AWITI: Planet imperiled by climate change demands urgent action

Dr Alex Awiti, Vice Provost at the Aga Khan University, writes that scientists are just starting to unpack the complex, interconnected web of climate, hydrological and social factors that contribute to climate change related catastrophe. The world’s major polluters remain only partly persuaded that the planet is on the course of irreversible peril. He says that somehow it has been assumed that wealthy nations are insulated from the impacts of climate change and the world needs concrete actions on decarbonising the global economy. The planet must be put on a path to aggressive and ambitious 2030 carbon emission reduction targets, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Dr Awiti warns that time is of the essence.