Just recently, Hawaii was devastated by a calamitous wildfire, the likes of which we’ve never seen before; climate change is engulfing Hawaii. “Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now,” President Barack Obama said back in 2015 (White House Archives).
In Hawaii, this is more than evident. This tragic event should serve as a grave reminder that we have entered what wildfire expert Stephen J. Pyne calls a “pyrocene” (The Atlantic).
A Wake-Up Call
According to a report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), extreme weather events are becoming more common (IPCC). Hawaii’s recent tragedy adds to a growing list of environmental disasters that confirm this grim reality. “Climate change is an existential issue, where ‘business as usual’ could lead to disastrous outcomes,” warns the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Hawaii’s lack of a comprehensive wildfire history makes the state less equipped to combat such disasters. “Fire-prone conditions are expected to increase by 25–53% by the mid-21st century,” according to research by the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH News).
The Unseen Link: Hurricanes and Wildfires
Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have found a terrifying new dynamic: hurricanes that bring both fire and rain, a phenomenon that makes emergency response even more complex (UH Research). “We are running out of time to address climate change before it’s too late,” says the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Tanbii’s Mission
In the face of such overwhelming evidence, inaction is no longer an option. This is why Tanbii is committed to driving meaningful change. “For the future of our planet, we need to move to renewable sources of energy,” says the United Nations (UN).
Tanbii’s focus is on providing sustainable alternatives to everyday products, fostering environmental education, and supporting carbon offset initiatives. As stated by the United Nations Environment Programme, “Every effort to curb emissions counts” (UNEP). We are actively collaborating with scientists, policymakers, and environmentalists to craft sustainable solutions that could potentially reverse the environmental decline.
The Urgency of Now
The IPCC underscores the need for rapid systemic change, stating that we have less than a decade to prevent irreversible damage to our planet (IPCC). We need more than just individual action; we need collective will and systemic change, as emphasized by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Tanbii is calling on all stakeholders to rally for a sustainable future, one where disasters like the one in Hawaii can be mitigated, if not entirely prevented.
In Conclusion
Hawaii’s recent catastrophe is a tragic wake-up call that climate change is upon us, causing devastating ripple effects. “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it,” says the World Bank (World Bank). Tanbii aims to be part of the solution, and we invite you to join us on this critical path. In a world where the threat of climate change is increasingly realized, we have no time to lose.
