Earth Day: Why We Need Stronger Climate Legislation Now

Earth Day is a rare time to honour our planet and its living forms while simultaneously confronting the major environmental concerns we face. The most serious is climate change, which is caused by our overuse of fossil fuels. Climate change is impacting our world and its people in a variety of ways, including extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and human displacement. If we do nothing, it will only get worse. We need tougher climate legislation that limits emissions, supports clean energy, and holds polluters accountable. This is the only way to protect our world and future generations from the climate calamity.

Climate change affects everyone on earth, but some individuals and regions are more vulnerable to its effects than others. People living on low-lying islands and coastal areas, for example, are in significant danger of losing their homes and livelihoods as sea levels rise and storms become more frequent and intense. People in drylands and semi-arid regions face severe water scarcity, drought, and desertification, all of which jeopardise their food security and health. Poverty increases the risk of climate-change-related diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, and malnutrition, as well as a lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and health-care facilities.

Not everyone agrees on how to deal with the climate crisis. Some people ignore the scientific evidence of human-caused climate change and oppose any action that might interfere with their economic growth or lifestyle choices. Others advocate for a low-carbon, sustainable future that protects the rights of nature and future generations.

I think that climate change is the most serious challenge facing humanity and the planet, and that we need to act urgently and decisively to prevent catastrophic consequences. Climate change is already affecting millions of lives in various ways, such as through extreme weather events, droughts, floods, wildfires, crop failures, diseases, and displacement. These impacts are not evenly distributed and often hit the poorest and most vulnerable people the hardest. Climate change is also threatening the stability of natural systems and the biodiversity that sustains life on Earth. We have the solutions to address climate change, such as shifting to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, reducing deforestation, promoting sustainable agriculture, and enhancing international cooperation.

But we need political will and public backing to implement them at the scale and speed required. We cannot afford to delay or reject the truth about climate change. We must act now to defend our planet and our future.