Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
23 July 2024 | 11:25 a.m. SAST
3-minute read

Image: WWF

The World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) new campaign draws on the Paris Olympics to raise awareness about the increase in record-breaking global climate changes. The campaign metaphorically emphasises the extraordinary power that humans hold to achieve incredible feats.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, James Reeler, senior manager for climate action at WWF South Africa, said, “The Olympics is a perfect moment highlighting both the records that are broken, [and] also the incredible things that people can do.”

Global warming is a clear indicator that expeditious and prompt action is required to mitigate the effects of climate change, both at a national and international level.

“Last year was the hottest year in recorded history, in the last 125 000 years,” Reeler said. “Locally, we have record-breaking heatwaves as well. The Northern Cape had a maximum temperature of nearly 47C in November last year.”

Compared to the rest of the continent, South Africa’s efforts to raise awareness about climate change are limited and inadequate.

However, Reeler said that the WWF has established campaigns to engage civil society and the state to improve awareness and effect change.

Notably, some critics of the climate change agenda suggest that it is driven by hidden motives or misinformation and posit that climate change policies are a way to increase control over populations by imposing regulations and restrictions that limit personal freedoms.

In an article published on Time last year, Alejandra de la Garza wrote that a plan by Oxford’s government to use surveillance cameras and fines to curb through-traffic in the city centre and decrease automotive emissions is seen as part of a scheme by the global elite to enforce alleged “climate lockdowns” to restrict people’s movements.

Research indicates that weather modification or geoengineering have been used as tools by powerful entities to control the climate, either to create problems that justify their policies or to manipulate the environment for strategic purposes.

As De la Garza wrote, “The “chemtrails” people have been coming off less loony, too. Such adherents have long been pointing cameras at vapor trails left by passing jetliners and opining about supposed efforts by oligarchs to change the weather by deliberately spraying chemicals from thousands of commercial jets.”

Other critics argue that the climate change agenda is driven by financial interests, where some organisations and individuals profit from green technologies, carbon credits, or renewable energy industries.

In 2018, economist Stephen Moore wrote an article in which he noted that “In America and around the globe governments have created a multi-billion-dollar Climate Change Industrial Complex,” adding that “a lot of people are getting really, really rich off of the climate change industry.” Moore suggested that despite massive expenditure, little progress had been made at the time in combating climate change and pointed to the manipulation of scientific data to create the illusion of a crisis.

Climate change policies are also said to be part of a larger plan to reduce the global population through measures like limiting resources, controlling reproduction, or promoting lifestyle changes that purportedly harm health.

Additionally, climate change is seen as broader strategy by the global elite or organisations like the United Nations to establish a one-world government or diminish national sovereignty.

For instance, the Paris Agreement requires participating countries to set and meet emissions targets, necessitating extensive coordination and oversight by international bodies. Critics argue that such agreements could lead to a loss of national sovereignty, as countries may have to comply with regulations and standards set by international authorities rather than their own governments. This centralisation of power and decision-making is viewed by some as a step towards a one-world government, where global institutions hold significant influence over national policies and actions.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.

The opinions and viewpoints expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance or views of Radio Islam International, its editorial team, or its affiliated organisations. While we strive for accuracy and fairness, readers should be aware that the content may reflect subjective interpretations.