2035, first of August.
Since a decade, the summer is one of the most anxious moments of the year. Every time we observe new records of temperature and fire catastrophies. Today our group of journalists warn us that the driest summer ever known goes around our European continent.
"It's been years we warn our political leaders, It's been years we strike against their ignorance and manifest our fear about climate change. Here we are - everything what we predicted is becoming true ! "
- Greta Thunberg, Glasgow, 25st of July 2035
France. As we posted previously on the pre-summer situation, this winter in France was significantly dry, the ground water volume didn't restaure itself from the last season. European farmers have sown their floor in late march with a lot of anxiety. " Finally the spring didn't bring any water, that was the worst scenario possible, we lost 70% of the European wheat production" says Bertrand, from Dijon. Since June, France has established rationing tickets for food consumption. Two hundred grams of bread per person per week is the maximum of what someone can take with their ticket. Massive queues outside of bakeries are daily. There is an upsurge in violence against vulnerable people, provoking a global insecurity. Black markets are raising in the whole country, people selling rationing tickets at a price of two bitcoins. Rackets are constant and people enclose themselves in their houses fearing to get troubles outside.
Photo of the dry Rhine river one French side.
Germany. The amount of death provoked by the heat constantly increases. The lack of gaz that is normally used by the air conditionner is "indirectly explaining the death rate" says the ministry of ecology, Karl Martin. The representative of Bavarian government (Bavaria's land is seriously damaged by a 4 weeks ongoing fire), Friedrich von Hädler, spoke at the European parliament in Brussels, saying that "we desperately need to build a European defense against fire, that would reunite a force of thousands of fire-men who could be mobilized anywhere at anytime in Europe". Let's hope that this time European nations will be more enthousiast to create it than this "Europe of defense", aborted even before the beginning of a negotiation.
European Parliament
Spain. South of Spain continues its irresistible desertification. The famous Spanish river, Guadalquivir, that passes through Seville's city, has lost 2 meters hight in ten years. "The region of Andalusia, says a UN reporter, became the first region of Europe that is considered at high risk of hydraulic stress". Close to the strait of Gibraltar, the increase of sea level has perpetually damaged the soil due to salinization, and Spanish farmers are striking and asking for help from the government that is not answering them.
Basin of Guadalquivir in Doñana
I am thankful for this post which is as realistic as dreadful. Water is going to be a major issue related to food production, I am not looking forward to experiencing in the flesh what scientists and politicians have been aware of since the second half of last century... We need to change our way of living drastically, especially in western societies, but I still have trouble figuring how individuals changing their habits could avoid the desertification you state in your article. Day by day, let's try picturing us as nature fighting back !
Such scary events are getting closer to our reality, and unfortunately our reaction to this is too slow, maybe too late... The climate change is a cause of great anxiety for so many people, and I am part of them. The lack of water, extreme heat periods, wild fires are making some places on earth totally unlivable. It's high time for mobilization !
The reminder of reality is frightening! It is important to remember that the world is going bad, thank you for this reminder and hope that the mobilization will be present
This upcoming situation is so frightening ! It is imperative that each and every one of us to this catastrophe that is already well underway. Without action and awareness, we will run straight to our doom! A great collective awakening is necessary.... Thanks Clément for having adressed this topic.