[ad_1]
The earth’s climate is changing in a variety of ways, with extreme weather events occurring at different levels around the globe. Unpredictable weather and floods are becoming more common, affecting millions of people’s lives.
However, women and girls are being hit hardest by the impacts of climate change in the world’s most vulnerable communities. Some Climate crisis has displaced 80% of people to dateAccording to the BBC women are more than children, while children and women are 14 times more likely to be killed in a natural disasterAccording to a UNDP report, 2021, women are more likely to be married than men.
Women are also included more vulnerableGender-based violence includes increased child marriages, interruptions in sexual and reproductive health care, as well as limited access to contraception. This is all part of the wider impact of climate change in their community. Yet too often, the voices and experiences of women and girls are ignored in climate conversations.
The annual Earth Day campaign was organized by EarthDay.org and honored on April 22, is a great opportunity for all citizens throughout the world to show their support for environmental protection and take climate action. This year will mark the 52nd Earth Day, which was established in April 1970.
As part of Earth Day 2018, we asked Global Citizens to share their stories on how climate change is affecting them. Your answers were so powerful we’ve put together some of them to share, because your voices deserve to be heard. You can also join us in taking action to combat the climate crisis this Earth Day and every day — Start taking action now.
Asia
School children march to protest the high levels of pollution in New Delhi, India on Nov. 15, 2017.
School children march to protest the high levels of pollution in New Delhi, India on Nov. 15, 2017.
Domini J.J., India: “I can’t breathe good air. It’s really difficult to go on about my day to day life, which is why it is so hard to go about my regular chores. I work very hard to be eco-friendly, why am I paying for the mistakes made by others?”
Neha P., India: “Hey! I live in India and the heat has been so intense that for the past two summers, we have not been able to leave the house for more then 10 minutes. You feel the heat. 2022 is the year of the heat exhaustion. highest temperatures ever and it’s only April.”
Vahini C., India: “It affects our health both mentally and physically. It is more difficult to do the daily household chores for my mom. Pollution is everywhere. Fresh air is becoming a luxury very soon. It is important to stop this as soon as possible.”
Aung N., Myanmar: “Climate change affects our lives with huge flooding, tornadoes, storms, and wildfires destroying what we love and value!”
Mayetth P., Philippines: “Global warming is affecting every country in the world! I live in the Philippines where the intensity of typhoons have increased. Take a look at Typhoon Rai 2021. I was part of a team of volunteers that provided aid to the hardest hit areas and provinces by the typhoon. It will take those islands years to overcome the destruction from Rai.”
Africa
Lato K., Kenya: “As pastoralists in Kenya, we are experiencing long periods of drought and short but dangerous rain periods, which bring flooding. The drought causes starvation of our cattle and the rain drowns them.”
Chinasa I. U., Nigeria: “The climate crisis is making it difficult for my family in the rural areas to cultivate their seasonal crops without interruptions, due to both floods and droughts.”
Peter N., Nigeria: “The climate crisis is affecting my life in so many ways. From the high cost of living due to poor yield from farming caused by damage, to the land and air and water pollution, which has caused some of my friends and neighbours to be hospitalised for various respiratory cases.”
Sanusi H. M., Nigeria: “Personally, I am suffering from the climate crisis and climate change. I often get heatstroke due to the hot weather. [bouts of]Heat stroke can happen at any time. Climate crisis is affecting not only the environment but our health too.”
Emmanuel C., South Africa: “My country has seen new levels of Floods in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the worst natural disaster to hit our country. Global warming is real and we need to take serious action before it’s too late.”
North America
On December 6, 2017, flames from the Thomas Fire rise above Highway 101, north of Ventura, Calif.
Ochmanek E., Canada: “In the last eight months I have lived through a heat dome that saw the highest temperatures ever recorded in Canada, a drought that is killing our cedars (the tree of life), waters too warm for salmon to spawn, the flooding of farms that I depend on for food.”
Anvitha J., United States: “It’s affecting the weather around me, the trees and grass and all living beings around me. It snows in April, but it’s hot in October. There are fewer trees and flowers. It just doesn’t make sense because of climate change.”
Angela E., United States: “We just had a massive storm flood that destroyed our neighbourhood causing death, destruction, a major disaster, which most still have not recovered from seven months later and it’s not covered by insurance. It’s exceptionally windy and we are facing strong storms all the time now.”
Lisa-May R., United States: “I live on an island in the intercoastal waterway, my home is 13 feet above sea level and the level is rising. My home insurance has gone up immensely as I am in a flood zone, and the deductible for ‘named storms’, which are every storm, is too high. I stress about everything in regard to the climate crisis.”
Nicole S., United States: “I am constantly having to deal with wildfires in my vicinity during fire season. The poor quality of the smoke causes me severe throat irritation. My respiratory health is a concern. Another year of drought is coming. I’m not looking forward to living in a parched environment. I also worry about local waterways being polluted by fire retardant. Low precipitation is already affecting endangered fish populations in our area. Climate change creates complex environmental challenges that need innovative solutions.”
Melia M., United States: “I live in California so the fires get worse every year and I have to live in fear of losing my house and family.”
South America
A fire engulfs an area near Porto Velho (Brasil), Friday, August 23, 2019. State experts in Brazil reported a record of almost 77,000 wildfires this year, an increase of 85% compared to the same period last year. Brazil is home to 60% of the Amazon rainforest. Degradation could have serious consequences for global climate.
Pedro G., Chile: “The area where I live has been in a severe drought for a while. The water dam is currently at 6% of its full capacity, the worst I’ve ever seen since it was constructed in 1998. I recently visited my sister in the South (the rainy part of the country) and found that the river that used to carry lots of water stopped flowing this summer. Our food and drinking water supply might be affected if conditions don’t improve.”
Elsy R., Honduras: “The climate change is killing my dear coral reefs and everybody should know how important they are.”
Raúl G. F., México: “The climate crisis is limiting our access to safe water and is contributing to increasing water scarcity. This does not affect everyone equally: people with less resources (economic and educational), suffer more than the rich, contributing thus to increasing the social gap between human beings.”
Damaris F., México: “The days are warmer, the nights are colder. The food is more costly. We can see every day the impacts of the climate crisis but people don’t want to look around.”
Yazmin O., México: “Since I was a child I have lived near a very polluted river, and this gets worse during the hot weather. It’s El Salto’s Lerma Santiago River. Among the population, there are a lot of cancer cases and stomach issues.”
Cindy C., México: “The weather is so unpredictable, the whole world is turning inhabitable. Many things have changed and the world isn’t the same as it used to be. It is much hotter where I live, and there is much less water. It’s difficult to live like this.”
The Caribbean
A home is surrounded in debris after Hurricane Irma struck Nagua, Dominican Republic on Thursday, September 7, 2017. Irma caused havoc in the northern Caribbean, causing thousands of people to be homeless and destroying trees. Irma flooded parts the Dominican Republic as it passed by the northern coast of the island, which it shares with Haiti.
Maya N., Trinidad and Tobago: “My country’s water system is being affected and they are proportioning the water for citizens.”
Europe
You can see the damaged houses at the Ahr River in Insul, western Germany on July 15, 2021.
Elif Ü. A., Germany: “In Germany, there were Many people died in floods last year.. I am afraid that it will get worse. Although my friends and I aren’t yet affected by the climate crisis, it is a grave threat to everyone if we ignore these dangers and continue to ignore them. We ARE in danger NOW.”
Ann P., Greece: “Very unpredictable sudden weather extremes causing chaos, deaths from fires, flooding, falling trees, electricity blackouts, rising prices, unemployment. All this causes mental stress. Women carry the burden as carers.”
Sabine W., Ireland: “I live in the West of Ireland and our weather patterns have changed. More rain, more severe storms. High tide flooding is a problem. Unless there is radical improvement in climate action, a lot of our coastal areas will be reclaimed by the sea.”
Alexa., Poland: “As a woman I think about my family, women tend to worry more about safety especially for their children. When I think about the climate crisis, I remember that I don’t have any children yet and that the climate situation has already become dire. I have every right to worry and do everything I can to ensure that my kids will be able to live their lives appreciating everything I could’ve when I was young so they can have the best careless (in a good way, of course) childhood.”
Australia
Kangaroos are seen grazing in a field while smoke covers Canberra, Australia, Jan. 1, 2020.
Kangaroos are seen grazing in a field while smoke covers Canberra, Australia, Jan. 1, 2020.
Shar T., Australia: “I watched, horrified, on the news as my sister’s small regional town of Lismore in New South Wales Australia flooded twice within weeks. There have been governments building homes on rivers and oceans. Now the planet is saying “Enough”. We are not living in harmony or in balance.”
Lou N., Australia: “Growing up enjoying the sun, fresh air, and feeling the earth beneath my feet was one of the biggest highlights of my childhood and has made me appreciate the beautiful nature we live with. But over time with climate change and the destruction of our beautiful nature has made our younger generations miss the opportunities we once had, and when I grow up and have children of my own, I’d love them to have the chance to experience the same memories I had.”
Shannon M., Australia: “I am constantly worried about my future. The cost of living continues its rise due to flooding and droughts. I fear I should not have children because their future looks extremely grim.”
Renee K.Australia“I live in New South Wales, Australia amid unprecedented floods. Friends have lost homes, businesses, animals — everything they own. This is after years of droughts, blazing fires and mice infestations, as well as floods. When will the world’s leaders wake up to this reality and take steps to save our planet and all that sustains it?
For clarity, responses have been lightly edited.
[ad_2]
