Photos & text by Hafiz Jawad Sohail
While Indigenous communities lived in harmony with natural resources for milenia, it was not long ago in human history when the western world had realized that nature's very own resources are not infinite and they might be exhausted for the future generations if exploited beyond certain limits. Similarly, after decades of clear science and evidence that the biggest source of pollution in the environment comes from the extraction of fossil fuels, it is just now that some of the world leaders have come to a consensus on transitioning away from them, if not phasing out instantaneously.
The opening plenary at COP28, with introductions by the COP28 President, Dr. Sultan al-Jaber, who had received much criticism in advance of COP28 for the conflict of interest given his role as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
In the traditional and cultural lifestyle of UAE, the older generation used to wear the Burqa’a to distinguish married from unmarried women. The picture was captured at COP28, alongside the House of Sustainability display area that was also open to the general public.
The above presents a clear-cut indication that human development has, for a long time, taken a route that doesn't hesitate to compromise the prosperity and well-being of people and nature. With what end? Mere short-term economic gains and seasonal geopolitical interests often overshadow our planet's long-term sustainability, natural integrity, and ecology. Clearly, without any second thoughts, we are passing through an era called anthropocene where human systems are juxtaposed against natural ecosystems, threatening all kinds of life on earth.
Healthy Ecosystems Warrant Withstanding Human Health: Evolving Discussions around Nature at COP28
Apart from what was officially the agenda at COP28 and what was agreed upon by the political leadership, more important discussions evolved on the sidelines, with a few of them also taking the central stage. Among these, human health emerged as a significant topic, including rising pollution levels and deteriorating air quality in cities worldwide, threatening human health and well-being to a large extent.
Taken during the peak smog days having the worst air quality index and coupled with construction activities, limiting visibility and adding dust particles into already one of the worst air quality days in Lahore, leaving people with more vulnerabilities and additional public health issues.
The opening session at the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Pavilion in Blue Zone highlighting Air Quality and Health (Juxtaposing nature against human health), which was also joined by the World Bank Group and World Health Organisation’s (WHO) officials.
Similarly, discussions abounded on shifting back our reliance on agriculturally based economies after centuries old resource-intensive industrialization. Such exploitation of natural resources has gone beyond planetary boundaries (natural capacity of the earth systems to self-sustain), posing serious threats to the freshwater and food systems on which the well-being and livelihoods of most communities around the world are dependent on, with ever-increasing socioeconomic inequalities already existing in the sociopolitical structures and human settlements.
COP28 Declaration On Climate, Relief, Recovery And Peace
COP28 UAE Declaration On Climate And Health
Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, And Climate Action
Global Cooling Pledge For COP28
COP28 Joint Statement On Climate, Nature And People
Development Achievements and State of Nature in the Human Age
For decades, fossil fuel emissions have been the top agenda item in global environmental affairs as a primary cause of climate change. Supported by the UN, governments set and put forth the agenda at global climate negotiations and back in their countries where they govern people, nature, and development. Hence, it is justified to confer that the current status of ecosystems and nature exploitation around the world is the direct result of the chosen political governance of natural capital and development pathways, arguably a form of bad governance due to mismatched geopolitical interests in a transboundary world and/or underestimating the significance of natural world in the midst of development achievements.
At Dominican Republic Pavilion, Blue Zone, Zakira, Y4N Global Ambassador and COP28 delegate, is highlighting the under-representation of her country of Afghanistan in global decision making process, in addition to uncertainties prevailing in the political system leaving young people in disarray on the face of looming climate crisis.
A demonstration in the last days of COP28 urging political leadership to take decision only in the favor of fossil fuel phase out and refraining from compromising our future when the science is clear and known without any doubts (reminding the world how political interests often pose against ‘people and nature’ and their future sustainability).
The result? Nothing less than the great loss of nature and deteriorating health of its ecosystem services in the form of wars and human rights violations by political states. Apart from collateral damage to humanity, myopic governance is also collapsing the natural integrity of living ecosystems, with each and every decision taken without considering people and nature together.
While it is positive that fossil fuels have been a major point of discussion in climate diplomacy and international development for decades, the point to ponder here is how modern development pathways, the bad governance of natural capital, and self-interested geopolitics have cost nothing less than the great loss of nature. The health of our biosphere is deteriorating, with threatened ecosystem services that have primary importance to all kinds of lifeforms and biodiversity on this planet.
The concreting of cities and unplanned urbanization have challenged nature's integrity and capacity to sustain life equitably. Human waging of wars, transboundary conflicts, and geopolitical interests in other regions are exacerbating human vulnerabilities and emerging as the global community's largest remaining challenges. These disappoint our anthropogenic legacy on this planet in its billion years of geological history and its evolutionary nature, of which humans make just one species among billions of others.
The main entrance of COP28 - a spectacle of lights each night - is part of Expo City, which was built for Expo 2020 Dubai and today claims to be “the city of the future”.
A display by the UAE about agricultural practices involving climate smart productivity techniques for resilient food systems that have the potential to sustain life on earth (e.g., drip irrigation system).
Generational Leadership and Future Sustainability of Planet Earth
The younger generation is showing grave concerns over the decision-making and role being played by the leading generation and political leadership in the global arena and are disappointed to see their readiness to compromise the future sustainability of the planet and the younger generation’s ability to meet the future needs on this planet. Our children are watching us and witnessing the blame game between two of these generations while the climate crisis is peaking with disasters, catastrophes, and human security challenges in this decade of youth leadership.
Young people are demanding ceasefire and stepping back from geo-political discrepancies in the form of waging wars and threatening nature and people and nature, failing climate action and negotiations agenda meaningless
Youth struggle to attain meaningful representation at decision-making tables and policy processes in the global and national arena after playing a decisive role in their countries and communities to bring climate and nature into policy-making, national debates, and development practices in their organizations. Their breathtaking leadership role behind the international climate movement and political demonstrations across the globe need no further justifications. With a unified front and one voice on the global stage, they are also a generation more sensitive to cultural diversity and social inclusivity with a clear vision for the planet they want, including caring for the well-being of the future generations on this planet.
Thus, it is time we correct our development pathways in coherence with our planet's natural integrity and environmental sustainability. In doing so, people and nature can thrive together, and the vital resources of nature and the health of its ecosystems can remain intact, with our future generations enjoying nature’s endowment in an equitable manner. If not done so, it will be a great loss to not just humankind but to all life on Earth. Let us rethink our connection with nature and what made us so ignorant that we stopped appreciating the natural world around us since all the economic development came at the cost of nature's great loss on this living planet.
Call to Action
In wrapping up the critical interplay between human development and nature, it is imperative that we take immediate and collective action. Let us not merely acknowledge the challenges outlined here but actively work towards transformative change. As responsible stewards of our planet, we must:
Call upon governments, organizations, and communities to prioritize sustainable development that respects the natural integrity and environmental sustainability of our planet.
Support the adoption of policies that address the interconnected issues of human health, air and water quality, and food systems and lobby for regulations that promote ecological balance and resilience.
Embrace and promote the transition to renewable energy sources, championing alternatives that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the adverse impacts on our environment.
Encourage individuals and industries to adopt eco-friendly practices, minimizing our ecological footprint and contributing to the overall health of ecosystems.
Spread awareness about the critical importance of nature, engaging in conversations that highlight the urgency of safeguarding our planet for future generations.
Acknowledge and support the efforts of the younger generation in advocating for environmental sustainability. Ensuring our meaningful representation in decision-making processes at all levels.
Hold political leaders accountable for their decisions regarding natural capital and development pathways.
Appreciate the natural world around us and protect the air, water, and food systems through all one can do in his reach.
We have to pass this planet on to future generations, and we should avoid compromising their abilities to meet their needs during their stay on this planet.
Nature knows no human boundaries, and therefore, we should think of its integrity above all, forgetting all differences, discriminations, cultures, and politics, while considering all life on earth.
Let us collectively take a stand to correct our course, ensuring a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. The time for action is now, and each one of us has a role to play in securing a sustainable and equitable future for all life on Earth.
This photo from the very last day at COP28 signaling a loud message to world leaders and decision makers that we, all generations are stakeholders in this process and this planet belongs to all of us, millennials, youth and children and leaving us behind is not an option, not anymore.