Kathmandu— The world is facing a climate crisis of unprecedented scale, marked by escalating extreme weather events and increasingly dire warnings from scientists. From devastating wildfires in Europe and North America to record-breaking droughts and ocean temperatures, the planet is experiencing conditions previously considered unimaginable. While public anger over political inaction grows, a fundamental shift is needed beyond simply adapting to these changes, experts say, as current trajectories point towards a future where adaptation becomes futile.

A Shift From Concern to Desperation

The prevailing sentiment has moved from questioning whether climate change is happening to acknowledging the severity of its impacts. The phrase “We still have time” now feels distant, replaced by anxieties about how much worse conditions can become. With 8.3 billion people affected, disillusionment and anger are mounting as fossil fuel producers continue to profit from activities driving CO2 emissions—which reached a record high of 38 gigatons in 2025. Marta Schaaf, Program Director for Climate, ESJ and Corporate Accountability at Amnesty International, argues that this heat is “political,” stemming from corporate greed and political failures impacting people’s rights and livelihoods.

Ignoring the Warnings: A Choice Between Rights and Ruin

Scientists emphasize a stark choice: either align politics with the needs of the population or face catastrophic consequences. There is no middle ground, according to experts. The world's leading climate scientists are increasingly vocal about issues long ignored by political leaders funded by special interests. These concerns include the doubling of extreme wildfires since 2000, a tripling of land area experiencing drought conditions compared to the year 2000, and consistently record-breaking ocean heat content—with marine mammal deaths reaching unprecedented levels.

Asia’s Top Climate Expert Sounds Alarm

Ben Horton, Dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong and a leading coastal scientist, warns that adapting to the climate of 2026 is pointless because conditions in subsequent years will only worsen. “Based upon physics, we’re not going to go back to the stable climates of 10, 20, 30 years ago,” he stated. Horton stresses that a fundamental shift has occurred and that adaptation alone is insufficient; the solution lies in transitioning away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources. He believes the narrative that the problem is too big to handle is deliberately perpetuated by vested interests.

Planetary Boundaries and Population Pressures

Horton highlights the delicate balance between civilization and planetary boundaries, noting that humanity has flourished for 8,000 years within a limited ecological framework. Exceeding these boundaries poses an existential threat. He also points to the rapid population growth post-World War II—tripling from 2.5 billion to 8.3 billion—as exacerbating pressures on Earth’s resources. This requires a shift away from prioritizing infinite growth towards responsible resource management.

The Role of Political Funding

At the heart of the problem, particularly in America, lies the influence of special interest money on policy decisions. The Citizens United Supreme Court decision has allowed for an explosion of corporate political spending and undisclosed “dark money,” enabling a small number of wealthy individuals to exert disproportionate control over the political process. As of August 2024, hundreds of local governments and states have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, while a recent bill signed into law continues to subsidize the fossil fuel industry by $3.5 billion annually.

Horton advocates for immediate education and awareness campaigns to help individuals protect themselves from extreme heat, alongside the implementation of ‘green’ city initiatives—such as cooling water pools, vegetation, and reflective building materials—to mitigate rising temperatures.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.