Shahbaz: We are vastly unprepared for the climate disasters to come

Recently, the United Nations announced a “strategic retreat” in the fight against climate change. The belief of many experts is that we have failed in our efforts to prevent climate change and to restore Earth to its natural and healthy state. Now, we have to face severe threats to our lives no matter who we are or where we are.

The unique aspect of climate change is that it affects everyone regardless of where they live. This also makes the lack of effort made all the more baffling globally. Failure at a local level to influence political behavior towards war or disease can be chalked up to either ignorance or selfishness, neither of which is justified. Specifically due to climate change, we all will be affected. Wall Street may sink just as a coastal village in Asia.

Another more shocking and at times infuriating fact is that the issues of climate change are not in a far-flung future or a potential dystopian ending. The effects are evident no matter what corner of the world we set our eyes to. The tragic flash floods in Nepal that took the lives of more than a thousand people are not an anomaly. They are the consequences of an uninterrupted and unaddressed pattern of climate mismanagement across the globe that raised temperatures enough for glaciers to melt rapidly and flood several cities and villages. 

Climate change is more than just higher temperatures. It is an unpredictable and unprecedented rapid change in climates across the globe. For Iowans, this has recently meant the presence of flash floods due to excessive rainfall. Some critics might suggest that these rain patterns are normal and expected, which opens the door to questions regarding government efforts in a new way. If these rains are normal, how come Iowa lacks the infrastructure that is required to handle flash floods? 

This brings us to our newest point. Collectively, no matter what country or continent, we are underprepared for any disasters. Our food supplies are highly reliant on consistent weather patterns, and excessive or insufficient rain, and the effects around the globe on food prices are trending upwards, leaving many people across the world food insecure. Our cities, including utilities such as power, water or other necessities, are not equipped to handle rapid and severe weather effects like storms or heat waves. The effects on these services are already being seen in cities like New York or countries across Europe.

Unfortunately for us, our governments are focusing on actually accelerating climate change rather than attempting to at least help us fight against it and perhaps reverse it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reversed its policies against greenhouse gas emissions for power plants to drive down costs for power. Although initially this may seem like good news, we must remember that the greatest demand for power right now comes from AI data centers, and it is likely these policy reversals are intended to serve AI companies rather than people. Not only do we have to pay with our lives and horrible air quality, but also with our wallets! Europe has also resorted to reusing coal, one of the most unhealthy fossil fuels for power generation, due to the wars in Iran and Ukraine. 

The purpose of this article is not to doom and sulk. We, as students, may not have the power to dictate policy that directly spells consequences for us as we grow older. What we do have the power of is preparation and knowledge. Like it or not, this is the world we have to live in, and it is up to us to arm ourselves with information and awareness so that we may, as a species, take care of the world and, by extension, ourselves. 

Iowa State has brilliant resources and experts on climate change and environmental patterns. As responsible students, we should be more encouraging and receptive to their efforts, while also guiding our own efforts to build a better future for ourselves and our peers.