With the delaying of crucial UK climate targets by Sunak, the message is loud and clear. Neither Climate Finance nor greenhouse gas reduction appear to be on the horizon in the near future, much like the challenges faced in nuclear disarmament efforts. Our accomplishments thus far include only a fraction of the required electricity being generated from solar power and the introduction of a limited number of electric vehicles.

The trajectory of human activities reveals some concerning trends; Capital expenditure (Capex) for oil exploration, upstream, and downstream activities steadily increases. Electricity generation from nonrenewable sources remains on the rise. The aviation industry experiences rapid growth. Pollution levels continue to escalate. The number of conventional vehicles on the road keeps expanding.

However, it’s crucial to recognise that nature has begun to respond forcefully to humanity’s reckless actions; Nature’s retaliation includes extreme weather conditions such as severe heatwaves, cyclones, floods, ice melting, crop failures, and droughts.

We must acknowledge and adapt to these powerful indicators. Climate activists are deeply concerned about the well-being of future generations. Saving even the current generation is proving to be a challenge, let alone safeguarding the future. The possibility of Trump’s re-election to the US presidency could potentially derail the ongoing progress toward achieving net-zero emission target.

Girish R Edathitta
Kerala, India