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If you live in the Middle East, then you have no doubt noticed it has been quite warm recently. That is not a political statement, fake news or a conspiracy. It is hot this year — records have already been broken. And the worrying thing is that it is not going to get any cooler, certainly not for the next five years.

According to a report published last week by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization: “Global climate predictions show temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, increasing climate risks and impacts on societies, economies and sustainable development.”

The report states that there is an 80 percent chance at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will be the warmest on record. We should all be concerned by this because many world leaders and, sadly, some prospective future leaders seem intent on increasing the use of fossil fuels. The planet is becoming a dangerous place to live, but we have nowhere else to go.

If we mess up this planet, there is no contingency — no Noah’s Ark. If the planet overheats, we will suffer with it. And if not us, then our children or their children face a worrying future, and that does not sit easily with me.

The biggest producers of greenhouse gases, the rich nations, are doing little to nothing to prevent this

Peter Harrison

Increased temperatures increase risks for all of us. They cause droughts, which lead to food shortages. Without water, we cannot grow crops to feed people or rear the livestock we so heavily depend on. Although, as a side note, we should consider limiting our meat consumption. Meat farming is heavy on fuel and offers low returns — it takes an average of 3kg of cereals to produce 1kg of meat.

Rising temperatures will also lead to an increase in the rate at which the ice caps melt. As melted ice is water, when it enters a body of water — such as the sea — and there is nowhere for it to go, the level rises. So, look forward to more flooding and more frequent, heavier and less manageable rainstorms, like those that occurred last year in the UAE and Oman.

For the next five years, there is a high chance of the average annual temperature exceeding the figure of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels agreed in Paris in 2015. Global average temperatures are likely to be 1.2 C to 1.9 C higher between 2025 and 2029.

This might not seem like much, but scientists say the planet’s temperature only needs to increase by 2 C and the Marshall Islands will likely disappear under the Pacific Ocean — that means entire communities swept away. And the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, the rich nations, are doing little to nothing to prevent this.

It seems amazing that there are still people in the world — people of influence and power — who spread the message of climate change denial. These are usually people who stand to benefit in the short term from the sale of fossil fuels, but they will suffer in the long run just as much as the rest of us, as will their children.

Climate change and global warming are facts, they should not be up for discussion. According to a UN report, “climate change is already affecting every region on Earth.” This 2023 report cited changes in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and more frequent and intense extreme weather conditions as just some of the impacts.

The report made the simple but bold statement: “The science is clear.” It added that, to avert the worst-case scenario and “preserve a livable planet, global warming needs to be limited as much as possible and as a matter of urgency.”

A particularly effective way to reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is through the use of clean energy. Another side note is that gas, while the cleanest of the fossil fuels, still emits harmful gasses when burned.

According to UN reports, Costa Rica, Norway, Iceland, Paraguay and Uruguay use 100 percent sustainable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar. Some parts of the world are even producing more power than they need from sustainable sources, meaning they are able to sell on any surplus.

Some parts of the world are even producing more power than they need from sustainable sources

Peter Harrison

It is argued that renewable energy sources are expensive, take up a lot of land and require large and expensive storage systems for when conditions hinder the production of power. But according to a report on the website ScienceDirect, the solar panels now being made need only operate for four to eight months to make up for the emissions produced during their manufacturing process. And, while there is also an impact when they are decommissioned, this only comes about after 25 to 30 years of use.

The same report also points to wind turbines, which take about seven months to produce enough clean electricity to make up for the carbon pollution generated during their manufacture, while their life span is 20 to 25 years.

The world is getting warmer, there is no debating that. People still do, but highly qualified scientists tell us the planet is getting warmer and this needs to be slowed before the damage done is so bad that life becomes a challenge.

There are things we can do, such as turning off lights when they are not being used and setting the air conditioning a few degrees warmer. It is not necessary to have the AC set at 19 C or running all day when you are out. If you are going somewhere that is only a few minutes away by car then, where possible, walk — it is great exercise.

And eat less meat. We do not need to eat as much meat as we currently do. The World Cancer Research Fund says we should consume no more than three portions of red meat each week and reduce the amount of processed meat we eat. It is not good for us or the environment.

The politicians are dragging their feet on this, but we can all make a difference. If not for you, then surely there must be some level of compassion attached to your hope for the future of your children and their children.

• Peter Harrison is a senior editor at Arab News in the Dubai office. He has covered the Middle East for more than a decade. X: @PhotoPJHarrison