The Covid-19 pandemic, a phenomenon that eluded previous infectious threats like Ebola, SARS, MERS and swine flu, was declared a pandemic not only due to its contagious nature but also because it posed a threat to humanity, transcending wealth, nationality and religion. Similarly, climate change, with its devastating impacts like rising sea levels, intensified hurricanes, extreme rainfall and prolonged droughts, has made the entire world vulnerable, regardless of the development stage, national boundaries, or any other fissure that divides humanity. That is why the annual Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has gained significance.

In the case of Covid-19, those with robust immunity fared better, mirroring how resource-rich nations are better equipped to tackle climate change. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres aptly says that our planet has passed the stage of “global warming” and entered into what he terms a “global boiling,” where the affluent nations can mitigate the effects while lower-income countries face the brunt due to limited resources and unpreparedness.

There is a crucial distinction emerges between Covid-19 and climate change: the very nations capable of combating climate change are often the culprits behind increased greenhouse gas emissions causing the global boiling. For instance, developed countries’ extensive use of fossil fuels, historically and currently, has significantly contributed to the heightened concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Our Earth operates in a timeless cycle of life, where resources are constantly depleted and replenished, emphasising the delicate balance supporting all forms of life. However, human activities, particularly in developed nations, have disrupted this balance, leading to a myriad of ecological crises.

For years, some developed nations, notably the USA, have denied their........

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