According to scientific studies, the effects of climate change are now observable on the 15 million square kilometres that compose the Arctic. This area is threatened with the meltdown of glaciers as well as the disappearance of animals due to changes in the atmosphere. Rising temperature and rapid melting of snow as well as the emergence of shipping routes caused these atmospheric changes.
Meanwhile, two studies have been conducted that measure the impact of climate change around the world. The first one covered 84 countries and the second covered 20 countries. They monitored the dangers of climate change on specific countries. Egypt came in third place in the two studies among the countries most affected, while Vietnam came first, followed by Bangladesh. In Europe, we find that the Netherlands is threatened with total extinction, as its land lay 6 metres below sea level. The studies also find conclusive evidence that these threats are man made — associated to the removal of large sections of forests in the Amazon, Central Africa among other regions, which increased the rate of desertification and drought.
Moreover, lakes have also shrunk in size. The prominent example is the Chad Lake, which eroded by 90%. In addition, the level of methane gas rose in the atmosphere— an element that is far more dangerous to the environment than carbon dioxide. Its rise contributed to the emergence of global warming.
Geologists have confirmed that the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the earth also rises, while the temperature of the earth’s core falls. This is a serious indicator, especially since distances between continents and oceans increase and decrease depending on these factors. For example, the Red Sea area between Egypt and Saudi Arabia shrinks by millimetres every year. In Egypt, the land in Alexandria, falls by 2 mm per year and by 1.5 mm in Port Said annually. Meanwhile, the sea level rises by 1 cm per year. According to the latest estimates, river deltas will shrink around the world and especially the Nile Delta. Estimates show that at least 17% of the Nile Delta area will shrink. This means the disappearance of 5 million acres, an average investment of 320 billion pounds of crops and livestock. Moreover, 20 km from Alexandria land will sink in case the water level rises by 50 cm until 2050.
It is noticeable that the developed countries have abandoned their commitments and obligations towards the international conventions on climate change, starting from the Earth Summit in Brazil, then the Kyoto Protocol in Japan and ending with the Copenhagen summit. This reveals the ongoing struggle between the developed nations, headed by the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan on the one hand and developing countries on the other.
Amid the struggle, poor countries who are most affected by climate change will suffer. It is certain that the United States caused 31% of greenhouse gas emissions in the world for the past 10 years. China currently comes first place in greenhouse gas emissions, as it exceeded 21%, while the U.S. declined to 20 %. Meanwhile, developing countries only produce 8% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr Mukhtar Al-Sherif
