The Climate Change and its impact on our lives

Mrs. Alev Kara, spouse of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, welcomed us to her Residence on 28 November 2023. Our discussion topic “Climate Change and its impact on our lives” was well-timed with the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, which took place two days later in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Alev gave an overview of this important world conference. Since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the goal has been to limit global CO2 emissions to 1.5°C. The main focus is now on increasing renewable energy supplies by providing green finance to help developing countries in green energy. As frequent natural disasters and extreme weather conditions destroy livelihoods and a global energy solution becomes even more urgent, a further focus will be on the financial management of loss and damage caused by climate change in particularly affected countries.

In the discussions that followed, we understood that the use of fossil fuels will continue to play a role while the transition to clean energy continues steadily. We also learned that hydrogen is another alternate clean energy solution that is being considered.

The challenges of global warming influence our daily life, such as the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink, as well as environmental issues related to the disposal of radioactive materials, plastic waste and garbage. Additional measures are necessary to reverse shrinking coasts, to preserve our rivers, lakes and seas, forests and greenery, and to reduce, recycle and reuse. Yes, climate change is real.

On behalf of the English Conversation participants, the Group Leader Linda would like to thank our host Alev for her hospitality and generosity extended to us.