Heng Zi Xuan 404

Write a speech highlighting what you think is the most challenging issue facing the world today, and how Commonwealth values can be used to solve it. 

Have you noticed the constant talk around you about the recent hot temperatures? You probably already realise that as soon as you step out of your house, you start to perspire profusely. Uncomfortable, isn’t it? We all know that the leading cause of this issue is climate change. Yet, we do nothing to turn things back around, to rectify the situation. In fact, with rising temperatures, we even turn on more air-conditioners – this action, in reality, indirectly makes the environment even hotter. Should we not realise that refusing to solve the root problems of climate change will still lead us to an even rapid increase in global warming, and other problems? Ladies and gentlemen, I am Heng Zi Xuan, and today, I am going to talk about what I think is the most challenging issue the world is facing today; climate change.

 Now, what exactly is climate change? By definition, climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns on Earth. Since the 1800s, human activities have been the primary driver of climate change; including the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agricultural processes, and more. Extensive burning of fossil fuels and deforestation increases the concentration of carbon dioxide let out into the atmosphere. Agricultural activities emit large quantities of gaseous pollutants, such as carbon dioxide and methane, as well as aerosol particles. These are just a few of the many examples of human-induced climate change. Those greenhouse gases and toxins trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the greenhouse effect, which is the warming effect that is resulting in this unbearable heat.

You may be wondering; why does she think that climate change is the most concerning global challenge of today? Why not poverty and inequality, or international and political conflict? The answer is very simple. It is because we are willingly feeding ourselves poison. We continue to drive gasoline-powered vehicles instead of opting for fuel-efficient cars and public transportation. We continue to consume lots of meat, especially red meats that have a higher environmental footprint. We continue to waste food. All while knowing that these actions are harmful to our planet, one way or another, and contribute to climate change, threatening the safety of our health.

In 2022, the House of Commons International Development Committee identified climate change as one of three recent drivers of poverty around the world. This is particularly alarming as locations of poverty like sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean are the most at risk to the effects of climate change. For this reason, climate change acts as a “threat multiplier”; it exacerbates existing inequalities and amplifies risk and deprivation for the most vulnerable. For example, in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where impoverished communities have limited access to healthcare and sanitation, rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns create suitable conditions for the breeding of disease-carrying mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria, dengue fever and Zika virus transmission. This causes significant deaths, many of whom are children and pregnant women. On this note, it is our job as fortunate individuals, but also as members of the Commonwealth, to uphold Commonwealth values to solve climate change, taking it one step at a time to achieve more favourable living conditions for all.

To start, we should be involved in civic and democratic engagement. As I am doing now, spreading awareness and addressing the effects of climate change to everyone here, you could do the same! You could hold a workshop to educate children about the issues of climate change, empowering them to advocate for solutions, make sustainable choices and make efforts to address climate change. Or, you could organise public awareness campaigns, evoking eagerness and sparking a change in people’s environmental habits. Countries should also promote democratic engagement by involving their people in shaping policies related to climate action, as well as voicing out national environmental concerns. This way, everyone would feel a sense of collective responsibility over solving climate change, and feel empowered to contribute to such initiatives.

Moving on, in line with the Commonwealth policy of international peace, order and cooperation, countries should work hand-in-hand when managing shared resources and challenges, ensuring against international conflict, and fostering unity in the face of climate-related obstacles. Like how Commonwealth countries – such as Fiji and Samoa – work together to address shared challenges such as sea level rise and extreme weather events, other countries should also provide mutual support to tackle similar problems. Climate change can also exacerbate tensions between countries over natural resources, so countries should address potential disputes peacefully, achieving mutual agreement across nations.

To cushion the current impacts of climate change, we should prioritise equity. Root for social justice in climate policies and interventions to ensure that the most vulnerable communities receive support and protection first, including access to adaptation measures, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. Help should be provided on our end as well – as regions with adequate health services. This will prevent wide disparities in human rights and support, safeguarding the vulnerable from issues that can be prevented with sufficient aid.

By embracing our core values of the Commonwealth, we can act as individuals, as well as work together as a planet, to gradually fix what we started. It is we who suffer from the effects of climate change, let alone other living organisms on Earth, and need more time to adjust. Let us stand up for what is right, and take action today. Thank you.