This morning, the very first thing I looked at was the trees: were they still swaying violently as they had been yesterday at sunset? Their movement had eased, thank God, but the rain was still present. As I went out, I did not notice groups of pupils heading to their schools, after two days of rest coinciding with Friday and Saturday.
I do not know whether the winds matched the strength and speed announced in the weather bulletins; nevertheless, their stormy blowing constitutes yet another sign of climate change. These changes have not, so far, brought about any fundamental shift in the policies of states, particularly those of the Global South.
International climate agreements remain mere ink on paper if we do not incorporate climate education into our educational systems, and if we do not change our behaviors by thinking about new ways of living, far removed from the pollution caused by fossil fuels, plastics, and many toxic materials.
Anyone who expects an honest stance from the developed world on a sensitive issue such as global warming, and for it to shoulder the responsibilities incumbent upon it, is in effect relying on a mirage. Countries such as the United States of America have their own agendas, which place the health of the American economy at the top of political priorities; as a result, it is poor countries and unaware peoples who pay the price.
As for the role of the United Nations, it can be summed up in a few words: its voice is loud, but its action is short.
