Editorial

Climate change as the biggest challenge

Uredništvo HŠD ; Hrvatsko šumarsko društvo *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

At the end of 2023 (30th November - 13th December), 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) was held. Around 85,000 participants met in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, including more than 150 heads of state and government. The prime minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, also participated, and gave a speech in which he said that of all crises that we are currently facing, climate change is the biggest challenge for humanity. The conclusion of the conference was that, since the first global assessment of the condition, action in all areas of climate-related activities has been too slow – from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resistance to climate change to obtaining financial and technological support for vulnerable nations. Action must be accelerated by 2030, and the main goal is to keep the rise in global temperatures to a limit of 1.5°C. Governments have been urged to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, in order to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 and double energy efficiency growth rates, and to achieve net zero fossil fuel emissions by 2050.
Since topics related to climate change have become very present lately, at the 54th European foresters' competition in Nordic skiing, held in the French Alps, changes occurring in the Alps due to climate change have been presented. Research has shown that in this area the increase in average temperatures since the 1980s has been faster than the global increase in average temperatures. As a result, the boundaries of vegetation and forests are moving towards higher altitudes, while the trees are becoming taller. The Alps have become greener than before.
Also, at the 28th Alpe-Adria winter sports meeting of foresters in Slovenia, the presentation held was related the consequences of forest damage caused by the unprecedented floods that struck the country last year. Even sports gatherings of European foresters could not avoid the topic of climate change, emphasizing the importance of this topic. In Croatia, at the event of the 4th Days of Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry in Osijek, the consequences of last year's July storm were presented, with major damages to state forests, which have been estimated at 3.7 million cubic meters.
The current and future activities of forestry will be increasingly focused on understanding the consequences of climate change and on adaptations in forest management. This will require the engagement of all participants in the forestry sector.
Editorial Board

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

314314

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/314314

Publication date:

12.2.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 986 *