Climate Change and Global Political Tensions: A Crisis in the Making

              Climate Change and Global Political Tensions: A Crisis in the Making

Undoubtedly, climate change is the most pressing issue of our time. However, this is one of the most divisive topics in politics worldwide. Even though the scientific consensus is crystal clear—human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, is driving unprecedented changes to the planet's climate—the political response has been varied and often contentious.

Climate change has been highly politicized in the US. President Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Accords on economic grounds and because it was beneficial to other countries at the expense of American businesses. Since then, the government has rejoined the accords under President Biden and pledged itself to ambitious climate goals, including being net-zero by 2050. Politics on this issue in the United States is a microcosm of a global battle between economic growth and sustainability.

In China and India, for example, enormous industrialization has caused the most significant contributions to greenhouse gases, yet in these two nations, there has been resolve to battle climate change, whose interests are directly contrary to those of the developed world. The international scale of climate change affords that it is a thing that can never be a matter of good enough reason of national country action, but political and economic divergences, conflicting national interests, and action are forestalled.

As increasingly sensational climatic phenomena devastate the world, increasing sea rises, and expanding food deficiencies, political leaders feel increasingly urged to act. Political will to act on global warming remains a titanic barrier short of worldwide action, and without it, things deteriorate.