A year ‘marked’ by elections and bloodshed – And all could be overshadowed by the threat of a warming world
2024 could be characterized as a year that gives us a distinct sense of déjà vu: H Syria were in the news again, the European leaders had to focus again on immigration and, across the Atlantic, the Donald Trump prepares for his return to the White House, sending more shock waves through the political establishment in an unprecedented year elections.
The wars that defined 2023 continue to rage, in some cases escalate, at great cost to human life.
And, as the charts below show, even all of that could be overshadowed by the threat posed by a warming world that looks set to define humanity’s future. Despite a plethora of warnings from scientists and international organizations, countries are still failing to curb it global warming — and, if his rhetoric is to be believed, a second Trump term could further weaken the international effort.
War, war and more war
With more than 44,500 Palestinians dead and another 105,000 estimated to be injured, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, the cost of the war Israel-Hamas in human lives continues to increase.
Geospatial analysts estimate that nearly 60 percent of buildings in Gaza Strip were damaged by November 2024, meaning 1.9 million people will be homeless.
The Israel-Hamas war has escalated hostilities across the region, with killings and bombings. After nearly a year of exchanging rocket attacks, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah peaked in October, with Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon, although the attacks were significantly reduced after a ceasefire agreement.
Rising tensions
At Syriathe dramatic overthrow of his regime Bashar Assad, Israeli airstrikes on the country’s weapons stockpiles and the arrival of ground forces through the demilitarized zone have increased uncertainty in the region.
On the other side of Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. Ukrainians achieved some success in 2024, becoming a dominant force in Black Sea despite the country’s small navy and launched a counterattack in the area Kursk of Russia, in August. But they end badly this year, having lost much of their territorial gains and seeing many of their soldiers killed.
But her constant pressure of Russia it comes at a huge cost to her troops as well, with the last few months being extremely brutal. The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, estimated that there were 53 Russian casualties for every square kilometer of Ukrainian territory conquered between September and November 2024.
Election year
With elections in more than 60 countries, including France, the UK, Bulgaria, India, Japan and the US, as well as for the European Parliament, 2024 was a huge election year. As right-wing forces have broadly consolidated their place in the political mainstream, polls have shown social media platforms such as TikTok to be increasingly influential.
In many of this year’s opinion polls, Europe’s trend to the right was seen. In some countries, far-right parties came to power. In others, they have acquired a position that allows them to exert significant pressure on governments.
The Italian Prime Minister’s European Conservative and Reform Party Georgia Melon increased its strength after the European Parliament elections in June. The shock decision of the French president Emmanuel Macron to call early elections after the elections in EUplunged the country into political chaos.
Elections, exit polls and surveys in various parts of the bloc showed that young voters were increasingly throwing their support to far-right parties. German survey showed the growing popularity of the party AfD (Alternate for Germany) among the country’s youngest voters.
The prediction that the artificial intelligence would dominate our planet has not been verified – but recent events have given us a chilling preview.
In December, Romania’s highest court annulled the presidential election after the ultra-nationalist outsider Cǎlin Georgescu won the first round, citing evidence of extensive influence peddling by the TikTok — allegedly made by Russia.
And while the TikTok didn’t give Europe’s far-right forces an outright victory in June’s European Parliament elections, it gave them a huge platform to reach new voters.
Panic over immigration
Wars and political instability in her neighborhood EUcombined with a marked shift in the political landscape to the right, have put immigration back on the agenda of European leaders. Increasing support for far-right and anti-immigrant parties in several European countries has led governments to adopt increasingly restrictive policies.
Gone are the days of the policy of free entry into Europe for them Syrian refugeessummed up by the motto of the former German chancellor Angela Merkel “We can do it!”. Securing Europe’s borders has become the number 1 priority, and in some places the political debate includes the complete removal of migrants from its territory EU.
Brussels was no exception to this reality. OR European Commissionwhich was reconstituted on December 1 under the President Ursula von der Leyen (which was confirmed by the right-wing majority in the European Parliament), has already promised to toughen its stance on immigration. Policies that were once considered marginal and extreme, such as creation “return nodes” and hot spots in third countries, where asylum seekers wait for their applications to be processed, as well as forced deportations, are now firmly in the political mainstream.
The Schengen — the world’s largest free travel area and crown jewel of European integration — is also falling victim to anti-immigrant sentiment. Several countries, including Germanyreinstated temporary border controls within the zone, citing security, terrorism and immigration risks as reasons for the new controls. These restrictions are supposed to be temporary, but some have been extended so many times that they have become almost permanent.
And Europe’s problems don’t stop here…
OR EU has other concerns for 2025. With disappointing economic growth, competitiveness problems and a struggling industrial sector, the last thing Europe needs right now is a trade war.
His threat Trump for 10% tariffs on all goods and a whopping 60% on Chinese goods has scared Europeans of possible negative effects. It will be a struggle for the bloc to deal with a clash between the US, the EU’s biggest trading partner, and China, its second biggest trading partner and biggest source of imports.
… or there
With the tariff scare in sight, 2024 looks set to be the hottest year on record. It will also be the first year that it will be 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer from pre-industrial levels. The failure to hold warming to 1.5 degrees – a commitment made by countries in Paris Conference on climate, in 2015 – is a consequence of the failure of international climate cooperation.
His latest rating UN confirmed that global climate action is woefully inadequate. Current plans and policies will lead to 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius of global warming this centurywith no prospect of limiting temperature rise to the 1.5 C target. The 2C upper limit of Paris Agreement is also at serious risk.
The severity and frequency of dangerous heat waves, destructive storms and other disasters increases with every fraction of warming. Scientists say that with temperatures rising by 3 degrees Celsius, the world could pass several points of no return that would dramatically change the planet’s climate and raise sea levels, including through the collapse of polar ice caps.
This year’s climate conference COP29 at Baku, Azerbaijan was once again marked by controversy and opposition. While negotiators reached a deal that would see the richest countries provide at least $300 billion a year until 2035 to help poorer nations in their battle against climate change, several analyzes found that figure to be far short of the trillions dollars needed to help vulnerable countries that will have to endure droughts and floods, rising seas and worsening storms.
His return Trump in January casts doubt not only on the future of the agreement but on international climate conferences as a whole. The president-elect, who has labeled global warming farceis likely to roll back many US climate policies at a scary time for the planet.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
