Climate change has been a topic of discussion for many decades. Prominent climate change activists such as Greta Thungburg, Kelsey Julihana, Jamie Margolin, and other climate activist groups urge lawmakers and people in power to address this issue before it's too late. Although their efforts have been hugely impactful, they rarely acknowledge that climate change has a more significant impact on economically disadvantaged countries than wealthy countries because they are located in geographically vulnerable areas and cannot cope with the devastations of climate change.
While climate change is a universal problem, wealthy countries have become a significant source of environmental pollution in pursuit of economic gain, leaving poorer countries to feel the consequences. Countries such as China question the motivations for why they should sacrifice their economic growth to save the environment, making it difficult for them to consider a revision of their economic practices. Yet, the quest for monetary gain has led to devastating consequences, more so in economically vulnerable countries. Effects include rising sea levels, changes in rainfall patterns, extreme weather, and air pollution, which results in health complications. For example, the continent of Africa, which is home to a number of economically disadvantaged countries, accounts for only 3% of the world's gas emissions, yet they reap the brunt of global warming consequences. In particular, the Sahel people of sub-saharan Africa heavily rely on rainfall to nourish their crops. Due to climate change they experience drought and floods that negatively impact their crop yield. This issue has destroyed livelihoods. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the biggest threat to the health of humanity. Moreover, in poorer areas of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region, almost 2 million people have died due to the effects of air pollution compared to 333,000 in Europe and the Americas. According to the WHO, people in urban areas of low- and middle-income countries are at a 98 percent risk of breathing unhealthy air and suffering from diseases related to high levels of air pollution.
Although the future of climate change seems grim, there is still a lot we can do. The fact of the matter is that it's in our best interest that all countries are involved in the process of preserving the planet that we all share. Therefore, it is necessary for lawmakers and people in power to make evident strides to limit human contribution to global warming. Future generations may be at more risk than we think if we allow climate change to get out of hand. To counteract the effect of global warming on economically disadvantaged countries, the international community must help economically disadvantaged countries reduce the impact of climate change by increasing access to water, reducing the effects of droughts and floods, and promoting reforestation. As members of Generation Z, we have a pivotal role to play when it comes to counteracting climate change, especially those of us living in wealthier countries. We can do our part by making minor life adjustments like recycling, using sustainable products, and even reusing items around our living space. These small actions can add up and make a huge impact. Furthermore, it's imperative that everyone is involved in the democratic process at the local, national and global levels. It is necessary to support both climate activists and climate policies. In addition to using your voice to spread awareness, it is crucial to elect environmentally-conscious people into positions of power where they will have agency to enact change regarding the issue of our climate.
The world would be a much better place if the problem of climate change didn't threaten our very existence and if economic interests did not separate the global community. We need to address the disparities and deficiencies that global warming has caused, especially when it comes to vulnerable countries. Global warming should be number one on the agenda of lawmakers and the people in power. Future generations are counting on us to make a change now!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.