Global Warming: Our Biggest Challenge
This year the issue of global warming rose to the top of the international agenda.. . Yet, just a year ago, when I was hosting my first press conference, I remember some reporters sniggering with disbelief when I talked of the impacts Hong Kong would suffer from climate change caused by global warming. Many people have heard of global warming and climate change, but some think that the danger is still distant and will not affect them. For the past four years Greenpeace has been pushing Hong Kong’s biggest power utility, CLP, and the HK government to reduce CO2 emissions, but it’s obvious that neither CLP nor the government are interested in taking real action to save the climate.
We have no choice when it comes to fighting climate change. No matter how difficult it is, no matter how people are oblivious to the danger our planet is facing, we must continue to campaign for action to save the climate. Time for action is fast running out, and we will all pay the price as our lives, and the lives of our children will change dramatically due to climate change. If we don't drastically cut CO2 emissions soon, the world’s top climate scientists predict that two-thirds of the world’s plant and animal species will be wiped out and hundreds of millions of people will suffer from food and water shortages, floods, stronger storms and disease epidemics on an unprecented scale. When that time comes, it will be meaningless to talk about economic development, it will be too late – you can’t eat money!
One bit of effort makes infinite changes
I believe that without Greenpeace’s many years of effort, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang would not have mentioned the issue of global warming in his recent policy address, nor would he have suggested measures that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, there is a long road ahead of us because of Hong Kong’s very inefficient use of its energy resources, our government’s inability to revise the very outdated and inaccurate air pollution index, and the fact that the government has failed to measure and regulate the main gas which causes global warming, carbon dioxide (CO2).
My professor described the work I do for Greenpeace as “Saving the earth”, which made me feel uncomfortable. I could never imagine that I could play a part in this generation’s attempts to stop climate change. My colleagues and I try to invest all of our effort into making the changes that will make our planet livable for future generations in the hope that many others join us. “Predecessors plant trees, descendents relax under the shade” is a saying that describes our environmental protection work.
