Target: Xi Jinping, President of People’s Republic of China
Goal: Invest in carbon containment and climate mitigation goals to avert cascading catastrophes.
The border along Nepal and China became the site of horrific tragedy when a deadly wall of water and debris landslide rushed over communities for over 40 miles, killing thousands and rendering thousands of structures obliterated. The horrific disaster was equivalent to the magnitude of a powerful earthquake. Experts believe a 2,000-foot-wide chunk of mountain glacier that dropped over a mile into the river below precipitated the event.
Unfortunately, this tragedy could only be the beginning: a warning bell for a warming planet. Nepal is particularly vulnerable to climate disaster due to its location around the Himalaya Mountains. This range has been subject to rapid heating events in recent years, which makes the thousands of glaciers along the mountains extremely prone to destabilization, breakage, and melting. The close to two million people living below are squarely in the crosshairs. The most recent United Nations climate report painted a stark picture in which the world will soon surpass the safe temperature threshold. But the report offers hope that urgent action and novel approaches could still bring planet Earth back from the brink.
Sign the petition below to demand the world’s biggest polluter do its part in realizing this hope.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Xi,
China recently bore firsthand witness to the devastating climate-induced catastrophes that await a warming world. The deadly Nepal-Tibet floods brought into bleak focus the world-changing outcomes predicted by the United Nations’ climate report. Authors of this important letter to humanity stated, “It’s a reality check. We have to live with this warmer world. But there’s still a lot we can do to limit warming.”
Just as with the survivors found in the aftermath of the devastating floods, hope still springs eternal for the planet. While global safe temperature thresholds will likely fall, the report envisions a path of steady adaptation, carbon-capturing approaches, and measured but relentless commitment to new climate goals. China has emerged as a global leader in technology and progression but has likewise become a leader in global pollution. Use every advantage at your disposal to mitigate this nation’s impact on the carbon footprint. Moreover, do everything in your power to chart an innovative and science-driven path forward that will inspire others to action. Together, we can save our world.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Stefanos Nikologianis
