My friends and I say "global warming is true" every time there is a ridiculous weather

that we normally don’t expect. The silly conversation is followed by laughter, some remarks

about Mother Nature, and a long anger about how expensive sunscreen is and what the best

brands are. Four years ago, none of us knew what SPF was, actually I still don't know, but

apparently it's good for you. These are subtle changes in our daily lives as a result of global

warming, and over the years these changes become more pronounced and need to change more

than skin care routines. But I'm talking here from a more privileged point of view. Some of my

fellow citizens are dying from floods, massive droughts, and the loss of their livelihoods. Others

are facing the complete disappearance of their hometown, their culture, and their memories due

to the sea level rise that could immortalize them as a mini-Atlantis on the ocean floor. Climate

change is a multi-faceted problem, which humanity has never faced before. Unfortunately, we

don’t have a blue print to solve this trans-sectoral problem. I think dealing with alien invasion

would be a better choice at this time.

We already know that climate change is happening. Reports from the Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and many other scientists and organizations are hitting us with

enough dry science to prove that point. There are many ways to contain this crisis, but most of

the time it fails because it is insensitive, vague, naive, and sometimes unrealistic to the situation

in the field. A new approach is needed to ensure the effectiveness of these solutions. First, an

understanding of individual country’s positions on the matter must be acclaimed then, we must

ask ourselves what contributes most to carbon dioxide emissions, provide a combination of

deadlines and timelines, and target those specific areas. Our policy must be clear and have

legally binding consequences for those who refuse to comply. We must introduce a carbon tax to

carbon distribution, implement caps and trade regulations, and regulate subsidies and heavy
penalties for pollutants. Mining industries such as oil and gas should no longer acquire free riders

when it comes to subsidies. Food and flight subsidies are also just behind fossil fuels in terms of

pollution rates and should be discarded. Developing countries can phase out fossil fuel subsidies,

can direct taxes and fines on fossil fuels to renewable energy development, and build sustainable

systems.

The Paris Agreement is perhaps one of the current forms of unified governance to address

climate change, as seen by the 185 Parties that have ratified the Convention out of 197. The Paris

Agreement Agenda promotes diplomacy by having open and inclusive processes, promoting

formal and informal dialogue, focusing on more impactful domestic policy, advocating for global

hoarding, naming and penalizing non-compliance and becoming a voice of public appeasement.

While aware of their progress, they should set targets that are obligatory for countries to achieve,

introduce penalties for non-compliance, and set realistic goals for managing the growth on global

temperature increase. Also, they are quite skeptical about whether the agreement is legally

binding, so they should provide some clarification. The agreement gave the US government an

opportunity to completely withdraw from the agreement, to the complete dismay of its citizens.

This movement sends a message; that climate deniers have won. While other countries are

unlikely to follow suit, remaining members will be reluctant to make the effort as the world's

second-largest polluter is not bound by the agreement, so why should they make the effort.

Furthermore, their exit also hinders the urgency and brevity of climate change. The Paris

Agreement is far from a permanent institution and we know that time is a key factor in its

development, it's a shame but we don’t have the luxury to wait.

Fighting climate change is expensive and adapting to climate change is even more

expensive. The world has enjoyed economic growth powered by fossil fuels for 300 years and is
indebted to Mother Nature. We must decide whether we will allow ourselves and future

generations to live in a post-apocalyptic world full of conflicts over resources, a world where the

air is so toxic that our children may not play outside, and a world that is no longer beautiful.

Climate change mitigation requires replacing infrastructure that relies heavily on fossil fuels with

cleaner forms of energy. Technology will play an important role in tackling climate change in

economically and politically sound ways. Technology provides data on problems and offers

opportunities and solutions. Deploying advanced sensors can map out the spread of pollution for

planning purposes. Capitalism, the foundation of our economy, needs to be reconsidered.

Because mitigating climate change requires less use of natural resources, the opposite of

capitalism. The bigger the population, the more the environment is exploited, so we have to

tackle the problem of rapid population growth. We will have to adjust our view of wealth as a

nation. As humans, we will have to test ourselves and see if satisfying our greed is worth putting

the lives of future generations at risk.

To wrap up the essay: As someone living in a developing country, I understand the pain

paying for the mistakes we haven’t made or benefited from. For those who are benefiting from

the pollution of the land, must do better for their people and for themselves. We are way past the

time to point fingers and blame others. Action must be taken immediately.