From wildfires in Greece and Turkey, to tornadoes in the USA to drought in the horn of Africa, climate change has not only been a global topic of discussion but also something that interests me immensely. The phenomenon that has been occurring in the world encompassing the aforementioned events is the result of extreme weather. Extreme weather caused by climate change has had  devastating impacts on the social and economic lives of people around the world based on the geographical location of regions. For instance, due to climate change and rising sea levels, Tuvalu is at risk of disappearing and in the Horn of Africa is looking at one of the worst droughts in the history of the region.   

My country Ethiopia, and the surrounding countries have seen consecutive failed rainy seasons due to extreme weather fluctuations and maximal temperature changes, which has been the leading factor of drought currently facing the region. In Ethiopia, this drought has brought about a decline in the economy, food insecurity (which is at an all-time high), and an increase in climate refugees. And all of this has been worsened by the civil war.   

 I have experienced first-hand the consequences of war and drought. As the temperature rises, water sources have been drying out causing a water shortage in all areas of the country. For the past four years, I have lived every day without running water. After three consecutive days of no water, there would appear a small trickle of water and there would be a rush to fill as many buckets and jerry cans with as much water as quickly as possible before it would disappear again.

 This can go on for as long as two weeks which is when we have to conserve as much water as possible —not including the days when our conserved water runs out.  

In the northern parts of the country, more people have been facing the devastating effects of the drought alongside the impact of the war. Due to inflation, people have been unable to buy the most basic of necessities: food. 

The livelihood of farmers, their crops and livestock are all dying because of water shortage, affecting the economy as the country's primary economic focus is agriculture. The sector employs more than half of the labour force. If countries whose economy is centred on agriculture have not produced enough crops to feed their own citizens, then they would be unable to import to countries reliant on the food crops produced by those countries, which creates food insecurity. This chain cycle would be repeated throughout the world causing global hunger, which may cause wars and lead to global disarray.    

 The effects of climate change can be seen everywhere. Every storm, wildfire and drought has already increased, so while we have been living in ignorance, the consequences of extreme weather are already here and far-reaching. 

Although we are far behind in our actions, it is no longer a gradual process, we need to stop climate change now.