Climate Change: The Consequences Come Flooding In

 Sad but true: a substantial number of public figures in influential positions all over the world still refuse to accept that climate change poses a massive threat to the future security and development of communities all over the world.

Environmental journalist George Monbiot recently compiled a top ten list of climate deniers [1], outing the motley crew of politicians, journalists and corporate chief execs who still refuse to accept that the planet is in a pretty bad way, partly because of us. From the President of the Czech Republic, scathingly christening environmentalism… wait for it… "The new communism!" to Sarah Palin openly admitting she doesn’t believe climate change is man-made; the climate change deniers are still sticking to their rusty old guns.

'These kinds of natural catastrophes hit developing countries disproportionately harder than the Western world, and their repercussions are far more serious.'

This kind of ignorance clearly has a shelf life, and evidence that changes in global climate and temperatures promote more frequent incidences of extreme weather conditions continues to  mount.

Recent international events provide us with some alarming examples.

The increasing frequency of natural disasters, like the floods in India and Pakistan, dicate that it’s time the climate change sceptics pull their heads out of the sand and start to accept that all this global warming malarkey is, evidently, much more than a load of hot air.

The devastating floods and heavy rainfall currently sweeping through Pakistan and India are a massive cause for concern.

The initial impact of these floods has been nothing short of overwhelming, with countless lives lost due to the lack of preparation and infrastructure to even begin to cope with such unprecedented weather conditions.

Monsoon rains in Pakistan are becoming heavier and heavier, and the floods this September [2] have had an overwhelming effect on the country’s infrastructure. Flooding has destroyed entire communities, and left millions homeless.

Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, one of the poorest regions in India, over 800,000 people recently lost their homes when the mighty Ghaghara River burst its banks, with huge numbers of people still living in temporary relief camps
 

  'Communities face death and displacement in the short term and food insecurity in the long term as a result of this climate chaos.'

These kinds of natural catastrophes hit developing countries disproportionately harder than the Western world, and their repercussions are far more serious. Flash floods and heavy rains are extremely detrimental to the progress and stability of these already vulnerable societies; communities face death and displacement in the short term and food insecurity in the long term as a result of this climate chaos.

Recent events all over the world are clear cut signs that climate change is not just a distant threat or a far-fetched fabrication, but a powerful phenomenon that is already having a profound effect on the planet’s behaviour, and hitting the most underprivileged regions the hardest.

Climate chaos is keeping communities in developing countries trapped within a destructive cycle of poverty. If we’re going to take care of our people, we need to take care of our planet.

Words: Eva Baker

First photo: Christian Aid/ACT Alliance

Second photo: flickr user Giro555 / act alliance/ REUTERS

Christian Aid is currently supporting appeals for the floods in India and Pakistan, and the food crisis in west Africa. To learn more about these situations, and what you can do to help, click on the links…

India floods appeal, click here [3].

Pakistan floods appeal, click here [4].