Cold truth to a warm world: interpretations on global warming in different cultures

Extinction of wild animals, environmental degradation, higher sea level, rising temperature, extreme weather, and Climate change affects millions of lives, humans, and wild animals. Climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying. However, there are varied points of view on this crisis. Or the danger of the climate change crisis depends on one’s perspective. Differences in cultures also interfere with the interpretation of the issue. People from different places such as Europe and Asia, if observed closely, I think we can distinguish the level of emergency on the issue between them.

Global heating is affecting every region on earth, the average global temperature could exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2026. The evidence is irrefutable. According to IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the immediate cut on emissions needs to be implemented everywhere. To keep global heating under 1.5C and avoid the worst effect of the climate crisis.

Scientists say the emissions of greenhouse gasses need to peak within the next three years if we are to stave off the worst effects of climate change. And even then, we would still need new technology to suck carbon dioxide out of the skies by the middle of the century. According to the last estimate report, U.N. scientists are warning we are on course for devastating changes to our climate. Simply put, we need to cut carbon emissions by 43 percent by the year 2030 and take them down to net-zero by 2050. But the current evidence shows the opposite.

Talking about the dramatic cuts of emission in every region. It might sound doable in many countries but even impossible others. We have the strike for global warmings, such as Fridays for Future founded by a Swedish young activist, or the Global Week for Future took place in Australia, Afghanistan, and Angol, and Fridays for Future in many different countries.

In Sweden, the country reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30 percent from 1990 to 2020. And the nation plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 70 percent in 2030. People in the countries also seem to be well aware of this issue and highly engage with the policies regarding global warming.

”Climate change is a big part of the educational system. It is implemented in some ways in most programs, no matter what you study.” according to a 22-year-old business student. ”We recycle a lot. We even imported trash from Norway because we use so much of it to create the electricity.” he added.

On the contrary, In Thailand, global warming almost does not exist. There is no significant implementation regarding the global warming crisis. “We are not even sorting our garbage in Thailand, there are also very few recycling bottles matching in the big city like Bangkok,” said the 21-year-old Thai student. And that is not the only case, some other countries are also in a similar situation.

“In Portugal, most people are aware of climate change but we do not have enough policies or laws issuing this crisis from the government.” according to a Portuguese university student.

the problem here is that people need immediate actions from the government and big corporations. To embedded the issue in the educational system and in daily activities. That way we can achieve our goal faster.

Time is running out. The world is on its way to a catastrophic ending. We need to use all the available tools, technology, and policies to ensure the survival of the planet. However, there are still bright sides to the story. Together with the cooperation from the government and its citizens, form education, policymaking, and immediate implementation. Changing the way we live efficiently, and the way we eat, transport things, and travel, will decide the outcoming of the world in the upcoming years.