Hsieh Chin-Fang Column: Wildfires, Heatwaves, and Money-Power Politics

Wildfires are raging across Europe and Canada, with extreme heatwaves killing over ten thousand people in Europe and displacing more than 300,000. Schools have been forced to close, trains halted, and nuclear power plants shut down, pushing societies to the brink of collapse. Scientists warn that climate change is making wildfires, heatwaves, and floods more frequent worldwide—and this is only the beginning, with worse yet to come. The accelerating trend of global warming is deeply tied to money-power politics. The damage from climate change is comprehensive, and no one can escape its consequences.

This summer, hundreds of forest fires broke out in Canada, with thick smoke spreading to Toronto and neighboring U.S. cities like New York and Washington, D.C. Americans, rarely before forced to wear masks, now had to protect themselves from hazardous air. In response to the smoke drifting from Canada, former U.S. President Donald Trump offered only his old tactic: tariffs. Despite having once called climate change a 'hoax,' and now witnessing disasters unfold globally—harming hundreds of thousands, with wildfire smoke reaching his own backyard—Trump refuses to admit fault. Instead, he blames Canada for poor forest management and failing to clear underbrush, even as air quality deteriorates across many U.S. states. Does Trump really believe imposing high tariffs on Canada will drive away wildfires and smoke?

Wildfires in Europe have spiraled out of control. Persistent heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40°C for weeks have left people sweating in homes without air conditioning, living as if in hell. The extreme heat has nearly paralyzed society. French President Emmanuel Macron stated, 'This is the most severe moment since World War II.' The Spanish government has declared a climate emergency.

Global warming is intensifying, and Trump’s policies have played a significant role in accelerating carbon emissions. The climate crisis is worsening—caused by human activity—and former President Trump led efforts to support the fossil fuel industry, encouraging continued extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas, thereby increasing emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. His actions have been pivotal in worsening the crisis.

Why does Trump act this way? It’s no secret: he received hundreds of millions of dollars in political donations from the fossil fuel industry before his election. Once in office, his policies consistently favored fossil fuels—eliminating vehicle emissions limits, despite transportation being the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. He overturned Biden-era climate regulations, canceled subsidies for electric vehicles, and eliminated incentives for solar and wind power. In short, it’s all about money. He shows no concern for the severe harm climate change inflicts on people—only for his own interests.

Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, told the author in an exclusive interview: 'Scientists must push back against those who speak nonsense. This issue is most evident in the U.S. We must use scientific evidence to dismantle their false claims.' By repealing all climate regulations and eliminating renewable energy incentives, Trump turned the U.S. into a 'free-rider' nation—refusing to cut emissions while benefiting from others’ efforts. This behavior has dangerous consequences: other nations may see free-riding as advantageous, undermining global climate agreements.

Nobel laureate in Economics and honorary professor at NYU Stern School of Business, Robert Engle, stated in an interview: 'Trump’s policies are going in the completely wrong direction. They harm not only the U.S. but the rest of the world. Many of his supporters are suffering because of these policies. There is growing unease among American voters.'

What could be the ultimate consequences of accelerating climate change, rampant wildfires, and extreme heat? Morten Meldal, a Nobel laureate in Chemistry from Denmark, feels deeply about Greenland’s melting ice. In a written interview, he warned sternly: 'When sea levels rise, all low-lying coastal cities—including Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan—could be submerged. Climate change will increase hostility among humans, as people fight for survival. More wars will follow.'

The wildfires and heatwaves in Europe and Canada, along with the accelerating melting of Greenland, the Arctic, and Antarctica, are directly harming millions. This is the best form of public education on climate change—a clear demonstration that exposes the lies of politicians like Trump. Voters who once didn’t understand the dangers of climate change, or were misled by such political figures, are now suffering the consequences of their policies. They must reevaluate these leaders and make different choices in the next election.

*The author is a senior media professional.