Global Leadership and the Global Climatic Changes - Essay Example

However, it would be unwise to wait for a crisis to occur and then frame policies and hence it is about time that suitable policies are drawn in order to enable societies to face these challenges.

Devising such a Plan Z would involve the combined efforts of both governmental and non-governmental organizations for their input about possible calamities and in specifying the resources required in the wake of such a crisis. With suitable policies in place, it would be possible to hasten the allocation of required materials and assimilate federal and military aid. Introduction It is time that both the common people and policymakers understand and accept the fact that climatic changes are rampant with the increasing global temperatures and the melting ice slabs in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and the resulting global rise in sea levels.

The past year has been recorded as the warmest year and this warming has resulted in the melting of the glaciers and leaving behind open waters. The mudslides in China and soaring temperatures during summer in Russia are also the result of changing climatic trends (Homer-Dixon, 2010). This continuing change in climatic conditions and the small disasters occurring within short intervals can lead to cascading catastrophes of huge magnitudes that could leave behind severe damage to both human life and property.

And in order to effectively combat such catastrophes, a more detailed response option needs to be framed which is different from the traditional responses as these would be ineffective during such circumstances. Such policies become more important as such climatic changes tend to be unpredictable and also would bring along uncertain effects (Kousky et al, 2009). An effort to frame a global climate policy has been sidelined mainly owing to the economic recession and other special interests shown by governments.

Adding to this is the very low probability projected for the occurrence of these events. However, one cannot negate the fact that when suitable response options are in place could result in better combating these uncertain situations. A recent example of such as collective plan has come from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, which, in its study, has proposed initiatives that could be undertaken in case of climatic catastrophes (Homer-Dixon, 2010). The report has proposed some generalized means which would help to mitigate climatic shocks such as reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, application of geoengineering strategies, and adaptation of various mechanisms that would help to combat mega-catastrophes in case one ensues.

It follows a rational choice approach which involves an analysis of the costs and expected benefits of the various alternatives and then selecting the one with the maximum benefit (Kousky et al, 2009). However, while this report provides a basis for designing a plan, a more detailed outline of the initiatives that need to be undertaken is required in order for the plan to be more effective. With climatic changes associated with a severe degree of uncertainty and a certain degree of ignorance, more detailed planning to withstand crop failure, floods, and prolonged drought resulting due to global change in climate would enable the government and other organizations to decide about all the emergency measures that need to be undertaken to help people overcome the disaster (Homer-Dixon, 2010).