• Written by: Fadwa Al-Jahwari
• Translated by: Buthaina Al Rubaie

Climate change is one of the topics that permeates all theoretical and practical aspects of future changes in the world, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment. The World Health Organization has asserted that it will undermine decades of health progress and has reported an increase in deaths caused by heat due to climate change, such as diseases like malaria and coastal flooding, potentially reaching 250,000 deaths by 2030.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has highlighted the global practical capability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing funding for climate investments. They have also emphasized the value of efforts made by local communities, encouraging a reduction in consumption patterns that contribute to increased emissions.

In light of this, societal awareness about climate change and the impact of individual and groups actions in exacerbating climate change and emissions is crucial, especially with rising consumption rates worldwide. Youths are among the most significant motivators in reality.

Climate change takes considerable interests of SQU students. Musab Al-Hosani, a geology student at the College of Science, affirms that this change is concerning due to the rapid rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. He also explains that some of his practices affect climate change, saying, "If we say that my practices reflect on the rest of the community, then accumulated groups action can impact climate change." Al-Hosani tries to reduce climate change through planting, avoiding unnecessary tree cutting, and returning or recycling used oils and fluids from his car.

Hajes Al-Saadi, a biology student at the College of Science, is seeing that the impact starts from the individual and multiplies with the group. Therefore, an individual's consumption behavior has a significant impact that may not seem noticeable but enhances the group effect. She emphasizes her attempts to reduce consumption that exacerbates climate change.

Nusaiba Al-Kindi, an Arabic language and literature student at the College of Arts and Social Sciences, talks about the impact of electricity consumption on global warming, saying, "When we consume electricity for cooling, it affects the environment and worsens the climate." Expressing her concern, she says, "I feel like we are in a vicious cycle that will inevitably explode one day."

Awareness of modern technologies that attempt to mitigate climate change is essential. This awareness is often confined to science specialists and those interested in climate change and its issues. Hajes Al-Saadi mentioned the company 44.01, which relies on carbon capture technology in the rocks of the Hajar Mountains.

Al-Hosani also tried to understand climate change through his specialization, discussing geological techniques to reduce it. The listvenite rock from the Ophiolite series in Oman is used for this purpose. He explains, "The exposed part of the rock has a high capacity to absorb carbon dioxide to a certain extent by altering its chemical composition. The goal is to deliver carbon dioxide to unexposed depths of the rock by injecting it, stimulating the reaction by increasing the contact surface. What is often not mentioned is that this also changes the physical properties of the rock, making it more brittle." Al-Hosani points out that this method is ineffective against the tons of carbon dioxide emitted from industrial cities, and he sees it as unsafe, given that the Ophiolite Mountains form a significant part of the Omani mountains and this process could lead to environmental and geological impacts. He is trying to find an effective technique from his perspective, saying, "I do not rule out designing an effective method to trap carbon dioxide by encasing it in layers of the same rock composition, then expelling it and using it in industry. The layers are prepared to receive a new amount of carbon dioxide."