Climate change is one of our challenges. Climate change is making an impact on our lives. But climate change is produced by human action at large extent.
United Nations is promoting its control, because their effects would not be the same if we take care of it. One of the aspects in which United Nations is working is on cities. Why? Because climate change, produced by human action largely, is affecting ourselves, in the way of "climate refugee".
This figure is not an alone person: that is a group or a community who have to leave their habitat in order to search for better opportunities in other areas. Specially concentrated in called "zero areas" around the world, people emigrate from rural areas to get urban areas: climate change is affecting agriculture for several reasons. First, because lands become infertile. Secondly, because crops do not produce the same than before. And finally, because typical droughts do not allow a continuing development in agriculture.
In this last reason, we have to add the fact that there are spontaneous rainfalls, in front of what rural areas are not prepared to afford it, due to their lack of appropriate infrastructures (because these rural areas are in developing states or least developed states, and there is poverty). In this case, a lot of organizations from civil society and international organizations (such as UNHCR) are working to help these communities.
The next problem is in their arrival at cities: governments, normally with lack of financial resources, have to face a fast-growing population. There are overcrowdings, homeless people and so on. Public services are overrated, aids are insufficient and urban conflicts are created. In this case, United Nations is working so much to help governments, by avoiding conflicts and situations of tension among population. There are reports about climate change in cities (for instance, in the Climate Change Summit 2014).
To sum up, climate change is a challenge, both short-term and long-term, that we have to face as young people, but also as world citizens. We have to help these "climate refugees" and we have to concern civil society and governments with new ideas, projects and activities to avoid and slow down climate challenge.
5 Comments
Yes. Youth have fresh ideas and perspective in uplifting a greener, low carbon and climate resilient society! Nice report!
Posted 10-11-2014 18:28
Well said Raquel. We have taken excess from mother earth & we are paying it back in the form of Climate change, Global Warming. Sustainable living will take care of Climate Refugees.
Also the solution lies in long term education, awareness & sustainability.
Posted 10-11-2014 16:29
Hi Christy and Mary Rose, thank you for your comments, they are so inspiring :)
Yes, when we analyze current situation, we have to open our minds because there are much more factor. We need an analytical, critical but specially humble knowledge about our reality.
Posted 05-11-2014 06:21
This is a very good report, Raquel. You have pointed out a very good notion: we are our problems but also our solution. We have to continuously empower the people and take apathy from the system so that we can work well together and no one is left behind
Posted 04-11-2014 17:54
Thank you for the introduction on the Climate Refugees. There are many, too many refugees from war to economic difficulty. But it's also sad that many good people lost their home and wondering around foreign regions...
Posted 04-11-2014 10:33