This Saturday marks Earth Day, a special day when people all over the world show their commitment to tackling climate issues and preserving our planet. In the first four months of 2023, we have sent numerous warnings related to the climate, most of them regarding extreme weather events such as droughts, fires, floods, and angry protesters. Therefore, it seems only logical to take a closer look at the main global climate challenges and their possible solutions on Earth Day.
As experts are increasingly worried about a repeat of last summer’s heat wave, large parts of Europe have already fallen victim to a winter-induced drought and suffered from low groundwater levels. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that drought would be a “central” debate for the country. Similarly, India has recorded its hottest February in over 100 years and is expecting intense temperatures in the summer with dire consequences for important crops. Thailand also recently issued extreme heat warnings for many parts of the country. All of these events take place as Europe warms faster than any other part of the world.
It is obvious that current climate crises require urgent solutions. To increase focus on this, environmental activists have taken bold actions, such as Last Generation’s attempt to spread an oil-like substance in front of the German Free Democratic Party’s headquarters. This kind of initiative has generated debate, but no solution so far. Another interesting example is the occupation of the small village of Lützerath in western Germany to prevent the expansion of a coal mine. Despite the protesters’ best efforts, authorities chose to break up the operation and go ahead with the project anyway.
Moreover, certain measures have already been proposed by the EU in the form of a ban on goods linked to deforestation since 2021 and new laws concerning the phase-out of fossil fuel-burning cars. Beyond the EU borders, AI is emerging as a potential solution to reduce emissions and protect nature. Even more recent is Denmark’s decision to join four other European countries in leaving the Energy Charter Treaty, a pact that has been criticized for preventing necessary emission-reducing policies.
On a more positive and constructive note, reports state that renewable energy sources wind and solar produced 12% of global electricity in 2020, a new record. This is especially remarkable in Europe, where renewables account for 22% of all energy, although growth rates mismatched the global average.
Lenovo is one of the world’s biggest tech companies and is known for having a wide range of products, from PCs to workstations. Recently, the company began making layoffs as its PC business suffered a downturn.
Luisa Neubauer is a German climate activist who has become an influential voice in the global climate movement. Recently, she has called for more radical forms of protest still centered on non-violent civil disobedience, an idea which has sparked debate in German politics.
