Global Warming Threatens Millions
Photo by Action Renewables
A report to be released Monday by Christian Aid said 162 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of disease directly attributable to global warming by the end of the century.
It urged the British government to lead the world’s richer countries in taking urgent action to curb global warming.
Poorer regions, the charity added, should be encouraged to use renewable energy sources.
If sub-Saharan Africa switched from fossil fuels to other sources of energy, including solar, wind and water, the environment would benefit and there would be more jobs, better health and enhanced opportunities for learning, the report said.
(Emphasis is mine.)
Amy Stodghill said,
May 18, 2006 at 1:05 pm
If I had a dollar for every report by an international aid organization that includes the word SHOULD - well I could probably fund some of the actions that ’should’ have been done (and probably weren’t fully funded.)
On the one hand, this report is great - it is getting the word out to the development community that climate change is a REAL issue that will affect their programs (and the people they intend on helping); on the other hand, it’s a report that says a whole bunch of things that ’should’ be done that might not get done (for numerous reasons).
It would make more sense (economic sense and just plain common sense) if sub-Saharan Africa switched from fossil fuels to other sources of energy - especially to sources such as solar because it can eliminate or significantly reduce the need for massive infrastructure expenditures (like power lines). Of course, simply slapping on some solar panels to give people power isn’t going to solve all problems - but it will provide indirect benefits that the AP article implies (health, education, jobs…).
Part of the problem is that it isn’t necessarily the African governments that are in need of convincing - it is the donor agencies who offer relief aid or other special project aid to countries that need to be swayed. Reports like this (despite the should factor) can give more weight and credibility to something that isn’t necessarily new news.