Climate change under pressure: Living in Europe threatened by heat wave!
Climate change under pressure: Living in Europe threatened by heat wave!
The current heat wave in Europe not only makes life a pain for many people, but also represents a serious threat to fundamental human rights. UN-human rights commissioner Volker Türk said during a discussion at the urgently on the connection between climate change and the fundamental right to life. "The climate crisis is a human rights crisis," he said and emphasized the need for adaptation measures.
The Southern Europe is currently particularly affected, where continuing heat waves are forecast temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius. In France, heat warnings were pronounced for 84 out of 101 departments. Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher described the situation as unprecedented, while around 200 schools had to close due to the heat. These extreme temperatures are also imminent in Germany; The German Weather Service expects the hottest day of summer with similar temperatures at the middle of the week.
forest fires and consequences of the heat
The heat not only brings health risks with it, but also carries the risk of forest fires. Large forest fires broke out near Narbonne in France, which led to the evacuation of the campsite and the Fontfroide Abbey. More than 150 firefighters are on duty, and winds make the extinguishing work difficult. In Turkey, emergency services fight against 77 forest fires, which were subjected to the unusually high temperatures.
These developments are not to be viewed in isolation. Türk referred to the long -term consequences of climate change, which already lead to rationing drinking water in Spain and threaten coastal dwellers in Honduras, the livelihood of which is endangered by storm surges. Especially vulnerable groups such as poor people, indigenous communities and older citizens are badly affected, while forecasts could even lead to 14.5 million deaths by 2050, such as Studies of the World Bank show.
claims and responsibility
Türk demands a determined action from the states. The previous commitments from the COP28 climate conference to reduce fossil fuels urgently need to be implemented. "This requires an end to the production and use of fossil fuels," says Türk, who also criticized the responsibility of the fossil fuel industry. This industry not only spreads misinformation, but also greenwashing to distract from the real effects.
The question remains whether states and companies do justice to their responsibility. The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly pointed out the human rights consequences of climate change since 2008. Only through determined action could the global community comply with human rights obligations in the long term and find a way out of the climate crisis. The current developments should all make us think, because it's not just about the weather - it's about our future.
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| Ort | Narbonne, Frankreich |
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