The violent cyclone that took place in Myanmar a few weeks ago has dominated international news. Despite the estimated death toll of over 100,000, according to the United Nations, the country’s military junta refused to allow aid during the days after the disaster struck. As the international community nevertheless scrambles to help the unfortunate people whose homes and families have been destroyed, this natural disaster should also serve as another reminder of the potential consequences of global warming.
According to The Myanmar Times, average temperatures in Myanmar have risen by about 0.6 degrees Celsius since 1977. That may not sound like very much, but consider that increases in temperature have extensive global consequences. This rise in temperature is widely attributed to the dramatic increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the past 40 years.
The residents of Myanmar are dealing not only with higher temperatures but also with more inclement weather, which can hurt farming and agricultural production. Higher temperatures cause more irregular weather patterns, which in Myanmar have resulted in a shorter but more intense monsoon season and a greater chance of flooding, according to the director general of the UN Meteorological and Hydrological Department, U Tun Lwin.
There has been some dispute in the international community over the cause of the cyclone that has brought so much harm and danger to millions. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, however, predicts more disasters like this one to come soon as results of global warming. Even if this particular cyclone cannot be attributed to global warming, it should serve as a warning to the world of the natural disasters that may be in store if steps are not taken to reduce the carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.
Almost three full years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has not yet recovered from that disaster. We should all do our part, by decreasing our carbon dioxide emissions, to try to prevent future similar disasters from destroying communities and families across the globe.
