Devastating floods in Europe. Temperatures soaring to 45ºC in Canada. Mudslides in Japan. Cloud bursts in India. Floods in New York subways, central China and Uganda, and a sweltering heatwave in Morocco.
No, I’m not describing scenes from a science fiction film or an intro to an abstract report on climate change. This is real life in 2021. Chances are, you have recently seen these either in newspaper headlines, social media feeds, or even from your own home.
We have gone past climate projections, policy papers and arguments. As climate change accelerates and becomes deadlier, cities become more and more vulnerable. We need to move forward with early warning systems, coordinated response work, and of course, bold action to stop the climate emergency from getting worse.
Let’s be be perfectly clear: extractive industry, from fossil fuels to industrial agriculture, is the source of this misery. These industries may try to put the blame on the consumer, but it is their colonial business model which is to blame. Even faced with record floods, droughts, heatwaves and cold snaps, they appeal court orders to drastically reduce their emissions and greenwash with ‘net zero’ offsetting and other false solutions.
We must hold them to account. With 100 days till COP26, we need to tell world leaders to step up and fight to cap global temperatures at 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. This is what the climate crisis looks like:
Japan
Bangladesh
Belgium
View of the destruction following severe flooding after heavy rainfall on July 17, 2021 in Pepinster, Belgium. According to local reports 27 are dead and 103 missing after 2 days of heavy rain caused rivers to burst and wash houses away. © Olivier Matthys/Getty Images
A woman wades her way across a flooded street following heavy rains in Liege. © Bruno Fahy/Belga/AFP / Getty Images
Austria
Netherlands
Aerial photograph shows partially submerged caravans and campers in flood waters at the camping site of De Hatenboer in Roermond on July 15, 2021. © Rob Engelaar/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Aerial view along the Maas river on July 16th, 2021 in Limburg, Netherlands © Cris Toala Olivares/Getty Images
A man carries a box through a flooded street on July 16, 2021 in Geulle, Netherlands. © Sanne Derks/ Getty Images
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands inspect the damage caused by the storm in Valkenburg, southern Netherlands, on July 15, 2021. © Sem Van Der Wal/ANP/AFP/ Getty Images
China
This photo taken on July 12, 2021 shows a village official evacuating a child from a flooded area following heavy rains in Dazhou in China's southwestern Sichuan province. © STR/AFP via Getty Images
This photo taken on July 11, 2021 shows rescuers looking for stranded residents along a flooded street following heavy rains in Dazhou, in China's southwestern Sichuan province. © STR/AFP via Getty Images
USA
Cuba
Old American cars and buses drive through a flooded street in Havana, on June 30, 2021. Heavy rains and malfunctioning sewers cause the flooding of streets in Havana. © Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images
An old American car drives through a flooded street in Havana, on June 30, 2021. Heavy rains and malfunctioning sewers cause the flooding of streets in Havana. © Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images
It’s time for all of us to assert our rights, demand climate justice, and a dignified way of life.
Take action
