Viewpoints | Aug 30,2025
Dec 21 , 2019
By Tibebu Bekele
Alexandria, Bangkok, Basra, Mumbai, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City are some of the well-known cities in the world that could be submerged under rising tides by 2050, according to one recent study. Around 150 million people will be affected by this.
As the year comes to a close 2019 is slotted to be the second or third warmest year in recorded history. There has been exceptional global heat, retreating ice and record sea levels driven by greenhouse gases from human activities according to the World Meteorological Organisation.
Average temperatures for the five-year (2015-2019) and ten-year (2010-2019) periods are almost certain to be the highest on record.
It was with these loud alarm bells ringing from such statistics that the UN Climate Change Conference - COP25 - took place from December 2-16 in Madrid. It brought the world together to consider ways to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Coming as it did at a time when new data shows the climate emergency debate is getting out of the abstract into the practical impacts affecting people’s daily lives, there were great expectations attached to it.
However, despite evidence that is hard to ignore clearly showing that worsening climate change is impacting people’s lives everywhere, whether from extreme heat, air pollution, wildfires, intensified flooding or droughts, the outcome of the summit was very disappointing.
There was a striking contrast to the optimism and determined energy of the Paris Climate Summit - COP21 - which resulted in an unprecedented agreement signed by 196 countries. What a difference four years can make. And what a difference leadership makes.
The leaders of the big and influential countries at the time were at the forefront of the summit and were really engaged with the proceedings and building consensus for the common good of humanity.
This time around there was a demonstrated lack of leadership from the big countries, who have abdicated their duty and responsibility to tackle the issue head-on. They seem to prefer to bury their heads in the sand.
More importantly, this may be yet another indication that this has become a post-dialogue world. Many times in history before, in the face of overwhelming challenges that were confronting the destiny of man, world leaders have been able to come together and come up with a solution to pull the world back from the precipice, be it after the world wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis or indeed for almost a century now since man has acquired the technology to wipe out its own species.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of strong leaders who can step in to do that these days. Not only that, but a culture of mutual understanding and respectful dialogue to reach creative solutions that are a win-win for everyone has been replaced by a winner-take-all mentality. The rich and the powerful now seem to feel immune to the suffering of the less fortunate.
But that is only an illusion. If one was sailing on the Titanic, it would not much matter whether one is dining at the captain’s table or sweating down in the engine room. One could have the band play in ever louder tones in an effort to shout down the screams of the panicked. But at the end of the day, everyone on the ship sinks together. That is why it is important to work for the common good. It is better to sail together than to sink together.
By the way, the Ethiopian political situation is no different. It is wise to face the reality that having a common destiny, even not necessarily of one's choosing, but imposed by geography and history, means having the obligation to work for the common good. Failure to do that will result in a common demise, not with winners and losers.
PUBLISHED ON
Dec 21,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
1025]
Viewpoints | Aug 30,2025
Commentaries | May 24,2025
Verbatim | Nov 16,2024
Films Review | May 18,2019
Life Matters | Jun 18,2022
Viewpoints | Apr 04,2026
My Opinion | May 29,2021
Sunday with Eden | May 13,2023
Commentaries | Aug 20,2022
Sunday with Eden | Oct 23,2021
Photo Gallery | 193091 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 182980 Views | Apr 26,2019
Photo Gallery | 179764 Views | Oct 06,2021
My Opinion | 145229 Views | Aug 14,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Aug 8 , 2026
The World Bank asks readers to picture a mother in rural Ethiopia who has never held...
Jul 31 , 2026
Weldu Yiheysh has not read the Pacific temperature charts. He does not need to. In Shibta District of Enderta Wereda, in...
Jul 25 , 2026
Ideally, citizens who have paid income tax all year should not have to reach for thei...
Jul 18 , 2026
Pressed in Parliament on jobs and household incomes, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD)...
Aug 9 , 2026 . By NAHOM AYELE
Anbesa Bank has elected an entirely new board of directors, nine months after the Boa...
Ethiopia Hotel, one of the country's oldest hospitality establishments and a landmark...
Aug 9 , 2026 . By FITSUM TADESSE
The excise-tax reform on alcohol and tobacco has done much of what it was made to do...
Aug 9 , 2026 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER and ABDUREUF JUHAR
Three inter-city transport companies have spent 450 million Br on new vehicles to mee...
Loading your updates...