The War of China and USA must be against climate change
Bernie Sanders last piece published on The Guardian remind us a scream from leaders all around the world: Climate Change is a Justice & Leadership Crisis.
Sanders, known to be a democratic radical leftist, suggests a radical idea: The U.S. and China must mutually cut their military budgets and use the savings to intensify their efforts towards improving energy efficiency, transitioning to sustainable energy, and ending reliance on fossil fuels. The additional funds could also aid developing countries impacted by climate change.
Let me give you the number behind Sanders idea:
It is proven that a just and fair transition to sustainable development is possible with a minimum investment comparing against the large amount on damage that climate change catastrophes will cause. The world will require USD $175,000 trillions.
However it is believed that the cost can be cut by around 40% with technology, specially Clean Tech and Green Technologies.
Hence, the total amount to provide clean energy and eradicate poverty will cost us $87.5 trillion USD.
The United States has one of the highest military budgets in the world, coming in at around $750 billion annually. China, with the second-largest military budget, spends approximately $250 billion per year (aparrently). For a total of €1 USD trillion a year.
The United Nations has estimated that it would take an additional $10 trillion per year in public and private spending for all developed and developing nations to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
With China and the USA giving up their military budgets, the world should expect a cut on military budget from all developed countries to meet the additional $10 trillions a year remaining.
But a simple budget allocation would never solve the biggest threat humanity has ever faced on its existence. That is why, we will always repeat: Climate change is a Justice and Leadership Crisis.
Linking this article? Check my last article: Letter to Humanity from 2050
Climate Change necessitates international cooperation and is being critically threatened by political tensions, specifically between the U.S. and China – the two greatest carbon emitters globally.
Due to record-breaking heatwaves and temperatures, increasing wildfires, and damage caused by natural disasters, urgent action is required at a global scale.
In recent years, there has been encouraging progress in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Various countries, including the U.S., China, and the European Union, have made substantial investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Solar energy is already attracting more capital than oil for first time and it’s predicted that by 2025, renewables will overtake coal as the leading source of global electricity.
Despite these advancements, current efforts are not sufficient to avoid significant and irreversible damage to the earth. If countries do not invest more and operate with greater urgency to reduce carbon emissions, the world could cross the critical temperature threshold by the early 2030s.
The U.S. has admitted more atmospheric carbon than any other country since the Industrial Revolution, with China recently taking over as the biggest carbon emitter due to its rapidly growing economy.
Further more, it’s clear that heightened military spending in both countries, in lieu of allocating these resources to combat climate change, is proving detrimental.
Beyond thinking about whether it is possible to lay down your arms and start investing more in solar panels and turbines, leaders around the world must join Sanders’ call and RADICALIZE the cry: We need a war against climate change, and NOT an arms war between the United States and China.
Roberto A. Arrucha – @Arrucha
Director of The Global School for New Leadership
