The world is changing in a way and at a pace never seen before. In this day and age, no country has not experienced a natural disaster. Climate change is everywhere and, unfortunately, there is no way to run from it, even on the other side of the world. The immense water mass made of seas and oceans covers almost three-quarters of the earth’s surface and performs crucial functions for the balance of the planet as well as for our survival. Oceans not only store more than 90 percent of the heat produced by humans, regulate the climate, host astonishing biodiversity and provide sustenance for millions of people but also - thanks to the green and blue algae - release more than 50 percent of the oxygen present in the atmosphere. They have absorbed so much carbon dioxide that seas are becoming acidic, putting at risk the marine ecosystem at. Coral reefs, rich in biodiversity and marine life, are in danger because the temperature changes are now so rapid that nature no longer has time to adapt and take countermeasures.
In the same way, there is no doubt that the effect of the drought is devastating and even the most prosperous countries are struggling to manage the consequences of climate change. The fire situation has worsened all around the world, from California to Australia. When there is very arid ground, a small fire is enough to raise some real hell. A good illustration of this is the situation in Australia where the fire season, which began at the end of 2019, got out of control and an area larger than England was burned down. Generally speaking, however, the negative effects that global warming has on the Arctic polar region are the worst by far because they are even twice as intense as in other areas of the world, due to the scientific phenomenon of Arctic amplification. Many people will be forced to leave their homes over the next few years and there may be at least 200 million climate refugees by 2050. Big cities, especially in the poorest countries, now are struggling to manage this influx of people who, sadly, most of the time have to live in unhealthy spaces without having access to sanitation.
The energy-environment bond is strong and the production of energy from renewable and non-polluting sources is essential for the full implementation of the principle of sustainable development, formulated by the Brundtland Commission in 1987. Earth’s natural resources are running out and, with the world population steadily growing up, there is a strong possibility that this century will be our “doomsday” unless we find an efficient solution. Scientists pointed out that, without the discovery of new resources by 2050, humankind will face some of the hardest challenges it has ever had.
The renewable energy sector turns out to play an increasingly significant role within the international community’s action plan to tackle climate change and ensure energy security. The new environmental awareness of the need to limit CO2 emissions, the uncertainties generated by the decreasing availability of traditional energy sources, and the respective rising prices - especially after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict -, undoubtedly represent an important argument that lead the States to consider with interest every possible form of exploitation of renewable energy sources. Overall, to face this global threat and to comply with the Paris Agreement’s provisions, joint actions are necessary at the supranational level as a whole. States will have to invest in, always more frequently, environmentally-friendly technologies supporting industry to break new ground and sharing cutting-edge innovations thereby making green energy cheaper and incentives no longer required. Although we are keenly aware that these years are a watershed in the history of our world, will we be able to deal with climate change before it is too late? It is the last call to turn the tide, we must not miss the boat.