That the global warming it has dramatic consequences for the living world. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is currently in an acute crisis, with the survivability of surface corals, which are more exposed to heat waves, estimated to decrease by 50%. In Mediterranean Sea- The heat waves of the last 20 years have caused numerous deaths of invertebrates that cannot tolerate high temperatures. On the other hand, even in the Mediterranean, more than a thousand tropical species have adapted to the new thermal conditions, sometimes replacing native species that cannot tolerate heat.
These things “touch” us when we see them in a documentary, but once the show is over we return to our daily lives.
Heat is an insidious enemy: it doesn’t kill, but it kills. Our species is also subject to its effects. The heat wave of 2003 claimed thousands of lives in Europe. Estimates speak of 18,000 deaths in Italy, 15,000 in France, 2,000 in Portugal and many hundreds in other European countries, all together nearly 40,000 dead. The figures come from comparing the number of deaths in the “normal” years with those of the “hot” year. Elderly people were the most common victims. At that time, the elderly showed a strong aversion to air conditioning, but since 2003, distrust of air conditioning has disappeared. Even the small cars now have air conditioning. Air conditioning saves lives, but we get it from burning fuel, from emissions carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. We cool “inside” but heat “outside”, which sets in motion a vicious circle in terms of energy consumption.
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In India and in Pakistana heat wave is emerging these days that is endangering the well-being of a billion people. Are we facing a climate holocaust? In 2017 the thermometer in Lecce reached 50 degrees. Apparently no one died from this, because air conditioning was now widespread. I was in the city then: you couldn’t stay outside. It used to be that exceptional temperatures, peaks, exceeded 30 degrees, then it went to 40 and now we’re at 50. On average, maybe not much has changed, but extreme events, particularly heat, are occurring more and more frequently intensive. An Ispra study on climatic trends in our country concludes: “Virtually all temperature extreme indices show a warming trend with fluctuations that in many cases are statistically significant”.
I have not touched much on the situation in India, even if instead it should move us as if the phenomena were happening at home: the “distant” cases excite us much less than our own, from the heat to the wars. After moving, we should also ask ourselves: and what can we do about it? And the answer is not: nothing. Many Indians and Pakistanis will lose their lives because we westerners are the main producers of greenhouse gases. In addition, by relocating production to these countries, we have relocated pollution. We reap the benefits and they pay the cost, often with their lives. Someone might ask: Why don’t they turn on an air conditioner too? And yes…if they don’t have bread, why don’t they eat brioches? If the eight billion people lived like we do We would really get into trouble, everything. We are the first to settle down.
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Could the heat hitting the planet become clean energy that can be used to counteract the effects of heat waves? Perhaps the technologies are not yet mature, but there is no doubt that more and more thermal energy is arriving on our planet. Is it possible that we cannot use it? If the technologies aren’t there yet, is it possible that we can’t develop them? there ecological change that should do it. Also, solar heat doesn’t come through Putin’s pipelines. Species that have evolved are able to take advantage of disadvantaged situations, and we consider ourselves a very “evolved” species. Despite all the technological advances, we are still in the Age of Fire: we burn “things” for energy.
However, before we think about how we can produce more and more energy, we should think seriously how to consume less and less, it is better. However, those who sell energy have an interest in selling more and more. These production processes affect national security and cannot be left to the market, also because they also have negative impacts on the market in the long term. That long 20 years ago is now!