What Do You Mean “Global Boiling”?
"Global warming" evokes an image of the earth literally turning red and exploding. I guess that’s the point of it, right? We’re meant to feel the ferocity of what humans have done to this planet. But you know what I’d like to feel every now and again? Some peace.
How is everyone doing? Aliens are basically real but no one cares, Doja Cat is attacking fans, Barbie is filling everyone’s brain, and everyone is up in arms over a sex-ed book. Oh, and earth has just entered an era of “global boiling”. Nice.
In case you missed it, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that the era of “global warming has ended” and we are now entering “the era of global boiling”. Ah yes, the holy trinity of Taylor Swift’s Eras that never stood a chance: Karma, Woodvale, and Global Warming.
What Is Global Boiling?
Simply put, global boiling means that the planet has crossed a threshold where global warming wasn’t really capturing the scale of the situation.
When I first heard our global warming era was over, I thought, ‘Oh sweet, have we magically solved climate inaction and stopped caring about fossil fuel profits?’ Then I read that “global boiling” had arrived and thought ‘Oh. That’s cool. It’s getting worse, that actually makes more sense’.
“Global boiling” really paints a picture, doesn’t it? It evokes such a vivid image of the earth literally turning red and exploding. I guess that’s the point of it, right? We’re meant to feel the ferocity of what humans have done to this planet. But you know what I’d like to feel every now and again? Some peace.
“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a press conference. Thanks António, tell me something I don’t know.
Where Did Global Boiling Come From?
Global boiling’s coming out party occurred after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the world’s hottest month on record. That’s not surprising given how much of the Mediterranean is experiencing devastating bushfires after the Northern Hemisphere copped a record breaking heatwave.
In fact, as per The Guardian, climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said that “barring a major asteroid impact today, it is virtually certain that July 2023 will be the warmest month on record by a large margin.” Oh cool, ‘cos the only thing that would make this worse would be if we’re hit by a literal asteroid.
Do you guys ever think about how a sunny 24 degree day in the middle of winter is actually kinda terrifying? pic.twitter.com/CQj5162tkr
— Junkee | Culture, Music & Social Justice (@junkee) July 31, 2023
Can Anything Be Done About It?
There are still ways to reverse the potential collapse of the environment. It’s nice to know that we still have a chance. That makes me (and my climate anxiety) feel a bit more at ease.
“It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5ºC — and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action,” Guterres added. “For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, it is a cruel summer. For the entire planet, it is a disaster.” Okay, that literally sounds like a Taylor Swift quote. Maybe we should “eat the rich“ to help the climate? Just food for thought.
Closer to home, Independent senator David Pocock has announced he will call for a duty of care in Australian law. He hopes this will force the government to think about the impact of climate harm on young Aussies’ lives, including our health and wellbeing. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement proper renewable energy practices, have our leaders pay attention to extreme weather events, and aim for net zero emissions. This climate crisis will not just go away, no matter how badly politicians want it to.