The Intersection Between Climate and Politics

Aleena Wallace

July 18, 2024

How are climate issues and politics related?

Climate change imposes detrimental effects on communities around the world. Just recently, roughly 1300 people died due to intense heat brought about by global warming. They had been making their holy pilgrimage to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. This devastating event demonstrates how climate change may interfere with religious traditions that have been occurring for centuries. Moreover, climate change does not only detrimentally impact the physical environment, but it also influences human actions and practices.

Recently, flash floods have been devastating communities in Afghanistan. These flash floods have been happening for a long time now. Although, they have been worsening over the past few decades due to climate change. This is because rising temperatures increase moisture in the atmosphere, and thus cause more erratic rainfall patterns. These floods have been detrimental to communities within Afghanistan because they have killed large amounts of farmland and livestock, which many families rely on for income and food. In addition, the floods have destroyed tens of thousands of homes and increased the risk of the spread of disease. 

The strong presence of the Taliban is drastically magnifying the negative effects of climate change in Afghanistan. This is because the Taliban government is hindering international aid to the people of Afghanistan. International organizations and other countries are hesitant to collaborate with the Taliban government to facilitate climate recovery projects due to instances in which the Taliban has violated the rights of its citizens. Additionally, citizens who have been displaced due to the Taliban’s human rights abuses are even more exposed to the effects of climate change on the environment. Therefore, the influence of the Taliban government on the intensifying climate issues in Afghanistan depicts the overlap between climate change, human rights, and politics.

The importance of advocating for climate legislation

The increasing threat of climate change on communities around the world calls for an increased effort in advocating for legislation that actively combats climate change. Some might argue that pushing for climate policy is a lost cause. However, there are several events that have transpired recently that demonstrate how impactful climate advocacy may be. 

Recently, a group of teenagers in Hawaii sued Hawaii’s State Department of Transportation over its climate policies. Subsequently, the state agreed to achieve zero emissions from transportation by 2045. This is a grand success for the state of Hawaii, and serves as a point of inspiration, hope, and motivation for younger generations. 

The same passion for advocating for proper climate policy may be seen in Germany.  Climate activists have been protesting that a climate law instituted by the German government is unconstitutional. This new policy was established in 2021 and aimed to cut emissions by 2030. However, there have been several missed opportunities by the German government to reduce pollution. It is now being argued that the 2021 climate policy has not been properly or effectively enforced. Additionally, since the German transport ministry hasn’t been taking action sufficiently enough to achieve the goal of the policy, socially disadvantaged groups those living in rural areas will be forced to undergo strict measures to allow Germany to reach the goal. Ultimately, this case demonstrates how in many democratic countries, the federal government often doesn’t carry out the necessary actions to reach their climate goals, which increases the burden on citizens. Moreover, this case displays the importance of advocating for more effective and efficient climate legislation. 

Due to its inevitably detrimental effects on citizens around the world, climate change is becoming more and more prevalent in politics and legislation. As the effects of climate change worsen, it is imperative that younger generations recognize how strong the intersection between climate change, human rights, and politics is. It is through advocating and legislation that climate change may be combatted and mitigated. 

Sources

“Afghanistan: The Alarming Effects of Climate Change.” Front Page, 1 Aug. 2023, www.unocha.org/news/afghanistan-alarming-effects-climate-change. 

Batrawy, Aya. “1,300 People Died in Heat-Stricken Hajj Pilgrimage.” NPR, NPR, 23 June 2024, www.npr.org/2024/06/21/nx-s1-5013582/hajj-heat-deaths-saudi-arabia. 

“Germany: Amendment of Climate Change Act Codifies Climate Neutrality Goal by 2045.” The Library of Congress, 28 Sept. 2021, www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2021-09-28/germany-amendment-of-climate-change-act-codifies-climate-neutrality-goal-by-2045/#:~:text=On%20August%2031%2C%202021%2C%20an,as%20a%20legally%20binding%20obligation. 

Kumar, Ruchi. “How the Taliban Adds to Afghanistan’s Woes When It Comes to Climate-Fueled Disasters.” NPR, NPR, 18 June 2024, www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/06/04/g-s1-2714/afghanistan-flooding-crisis-taliban-sanctions. 

Niranjan, Ajit. “German Activists Take Government to Court over Climate Policy.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 26 June 2024, www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/26/german-activists-take-government-to-court-over-climate-policy. 

Wbur. “‘Everyone Can Make Change’: Hawaii Youth Plaintiffs Reflect on Historic Climate Settlement.” Here & Now, WBUR, 26 June 2024, www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/06/26/hawaii-climate-plaintiffs.