In 2015, approximately 196 parties, including the European Union, signed the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement aims to limit the earth’s temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it within 1.5°C.
Unfortunately, according to the United Nations, 2024 was officially the hottest year on record, with temperatures reaching 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. “We witnessed extraordinary land and sea surface temperatures, unprecedented ocean heat, and extreme weather events affecting countless countries worldwide, devastating lives, livelihoods, hopes, and dreams,” said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization. “We also saw the impacts of climate change, including shrinking sea ice and retreating glaciers. It was a truly extraordinary year.”
The consequences are evident in the natural disasters we have experienced, particularly in Bali from December 2024 to the present. These include flooding in areas that had never been flooded before, rising sea levels, tornadoes, and extremely strong winds.
Nevertheless, Celeste Soulo, the Secretary General of WMO, emphasised that this does not mean we have failed to meet the Paris Agreement long-term goals, which are measured over decades rather than an individual year. He added, “However, it is essential to recognize that every fraction of a degree of warming matters. Whether it is at a level below or above 1.5°C of warming, every additional increment of global warming increases the impacts on our lives, economies and our planet.”
With that being said, means we still have a chance. This situation should serve as a wake-up call, especially for those of us in the tourism industry, to intensify our efforts toward achieving a climate-positive future. By committing to sustainable practices, we can make a difference and help turn the tide.
Creating an eco-friendly, healthy, and climate-positive Bali—and a better planet—is not just for anyone. It is for all of us, for the plants and animals we share this world with, and for the generations yet to come.
Begin your journey to sustainability now.
Visit our website at www.ecoclimatebadge.com, or contact us now at +62 811-3980-0055.
Author: Diva Kowara.