Sir, – The heatwaves ravaging the northern hemisphere with record high temperatures in Europe clearly illustrate the dangers of the climate crisis that countries in the Global South have been suffering with for years.
Extreme temperatures, droughts, cyclones and devastating floods are causing the loss of lives and livelihoods in the Global South. In addition it is driving the migration of millions of people – and increasing the risk of violence against women and girls.
The reality is that vulnerable countries struggling with heatwaves don’t have the resources available to rich economies to cope with rising temperatures. The consequences are terrible: more than 36 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia are facing severe hunger every day.
Real action to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and phase out fossil fuels is crucial if we’re to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius and avert catastrophic climate change everywhere. This means polluting economies like ours must undergo a total transformation within the next 10 years.
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We need action. And we need it now. – Yours, etc,
KAROL BALFE,
Action Aid Ireland,
Dublin 1.
