It's Our Planet

It’s Our Planet

In September 2019, a thirteen-year-old climate activist from Sweden questioned world leaders: “How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” There is one fundamental truth we all have to accept: the time to do something — anything — to save the planet is now.

Recent Climate Crises

Madagascar Food Crisis

For over a year, Madagascar has faced the most severe famine in over 40 years — the worst food shortage ever faced by the island nation. More than 1.2 million people have faced food insecurity, with children among the worst affected, showing signs of chronic malnutrition. Many scientific bodies attribute this to climate change.

Australian Bushfires

From 2019 to 2020, Australia faced one of the worst bushfire seasons ever. Nearly every state and territory reported destruction on an unprecedented scale. Climate change and carbon emissions were found to have a role to play in this crisis. The year 2019 was the hottest and driest year for the continent since 1900.

Microplastics in Antarctica

Researchers have found small pieces of plastic in Antarctica’s sea ice — an estimated 12 pieces of plastic per litre of seawater. Scientists have also found pieces of plastic in the ice core itself.

Canada’s Last Ice Shelf Collapses

In July 2020, Canada’s last intact ice shelf in the Arctic — the Milne Ice Shelf — collapsed and lost about 40% of its area in just two days. In recent years, the rate of temperature rise in the Arctic has been twice the global warming rate.

Africa’s Plague of Locusts

Africa saw some of the worst swarms of locusts in 2020 — one swarm covering 60×40 square kilometres. Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, and Tanzania faced these swarms, which decimated food crops and left 13 million people vulnerable to food insecurity. Researchers attribute this phenomenon to climate change.

Tipping Points

Along with permafrost melting, rising temperatures, and increasing pollution, researchers call these phenomena “Tipping Points” — thresholds when crossed can trigger an existential threat to human civilisation. We are part of the ecosystem too. Let us choose to work together to make the planet healthier and safer — for us and for the generations to come.