Are we all partly at fault? Some experts argue the devastating tragedy on the Pakistan border and the recent terrible flooding in India are the fault of industrialised countries.
Climate change blamed as thousands killed
Are we all partly at fault? Some experts argue the devastating tragedy on the Pakistan border and the recent terrible flooding in India are the fault of industrialised countries.
PaktikaOne of the provinces of Afghanistan, located in the east of the country at the border with Pakistan. was fast asleep when tragedy arrived.
It began with a tremor. Beds started to shake. Then, the earthquake increased in severity. Roads were ruined. Homes were reduced to rubble. At least one village was levelled completely.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a 5.9-magnitudeEarthquakes are measured on the Richter scale. The world's largest earthquake, the Great Chilean earthquake of 1960, registered a 9.5. earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan. More than 1,000 people lost their lives, with 1,500 more injured. One witness said: "Every street you go you hear mourning."
Meanwhile, in India's AssamA state in northeastern India, south of the Himalayas and bordering Bangladesh. Assam is famous for its tea and silk. region, unprecedented rainfall and flooding has destroyed crops, houses and entire villages. At least 45 people have died. Another 4.7 million are displaced.
The survivors face enormous hardship. "I am surrounded by water but I have no water to drink," says 64-year-old Siraj Ali. "I don't have food. I have been starving for three days."
This is the second devastating flood to affect Assam this year. In May, at least 39 people died after a similar delugeA large downpour of rain, from the Latin verb for wash away.. Rainfall is 109% above average levels. Other Indian regions, as well as parts of Bangladesh and China, have experienced similar horrors.
Floods and earthquakes were once often classed as acts of GodAn uncontrollable natural force, outside human power or control. The phrase is still used in British and American law to describe events which involve no human agency., or natural hazardsA natural phenomena that may have a negative effect on people or animals. The negative impact that follows is called a natural disaster. caused by the Earth itself. But science now suggests that they are often the result of human action.
Numerous earthquakes have been triggered by our activities, such as mining, oil harvesting and natural gas extraction. And global warming caused by carbon emissions has made flooding worse. Warmer air holds more water vapour, which leads to heavier rain. Rising sea levels have given coastal floods a higher starting point, allowing them to reach further inland.
The world's most industrialisedNations that have transformed from being farming-based societies to ones based on industries. nations have contributed the most to these processes. Eighteen percent of the world's population live in India, but it emits just 3% of greenhouse gases. The US, by contrast, has just 4.26% of the world's total population but emits about 11%.
Yet it is poorer countries, the least responsible for emissions, that suffer the most. In Afghanistan, heavy rain has made it harder to rescue people trapped by the earthquake. Temperatures in India recently reached 43.3C, so hot that birds fell out of the sky with heatstroke. Perhaps we are to blame for both.
Some believe that the blame does not fall on everyone living in a developed country. "The we responsible for climate change is a fictional construct," argues climate scholar Genevieve Guenther. She believes responsibility actually lies with certain powerful groups.
Economist Richard Denniss, for instance, points to the power of the fossil fuel industry. Fossil fuels account for 89% of all carbon emissions. By making their fuels almost essential to how we travel, consume and transport objects, these companies have trapped us into producing harmful emissions.
Besides, we cannot pin all disasters on global climate change. Local issues play a part. Environmental scientist Jayashree Rout says: "Before linking it entirely to climate change, we need to take into account human-related factors like deforestation."
Are we all partly to blame?
Yes: Just take a look at the numbers. People in industrialised countries produce far more harmful emissions than those in developing countries. And these emissions lead directly to crises.
No: If only it were that easy. The everyday emissions that we can control are only a tiny part of the problem. During the lockdowns of April 2020, daily global emissions only fell 17%
Or... This is a time for unity. Historian Yuval Noah Harari says: "We are all living together on a single planet, which is threatened by our own actions." We should stop the blame game and find solutions.
Keywords
Paktika - One of the provinces of Afghanistan, located in the east of the country at the border with Pakistan.
5.9-magnitude - Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale. The world's largest earthquake, the Great Chilean earthquake of 1960, registered a 9.5.
Assam - A state in northeastern India, south of the Himalayas and bordering Bangladesh. Assam is famous for its tea and silk.
Deluge - A large downpour of rain, from the Latin verb for wash away.
Acts of God - An uncontrollable natural force, outside human power or control. The phrase is still used in British and American law to describe events which involve no human agency.
Natural hazards - A natural phenomena that may have a negative effect on people or animals. The negative impact that follows is called a natural disaster.
Industrialised - Nations that have transformed from being farming-based societies to ones based on industries.
Climate change blamed as thousands killed
Glossary
Paktika - One of the provinces of Afghanistan, located in the east of the country at the border with Pakistan.
5.9-magnitude - Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale. The world's largest earthquake, the Great Chilean earthquake of 1960, registered a 9.5.
Assam - A state in northeastern India, south of the Himalayas and bordering Bangladesh. Assam is famous for its tea and silk.
Deluge - A large downpour of rain, from the Latin verb for wash away.
Acts of God - An uncontrollable natural force, outside human power or control. The phrase is still used in British and American law to describe events which involve no human agency.
Natural hazards - A natural phenomena that may have a negative effect on people or animals. The negative impact that follows is called a natural disaster.
Industrialised - Nations that have transformed from being farming-based societies to ones based on industries.