CLIMATE CHANGE

The world is facing the deadliest monsoon season this year. The news of heavy rain, tropical storm and flooding are making headlines all over the world. It’s important to realise that the biggest threat to the world is climate change (“Tropical Storm Meari heads to Japan, packed with winds, rain,” Aug.13, Gulf Today website).

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned Meari was on course to make landfall by noon, bringing sudden heavy rain and blasting winds, possibly seting off mudslides and flooding. Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, was told to brace for extremely heavy rainfall.

Meari, packing sustained winds of up to 72 kilometres (45 miles) per hour, was moving over coastal waters and expected to continue northward, making landfall before veering eastward, swinging over the Pacific Ocean by early Sunday.

According to reports, the Tokyo area was likely to be hammered by fierce rainfall and winds later in the day. Warnings on high waves in coastal areas were issued for Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, and other nearby areas.

This year unusual weather forced people to experience the hotest days of their lives, flooding has wreaked havoc in many countries, and heavy rain turned most populated cities into rivers. This is the beginning, the existence of the world is at stake. If powerful countries fail to take concrete steps to save the world from climate change disasters, the coming years will be horrifying for the whole world.

Yusuf Ahmed, By email