Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF) bring to surface the need to reduce global warming
Climate change is affecting all segments of the ecosystem; however, oceans and seas remain the epicentre of global warming. At the 22nd Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF) which runs under the theme "Sea Tales", storytellers from across the world came together under one umbrella to emphasise the need to save water bodies from rising temperatures.
According to the United Nations (UN) - the foremost forum to address issues that transcend national boundaries, oceans soak up surplus heat and energy freed from soaring greenhouse gas emissions trapped in the Earth’s system. Today, the ocean has immersed about 90 percent of the heat produced by rising emissions.
While these shifts have a severe effect on marine biodiversity, they also negatively impact the lives and incomes of coastal communities and beyond. As per studies shared by the UN, around 680 million people reside in low-lying coastal areas, almost 2 billion who live in half of the world’s megacities are close to coastal areas and nearly half of the world’s population (3.3 billion) depends on fish for protein, while around 60 million people work in fisheries and the aquaculture sector worldwide.
“Climate change is a major problem worldwide. It is painful to see how the increasing temperatures are affecting the oceans and the marine ecosystem. Warmer waters trigger coral bleaching- the sudden die-off of large parts of coral reefs, which in turn is leading the marine animals to seek cooler waters, shifting their habitats north. This can have a damaging impact on human societies that rely on those fish for food. As a result, The Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA) has started implementing a coral reef cultivation project that aims to achieve sustainable development of marine life, increase biological cover and biodiversity, as well as rehabilitate marine life in the area. Through our stories and activities at SINF, we are encouraging children to take control of their actions and lessen the effects of global warming,” said Alaa Salim, a Scientific Researcher at EPAA.
When sea levels increase as swiftly as they have been, even a little raise can have harmful effects on coastal habitats farther inland. It can cause detrimental erosion, lowland swamping, soil contamination with salt, and lost habitat for fish, birds and plants.
Zumba Sow, A resident of Senegal and a Winner of the UNESCO Sharjah Best International Storyteller Award (2021) said, “I am so happy to be a part of this forum. This is a perfect platform for me to narrate messages about the negative implications of global warming. Through my comic acts and stories, I am trying my best to encourage children to adapt measures and actions that will not only curb the carbon emissions, but also help them and their future generations live a clean and healthy life.”
The studies on how climate change is affecting the seas and oceans are alarming. While we understand the importance to lower our carbon footprint — an effort that starts with responsible actions will go a long way in helping save the marine diversity and the planet. SINF this year has taken the lead to be a driving force to bring about a positive change in global warming with its “Tales of Seas” and is optimistic that the initiative will pave way for a clean and green future.