For more than 30 years, the world has attempted to reduce climate change, but with limited success. Despite international agreements, scientific advancements, and increasing public awareness, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have continued to rise, now standing 60% higher than in 1990. This indicates that deeper issues are limiting the real progress.
A significant barrier to reducing emissions is the influence of industries that benefit from fossil fuels. Major oil and gas corporations lobby against stringent climate policies and endorse technologies like carbon capture to appear proactive while continuing fossil fuel extraction.
Moreover, international climate agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, lack strong enforcement mechanisms. Countries frequently fail to meet their commitments due to political conflicts and weak accountability structures.
Who Bears the Biggest Burden of Climate Change?
The global economy prioritizes continuous growth, often at the cost of environmental sustainability. Many industries and governments rely on fossil fuels to sustain economic success, rendering carbon trading policies ineffective.
Poorer communities suffer the most from the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and food shortages, even though they contribute far less to greenhouse gas emissions compared to wealthier individuals and countries. Wealthier nations and people tend to have higher carbon footprints due to greater consumption of energy and resources, yet the negative consequences of climate change are often felt most by those with fewer resources to adapt or recover.
Overdependence on technological solutions like geoengineering and carbon capture has also delayed immediate action, allowing industries to continue emitting high levels of CO2 instead of focusing on immediate reductions.
Misinformation and Weak Policies: A Roadblock to Progress
Despite increasing awareness, many societies still uphold high-carbon lifestyles driven by cultural norms and economic structures. Weak policies fail to encourage sustainable behaviors, such as reducing frequent air travel or promoting energy efficiency.
Misinformation campaigns funded by fossil fuel companies create confusion and diminish public pressure on governments to take meaningful climate action. Even mainstream media often portrays climate change as a slow-moving issue rather than an urgent crisis, delaying necessary measures.
Governments encounter resistance to strong climate policies due to economic and political pressures, leading to continued fossil fuel subsidies and sluggish investment in renewable energy. Bureaucratic delays further obstruct climate progress, even when scientific evidence underscores the urgency of action.
How We Can Contribute?
Individuals can contribute by adopting low-carbon lifestyles, advocating for better policies, supporting leaders who prioritize climate action, and spreading awareness to counter misinformation. Small yet collective efforts can drive systemic change toward a more sustainable future.
Institutions and companies can drive change by committing to sustainable business models, reducing their carbon footprints, and investing in renewable energy sources. Corporate responsibility should include transparent reporting on emissions, transitioning to circular economy principles, and supporting policies that enforce strict environmental regulations.
The failure to significantly cut emissions is not due to a lack of solutions—it stems from resistance by powerful industries, outdated economic models, and sluggish political action. Genuine progress requires bold steps, such as phasing out fossil fuels, enforcing strict emission limits, prioritizing sustainability over economic expansion, and ensuring fairness in climate policies. Without these major shifts, we risk worsening climate disasters and missing the narrow window left to act.
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Author: Ainur , Editor: Sabilla
References:
Stoddard, I., Anderson, K., Capstick, S., Carton, W., Depledge, J., Facer, K., … & Williams, M. (2021). Three decades of climate mitigation: why haven’t we bent the global emissions curve?. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 46(1), 653-689.
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