Climate change is not just an environmental problem, but also a threat to world peace and order, former US Vice President Al Gore (Albert Gore) told the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) in Sharjah on Wednesday.

He said droughts and food shortages caused by climate change create “climate refugees”, drawing from the example of Syria.

Al Gore said: “Political stability is at risk in many nations. If you look at what has happened in Syria, the worst drought took place there and destroyed farms and killed livestock, creating climate refugees,” who were set on a collision course with Iraqi war refugees in Syria.

He also said when food prices jumped because Russia pulled its food supply from the international market following drought and fire there, a Tunisian vendor set himself on fire in protest. A video of the self-immolation went viral and contributed in triggering the so-called Arab Spring series of unrests, according to Al Gore

Some countries that are not stable can be tipped over into instability with climate upheavals and disruptions and diseases; this can threaten order in the world.”

Al Gore also warned of disaster from rising temperatures if nations keep sending up “100 million tonnes of man-made pollution” into the atmosphere, “treating it as an open sewer and trapping the heat”. 2016 was the hottest year on record for average world temperatures. If pollution rates are not cut, Sharjah, for example, will be hotter by five degrees in 75 years, Al Gore added. That would mean summer temperatures of up to 55C.

“This is crazy to allow it to happen,” he said, adding that “every storm is different now because the humidity is also up”.

Al Gore said the region can lead by example in adopting clean energy because although it is rich in fossil fuels, it also gets an abundance of sun for solar power.

He said the technology and resources are available today to eventually turn the tide on climate change, but stressed a global consensus and movement is needed to implement sustainable solutions. Al Gore also noted that everyday people can play a part in their daily lives in promoting conservation of resources.

“I think public awareness must be raised to give people the necessary knowledge to grasp the threat. Many people are not aware or are in denial; we naturally want to push [climate change] away. But this can’t be pushed way, it’s a threat to human civilisation. But it’s also important to increase awareness of solutions that are already available. It’s wonderful that we see cheap solar power even in this oil-rich region.”

The session was moderated by Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah

source : gulfnews