The devastating wildfires raging across Portugal this week, and the catastrophic floods in central Europe are just two more examples of the global crisis that will be discussed during the upcoming ‘New York Climate Week’.
Thousands of Portuguese firefighters, with many reinforcements from Spain and Morocco, plus water bombers from Italy and France, have been stretched beyond their limits. Seven firefighters have been killed, more than 50 injured, and many people forced to flee from their homes because of around 100 different fires in the north of the country.
Flooding in central Europe, like the wildfires in Portugal, is an annual problem generated by exceptionally heavy rains. Storm Boris and extreme humidity have been the main culprits this year. Floods that started in Austria and the Czech Republic spread to Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and later to Germany, Hungary, and Italy. It has been the worst flooding in the region in at least 20 years. Many people have drowned. Huge numbers have been forced to evacuate their swamped homes and businesses.
All this is of profound concern to the United Nations General Assembly. UN Secretary-General and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres says he has no doubt these events are linked to the escalating climate crisis. The next major UN conference on climate change will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November. The focus is expected to be on securing the trillions of dollars required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect people from the worsening impacts of climate change.
The New York Climate Week starts next Monday. It is one of the biggest annual events of its kind. Top scientific and political climate specialists are expected to attend. It is a charity event to promote action by appealing to business leaders, political changemakers, local decision takers, and civil society officials.
This special week is run by a non-profit organisation with a mission to accelerate climate action, and achieve a world on net zero carbon emissions by 2050, ensuring great prosperity for all.
“The organisation and its members are helping to shift global markets and policies towards faster reductions in carbon emissions.”
Written by Len Port - Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
