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Environment

“Climate change is undeniable. Climate action is unstoppable. And climate solutions provide opportunities that are unmatchable.”

-Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 30 May 2017

Environmental concerns like climate change, deforestation, water scarcity, decreasing biodiversity and soil erosion are global problems. As declared by the United Nations, it is our global responsibility “to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.”

It’s no easy task. Although global support for climate action continues to expand, the planet still faces serious challenges. Global greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, global sea ice is falling to disturbingly low levels, and global warming continues to threaten.

While we must all deal with the effects of these environmental concerns, people living in conditions of hunger and poverty are at the greatest risk. The vast majority of people in hunger and poverty live in rural regions, relying heavily on agriculture, with their well-being closely tied to the natural environment. They are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events like droughts and flooding, which are often exacerbated by climate change.

Weather-related events linked to climate change affect food availability in many countries and contribute to the rise in food insecurity. Climate-related events can limit food accessibility and availability through a number of channels. Drought is especially dangerous to communities as it diminishes livestock and agricultural productivity, thus instigating more broadly held grievances.

That is why building resilience to climate change is crucial and at the heart of our work across Africa, South Asia and Latin America.

What we do.

  • Promote sustainable farming practices. At our epicenters in Africa, we create community farms, where villagers learn composting, intercropping and other methods, like drip irrigation, to improve crop yields, restore soil fertility and make the best use of scarce resources.
  • Increase access to sustainable agricultural technology. Across the world we provide training and credit, mobilizing people to adopt sustainable agricultural technology and practices, and encouraging them to demand agricultural extension services from their government.
  • Raise awareness of and building capacity to adapt to climate change. In India and Peru, we hold workshops to build their capacity to exercise leadership, take steps to reduce their vulnerability and formulate strategies to mitigate climate change risks. At the regional and international level, we also advocate for the conservation of natural resources, the mitigation of the harmful effects of extractive industries, and the recovery and promotion of traditional knowledge and technology that is highly adaptable to changing climate conditions.
  • Facilitate reforestation and tree planting campaigns. Throughout our Program Countries, we established tree nurseries, which can reforest communities, control soil erosion, and become entrepreneurial village businesses that supply families with fruit trees that not only capture carbon, but also provide nutrition and income.

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