기후 붕괴의 시대…무력감 이기는 법 [김해동의 기후시민]

In a world where the climate is rapidly deteriorating, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a report on World Weather Day, noting that Earth's climate is increasingly losing its balance due to an overaccumulation of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. This diagnosis came to light during the summer of this year, as extreme weather events were brought to reality across the globe.

Starting in mid-June, a deadly heatwave swept through Southern Europe, driven by an unusually developed high pressure in the Atlantic and the transport of hot air from the Sahara Desert to the Iberian Peninsula. Temperatures soared above 46 degrees Celsius in some regions, with Barcelona witnessing an unprecedented record of 40 degrees Celsius.

Simultaneously, the western part of North America endured its first severe heatwave in five years, while Canada and the United States faced uncontrollable wildfires. The causes of these heatwaves were the same as those of five years ago, with hot air from the south pushed into high latitudes by the jet stream, creating a "heat dome."

Extreme heat also affected East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Arctic, setting new records for various regions. Conversely, unexpected heavy rainfall occurred, particularly in drought-prone Texas, where 400 millimeters of rain fell over a period of three days in July. This caused flooding in villages, rising water levels, and 100 deaths.

Such severe rainfall was also observed in Bangladesh, leading to numerous casualties. Similarly, in East Asia, Tokyo recorded its highest annual precipitation on record, and Japan and Korea experienced localized flooding, resulting in casualties and property damage. The direct cause of these extreme weather phenomena is the abnormal path of jet streams, which is attributed to global warming, causing both high and low latitudes to become warmer.

The large amount of heat generated by greenhouse gases, approximately 91% stored in the oceans, is 18 times the total energy consumed by the entire world. As a result, unimaginable extreme climate conditions and bizarre climates that would otherwise be impossible have become a daily occurrence. Climate crisis has now been replaced by climate collapse as the last hope.

Despite this, the global privileged class continues to prioritize the construction of AI data centers, semiconductor fabs, and economic growth, while climate activists express frustration over the lack of viable alternatives. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed grave concerns, warning of the psychological distress and emotional anguish experienced by climate activists worldwide, leading to physical health deterioration.

The WHO encouraged climate activists to continue supporting and empowering each other, recognizing it as their last refuge to protect the planet and future generations.