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1. Record-breaking Temperatures
The 21st century has seen the most temperature records broken in recorded history. The year
2016 was the hottest year on record since 1880 – and third year in a row to set a new record for
global average surface temperatures – according to NASA and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with average temperatures measuring almost one degree
Celsius warmer than the mid-20th century mean.
2. No Scientific Debate
A massive 97 percent of researchers believe global warming is happening and that the trends
observed over the last past century are probably due to human activity. However, climate
change is considered only the third most serious issue facing the world by the world’s
population, behind international terrorism and poverty, hunger and the lack of drinking water.
The world’s superpowers – including China, the US, the UK, Germany and Japan – already use
more than double the amount of resources they produce.
9. Global Flooding
The number of people exposed to flooding each year is at risk of tripling from 21 million to 54
million by 2030, according to a study from the World Resources Institute. This would result in
the economic costs of flooding increasing from £65 billion to around £340 billion.
Brutally put, Pakistan stands to see famine and starvation because rising temperatures pose a
serious risk to sustainable food security and there is a likelihood that unless changes can be
effected then food consumption needs are not going to be met. There is no point in beating
about the bush or using euphemistic language. Pakistan is among the countries that are going
to see catastrophic consequences if temperatures continue to rise as they have; and there is no
indication that the Paris Climate Accords are going to be able to apply the brakes in time to stop
millions, many millions, hitting the wall with their feet hard down on the accelerator.
This is not alarmism for the sake of a headline; this is what is going to happen a generation
hence. The Asian Development Bank in a new report says that a ‘business as usual approach’
is going to be disastrous for all the Asian countries. It is not wrong. Just how many wake-up
calls do we need?