"Petroglyphs discovered in the Amazon: an echo of the current climate change."

In a finding that illustrates the intersection between history and climate change, archaeologists have discovered ancient petroglyphs in the Brazilian Amazon, revealed by a severe drought that has affected the region in recent months. These engravings, estimated to date back thousands of years, have provided a unique window into the indigenous cultures that inhabited the area, but they also serve as a reminder of how extreme climatic phenomena are changing our planet in unforeseen ways.

The drought that has allowed these artifacts to emerge from the ground is, in part, a direct result of climate change, a phenomenon that today affects millions of people worldwide. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming has altered rainfall patterns, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Riverine communities that depend on the natural balance of the Amazon are already feeling the impact of these changes.

As the water recedes, revealing these petroglyphs, the broader and more devastating consequences of climate change also become evident. The region has experienced rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and the re-emergence of diseases like dengue, exacerbated by extreme weather conditions. These natural events are witnesses to a crisis that has been triggered by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels.

Greenhouse gas emissions, resulting from the exploitation of coal, oil, and gas, have raised global temperatures by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This increase, while it may seem minimal, has had devastating effects on ecosystems and communities, leading experts to highlight the urgency of taking action to mitigate the impact of climate change.

International Climate Change Day, celebrated on October 24, becomes a crucial moment to reflect on the need for coordinated global action. The commemoration seeks to raise awareness about the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts we are already experiencing. However, despite the growing scientific evidence, efforts to address climate change are often hindered by political resistance and a lack of commitment to implementing effective policies.

Globally, non-governmental organizations have begun to sound the alarm about this crisis. In a recent statement, the U.S. Environmental Reserve Fund emphasized the undeniable connection between human activities and climate change, suggesting that the relationship is as clear as that between smoking and cancer. This analogy resonates at a time when science has accumulated an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating the role of emissions in global warming.

The data collected over the past decades has provided us with a detailed record of how the burning of fossil fuels has contributed to the climate crisis. From chemical analyses to monitoring weather conditions, the evidence is compelling: the air, oceans, and land are warming, while ice is melting and sea levels continue to rise. Scientists have ruled out natural factors as plausible explanations for this accelerated warming, instead pointing to human activities as the primary cause.

Experts in the field, such as Dr. Carolina Vera from Conicet, emphasize the need to integrate policies that address the relationship between climate change, poverty, and inequality. In a world where global warming could reach extreme levels in this century, the urgency to adopt ambitious measures is more critical than ever. The decisions made today will have a lasting impact on future generations, and it is essential for world leaders to act decisively.

As the world faces an uncertain future, the discovery of the petroglyphs in the Amazon resonates as a powerful reminder of what is at stake. They are not only witnesses to a rich cultural heritage that could be lost, but they also represent a future that could be marked by loss and devastation if we do not act swiftly and effectively. In this context, climate change is not just an environmental challenge, but a matter of human survival that requires our immediate attention.