreme conditions or beyond the comfort limits for living beings.

Record climate indicators

Observations of the three main gases causing the climate crisis show a significant increase compared to the pre-industrial period. Currently, the concentration of carbon dioxide has reached 417.9 ppm; methane gas is at 1,923 ppb; and nitrogen dioxide gas is at 335.8 ppb. These three have sequentially increased by 150 percent, 264 percent, and 124 percent compared to the pre-industrial period.

The excessive concentration of the three gas compounds has driven the temperature rise up to 1.45 degrees Celsius in 2023, surpassing the years of 2016 (1.29 degrees Celsius) and 2020 (1.27 degrees Celsius). This figure indicates that 2023 will be the hottest year in 174 years of Earth temperature observation.

Unfortunately, climate change is not just a matter of rising surface temperatures on Earth. The impacts of such conditions include unprecedented ocean warming, as well as the shrinking of glaciers and thinning of Antarctic sea ice. Observations from the WMO indicate that nearly one-third of the global ocean is affected by heat waves that destroy many marine biota.

Also read: Hotter Global Temperatures Mean Higher Food Prices and Inflation

Glacier depletion is also unavoidable. Glacier loss occurs massively and has become the largest ever recorded since 1950. Currently, the average area of glaciers is only 1 million square kilometers, equivalent to the area of France and Germany combined. This condition causes a rise in the average sea level worldwide.

Throughout the period of 2014 to 2023, the global sea level has increased by up to two times compared to the period of 1993-2002. The WMO report explains that two decades ago, the global sea level had actually risen by 2.13 mm per year. Meanwhile, currently the increase has reached 4.77 mm per year.

Catastrophic disaster

Reflecting on a number of extreme weather events throughout the year 2023, humankind indeed must be prepared for various unexpected occurrences in the coming years. The recent extreme weather event that surprised people around the world was the heavy rain in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 15, 2024.

Extreme rainfall in Dubai is being called a historic weather event that surpasses any data recorded since 1949. Not only in Dubai, but heavy rain also fell in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Economic losses and casualties have been reported from these countries.

If withdrawn by 2023, extreme heat waves will occur in South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia, causing many deaths and extreme dehydration among the community. In the same period, massive forest fires will occur in Canada, burning 10 million hectares and forcing 30,000 people to evacuate.

The heatwave in June-August 2023 in the United States even claimed the lives of 147 people. Meanwhile, in the Hawaii State region, a fire on Maui Island claimed the lives of up to 111 people. The increase in extreme temperatures in several countries is a strong indicator of the increasingly terrifying climate anomalies.

Also read: The Real Impact of Global Warming

AP/HO/ALAN DICKAR

Smoke and flames filled the air from the raging forest fire on Front Street in downtown Lahaina, Maui, on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023. Maui officials stated that the forest fire in the historic city had burned parts of one of Hawaii's most popular tourist areas.

In addition to natural disasters, the greatest impact of the climate crisis is hunger. The WMO report states that the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity worldwide has doubled compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. In the period 2018-2019, a total of 149 million people were threatened with hunger, and by 2023, the number will increase to 333 million people.

The hunger crisis is a result of climate anomalies that have caused drought and flooding in some areas. As a consequence, there has been a decline in food production, even causing large-scale harvest failure. This has led to an increase in food commodity prices, making it very difficult for lower economic class communities to access.

Extreme weather events and difficult access to food have led to massive waves of migration around the world. Millions of people are forced to move from their homes to seek protection and a better life. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asserts that managing refugees is an integral part of disaster and crisis management.

The commemoration of International Earth Day is a moment of reflection for all parties to immediately take radical action so that damage to the Earth's ecosystem does not continue. If the damage continues, the biggest risk is the destruction of all living creatures throughout this universe. (R&D COMPAS)