[Photo Credit to Unsplash]

Today, countries are encountering abnormal winter weather conditions as a consequence of rising global temperatures.

During this time of the year, countries in the northern hemisphere typically expect and experience the winter season.

However, extreme weather conditions have become the new norm in many winter countries.

For instance, Spain is experiencing a “hot” winter with temperatures reaching up to 30°C.

Spain’s winter ski resorts are unseasonably green, and the Malaga beaches are crowded with people attempting to sunbathe, undergoing droughts and heat waves.

On the other hand, China is suffering from extreme cold waves, with temperatures plummeting to -40°C in some areas.

In China’s northwestern provinces such as Heilongjiang, weather conditions such as heavy snow, thunder, and lightning have occurred.

During the same winter season, the two regions are witnessing a 70°C temperature difference.

Furthermore, in Europe, countries experienced a phenomenon called “winter warming.”

Russia and Germany had intense snowstorms, with snow accumulating up to knee height, and in Northern England, households faced power outages.

Eastern Africa has endured destructive rainfall, resulting in casualties in Tanzania, Kenya, and Somalia, as floods swept through the areas.

The Indian Ocean Dipole, a climate pattern characterized by the warming of the Western part of the Indian Ocean and cooling in the Eastern part, has caused heavy rainfall as the heated ocean supplied water vapor to Africa.

In Korea, a sudden cold wave has also arrived, with temperatures dropping by 20°C in just a week.

These abrupt changes lead to a larger global problem of climate change.

According to the Director of the Atmospheric Research Division at the Polar Research Institute, predictions indicate that Arctic sea ice will vanish by 2050, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

The global average temperature is the highest in 125,000 years, with projections suggesting a 1.5°C increase above pre-industrial levels next year.

This alarming trend is considered consistent with a global warming rate of 0.2°C per decade, further exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, the warming of the Pacific Ocean.

Moreover, although the average Earth temperature has increased due to global warming, researchers have also identified the factor affecting winter temperatures.

The heat accumulated in the ocean in mid-latitude regions is the cause of severe winter conditions.

For instance, the more heat accumulated in the Gulf Current near Mexico, the colder the temperature in distant regions, like Korea, becomes.

In response to this crisis, the international community has taken steps to address climate change.

The Paris Agreement, signed by the Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, aims to limit temperature increases to within 2°C, with an even more ambitious goal of 1.5°C.

While this agreement represents significant progress, the urgency of the situation demands continuous efforts.

One crucial aspect of combating climate change is the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.

Although the global momentum for a shift towards sustainable energy is evident, the demands from South Pacific countries that are at risk of submersion due to rising sea levels, highlight the need for clearer commitments to phase out fossil fuels.

Currently, the balance of our planet's climate is disrupted, leading to more frequent and severe weather events.

Therefore, immediate and collective action is required to address the global responsibility of mitigating climate change impacts.