By Martin Mbewe
When you hear about floods sweeping away homes, droughts leaving entire communities without food, or heatwaves sending people to the hospital, what comes to your mind and how does it make you feel? These stories are now appearing almost weekly across the world.
We may find ourselves saying, “Nature is like that sometimes.” Yes, natural disasters have always existed – but today, there is something different.
Scientists confirm that climate change is making these events more frequent, more intense and more destructive. And the uncomfortable truth is that human activities are the most significant cause.
Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial pollution, plastic waste and unsustainable farming are pushing the world to its limits – from Africa to Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australia.
The effects of climate change do not choose who to strike. One year, East Africa faces deadly floods; the following year, Europe battles extreme heat; the year after, Asia faces cyclones, with Australia experiencing massive wildfires thereafter.
In 2023 alone, climate-related disasters affected over 110 million people worldwide (UN OCHA, 2023). If a community escapes drought, it may suffer storms. If not storms, it may face unbearable heat. For example, Europe recorded over 61,000 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022 (Nature Medicine, 2023).
Meanwhile, the Horn of Africa faced its worst drought in 40 years, leaving 23 million people food insecure (UNICEF, 2023).
In Southern Africa, Cyclone Freddy – one of the longest-lasting cyclones ever recorded – killed over 1,200 people across Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar and displaced over half a million families (UNDRR, 2023). This is no longer “normal weather.” This is a crisis.
Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue – it is now a development crisis. How? Climate disasters drain national budgets and slow down progress.
Instead of investing in schools, hospitals, roads and youth development, governments have to divert money towards emergency relief.
After Cyclone Freddy in 2023, Malawi alone required over USD 700 million for recovery and reconstruction (World Bank, 2023).
International partners, including the EU, US, UK and UN, also redirected millions in aid that could have supported other development programmes. Imagine how far these resources could have gone if there were no climate disasters. They could have built industries, created jobs, supported agriculture and improved healthcare – especially for young people. Climate change is silently reversing years of progress and pushing nations backwards. More recently, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica. It has been described as the strongest-ever storm to hit the island nation. According to Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, the damage caused to homes and infrastructure is roughly equivalent to 30% his country’s GDP for 2024.
Because climate change affects everyone, solutions must involve everyone: governments, organisations, and ordinary citizens. Some people think, “I am just a teacher, a nurse, a farmer, or an accountant. Climate change is not my field.” But climate change will visit your field whether you like it or not. When one district is hit, the whole nation feels it. The more your government spends on disasters, the less remains for development in your area. That is why we all must take responsibility.
The good news is that the world is not silent. Organisations such as The Club of Rome are advocating global cooperation to address climate change. Through initiatives like the Planetary Emergency Plan, Earth4All, and the Climate Governance Commission, The Club of Rome promotes systems thinking and brings leaders together to drive long-term climate solutions. For example, one of its members Sandrine Dixson-Declève, who served as Co-President of the organisation from 2018 to 2024 has advocated for Europe’s energy transition and climate policies, contributing to awareness and pushing for systemic action. This kind of leadership inspires change and shows what is possible when voices join together for the planet.
This year, the world is gathering in Brazil for COP30, a crucial moment for global climate action. COP29, held in Azerbaijan last year, made progress on climate finance discussions, but many countries, especially those most affected by climate change, argued that commitments remained insufficient to match the scale of the crisis. COP30 must go further by securing clear emission-cut targets, expanding climate finance for vulnerable nations, and driving practical solutions that protect people and nature. But we cannot sit back and wait for leaders alone. Real change begins with us – in our homes, communities, and daily choices.
You may ask, “But what can I, as one person, really do?” The answer is – a lot. Real change starts with small, daily decisions. The UN posits that individual lifestyle changes can cut personal carbon emissions by up to 40%. Planting and protecting trees, reducing waste, saving energy at home, avoiding burning waste, using public transport, supporting climate-friendly policies, and educating children about the environment all make a real difference.
Whether you are experiencing drought, floods, heatwaves, cyclones, forest fires, or rising food prices, these events are more than headlines; they are signals urging us to act. As the late Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai said, “It’s the little things citizens do that will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.” Therefore, what will your “little thing” be?
As you reflect on this, ask yourself: If not now, when? If not you, who? And if we choose to do nothing, what kind of world will the next generation inherit?
The sobering reality – climate change will not wait for us to get ready.
About the author: The writer is a Multimedia Journalist and Development Communications Specialist from Lilongwe, Malawi
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