An Invitation

An Invitation to Climate Skeptics

 

Last week, thousands of people took to the streets in defense of science. People of all walks of life raised their voices demanding that the new United States administration consider and utilize scientific knowledge in decision making and policy design. While only 100 days in office, the new administration has discredited science and discarded facts. The mere suggestion that alternative facts exist is symbolic of the charade taking place in Washington. 

The call for inclusion of science hails from various disciplines, from those working on endangered species to clean water. The effort to dismiss the irrefutable scientific evidence on climate change is central to this discourse and this weekend, more will march to raise awareness about climate change. While the voices were loud and clear at the global marches, the voices that should be heard are those from the people living with the impacts of climate change. These are the people who bear the brunt of the consequences of decisions ignorant of scientific evidence. So, please, those few skeptics of climate change and there are only a few, come and meet the people in Africa who are already suffering from the impacts of climate change. Listen to their stories. Feel their pain. And then, I dare you, tell me climate change is not a reality. 

Please come and meet Ole Sambu, a Maasai pastoralist in southern Kenya. In 2008 during the drought he and the Maasai community lost 80% of their livestock and he is losing more livestock in this current drought—his livelihood. Droughts are becoming more frequent. Combined with more intensive and unpredictable rains, this makes it extremely difficult for farmers to grow crops and pastoralists to maintain healthy livestock herds. 

Come to northern Kenya and meet Lekutan, a Samburu pastoralist woman, who now walks twice as far to fetch water because the wetlands that were are no longer and the rivers that ran year round now dry up. Women are more vulnerable to climate change impacts across Africa as they take on additional duties as caregivers. 

Please come meet Ole Kinei in Tanzania whose mother was killed by a hippo while she was trying to fetch water. When water is scarce, human wildlife conflict escalates as competition for resources between people and animals intensifies. Conflict between people is also escalating. Access to water is projected to be the biggest cause of conflict in Africa in the next 25 years. 

And with climate change affecting weather patterns, too much water all at once is a problem. Come to Mozambique and meet Mr. Machel who lost his family in the 2000 floods. Southern Africa is experiencing more cyclones and extreme weather patterns, resulting in severe flooding. The 2000 flood in Mozambique, worsened by two cyclones, caused 800 deaths, affected approximately 2 million people of which about 1 million needed food, 329,000 people were displaced and agricultural land was destroyed. This very same region was writing from drought in 2015 and 2016. Time between and frequency of extreme weather events is increasing.  

Come to northern Cameroon and meet Mr. Magashi a Nigerian who crossed national borders in search of pasture for his livestock. The impacts of climate change and loss of access to natural resources in Africa has resulted in more than one million climate migrants. As the number of migrants escalates, so do conflicts.

These people, these stories, these voices should be heard. These are the people suffering as a result of climate change. Yet politicians lacking connection to the reality on the ground have the gall to insinuate their plight is not a result of climate change.

Climate change is a global problem, requiring a global solution. African Governments showed their commitment to addressing climate change by joining 175 nations in signing the Paris Climate Change Accord and preparing country level climate change action plans. The unification displayed in Paris was powerful and positive. A political voice for positive change. Yet today, despite the scientific consensus on climate change, countries like the United States are not supporting Africa in attaining climate resiliency or energy independence; they are intent on halting progress on what is the most crucial issue of our time, a changing climate. By committing to reopening dirty coal mines, rolling back environmental regulations, and slashing funding for alternative energy and other climate programs, the US Government is committing to a path that will hurt Africans and global citizens for generations to come. It is time to fight back against actions that will impact the global citizenry negatively. It is time to support the signatories of the Paris Accord who recognize that our economies and communities are entirely dependent on a healthy planet.