Not Just New Zealand But, There Is A Youth-Driven Growing Call For A Global Climate Emergency
Around the world, extreme weather incidents, including heavy rains, floods, storms, cyclones, drought, harsher winters, and summers are on the rise.
These extreme weather conditions are directly linked to climate change and global warming and it is only going to get worse if we don't act now.
On Saturday, the New Zealand parliament passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in recognition of the ongoing global crisis. It joined thirty-two other nations that have formally acknowledged the crisis and declared a climate emergency.?
This comes as a victory for the youth activists from across the globe who have been calling on the world to declare a global climate emergency and act now before it is too late.
'All in for Climate Action' spreading wings??
Aman Sharma, a teenage climate activist from Delhi is one of the faces of this growing movement.
"A couple of years ago I had started an online petition to the government of India to call for a national climate change emergency, and that received a lot of support from activists, youths, celebrities, etc. After that gained a lot of traction, I was contacted by Change.org who said they had a plan to bring more propel from across the world who had similar campaigns to a single global platform. I am one of the co-founders of the movement called 'All in for Climate Action,' Sharma told Indiatimes.
Since the All in for Climate Action has spread to over 70 countries and hundreds of activists from around the globe who are concerned about their future and the future of the planet. They are calling for the declaration of a global climate change emergency.
Global climate change emergency??
"What we lack is climate literacy to know about the gravity of climate change that is affecting them. The floods in Chennai, Kerala, Assam are all evidence in front of us. We are trying to make this information more understandable and relatable to the wider public," Sharma said, adding he felt that the young generation is not being told enough at schools about climate change.
He said that their movement aims to create pressure on more world leaders to come together to declare a global climate change emergency and tackle the crisis together.?
"The way climate change is affecting different countries are different and when we come together and discuss it, we get to know how the crisis is different and similar in each part of the world. So we know the problems and need to find a cure for it and in other places we can use the same knowledge to prevent the same from happening," Sharma said.
Localised solutions??
Even if a global climate change emergency is declared, Sharma said the solutions have to be localised.
"What we have to do in India is totally different from an African or European country. But by declaring an emergency, the state acknowledges that they recognize the problem and we need to work on it," he said.
Sharma also said that India's policy so far has lacked direction and is sending mixed messages.
"On one hand we are investing heavily in renewable energy and we are on the path to become one of the biggest solar energy producers. But on the other hand we are also increasing our cola production and made environmental laws weaker. You cannot say that we want to tackle climate change and then make even protected reserves open to mining" he said.
