‘Not Our Concern’: Climate Change and the Less-Developed Regions

Climate change is a universal existential matter of concern, more of a threat, which endangers all forms of life inhabiting planet Earth. Fortunately, homo sapiens (i.e. us, humans) have evolved. Due the process of that glorious evolution, and the buildup of our majestic civilizations, we introduced a wide array of technologies—some of which with natural applications, ‘accidentally’ conducive to ill-conceived global reverberations—that enabled us to surpass every other species in authority and rule supreme over the planet. Other species should rejoice and be grateful for our most gracious and benevolent dominion. We are the sleepless guardians of terrestrial life: protectors of ecosystems as well as the environment at large; not to mention being an exemplary messianic elite task force combating hellish global warming; in addition to indefatigably toiling to bring an indomitable climate change to reins. Fret not! This is mere sarcasm: haven’t lost the last ounce of my sanity—just not yet.

Verily, this age is incontestably Imbecile’s. Individuals and crowds alike seem to be perpetually consumed with the pursuit and accumulation of trivialities while giving no heed to the vital elements for survival—gravely mistaking the latter for being invariably granted. Alas, it is farthest from being so.

It is furthermore impossible for any sensible person not to be dismayed at the notably total disinterestedness towards climate change prevalent across the less-developed regions of the world. Peoples of the third world remain blissfully ignorant to the fact that their geographies are expected to suffer most from projected climate change in the near future; namely, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as Subsaharan Africa. Much sooner than other parts of the globe. UNESCO Director General has already forewarned of a global water shortage of 40% by 2030 due to climate change combined with ramifications of the COVID pandemic and other factors (Valdai Discussion Club). Earlier predictions, however, expected the manifestation of this natural calamity, inter alia, in the MENA region as soon as 2025:

“In 2007, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected an increase in temperature of up to 2°C in 2025 for the Southern Mediterranean: this is expected to contribute to increased aridity, lower soil humidity, higher evaporation-transpiration rates and shifts in seasonal rainfall patterns. Already one of the most water-poor regions in the world, the MENA region will be hit particularly hard. Even though the GCC countries have invested in water desalination in an attempt to palliate water shortages, other Arab countries have an annual per capita share of renewable water resources that falls below the water poverty line.” (Gaub and Laban 11)

Twenty five years thence, a much more daunting future awaits,

“Another impact of climate change includes sea level rise (SLR).The IPCC predicts a rise of 0.1m to 0.3m by 2050, with significant impact in the Southern Mediterranean due to low-lying coastal areas in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. This is made worse by the fact that coastal zones have one of the highest population densities in the Mediterranean area. For example, Egypt is considered one of the top 5 countries in the world expected to be at risk from a 1-metre SLR, and the city of Alexandria is projected to potentially disappear altogether.”(Gaub and Laban 11, 12)

Poorly-informed, detached, and downtrodden, the MENA populace finds solace in the quixotic fallacy that climate change is a remote issue of concern particular to the preponderant great powers of the international political system. The truth showcased in the above-mentioned speculations, regardless whether or not the timeline therein is accurate, nonetheless, MENA will very probably be among the number of the hardest hit regions. Unless some twenty-first century genius contrives the plausible means to overcome the authority of geography, which is the second thing to impossible, such an eventuality remains immutable.

Simply put, climate change is, as it always has been, a grave universal existential threat; and, it is anything but distant. Unseasonal heat/cold waves, rainfalls, and the imminent extinction of certain species are all present presages to apocalyptic-grade cataclysms. Combating climate change is an ordeal which could only be completed and conquered with universal commitment concocting hearts, wills, and intellects into a singular all-encompassing human force.

Granted! Famine and drought drastically inhibit one’s cognitive functions, let alone access to other secondary basic needs for a decent life. Nonetheless, the time has come for the MENA region to do away with protracted political, economic, religious, and ethnic conflicts. For they altogether count for nothing in comparison to the survival of human life, as we know it. It’s never too late. Albeit how humble and inconsequential the contribution may appear to be in relation to the universal effort, every push counts. The time is ripe to depart from nonsensical trivialities and fight the worthy fight, lest we expedite the apocalypse and our own extinction.

Reference

Gaub, Florence, and Alexandra Laban. Arab Futures: Three Scenarios for 2025 | European Union Institute for Security Studies. 2015. www.iss.europa.eu/content/arab-futures-three-scenarios-2025. Accessed 13 July 2021.