Bracing for an Intense Hurricane Season in Haiti

This blog was written by Prospery Raymond, the ACT Haiti Forum Convenor, and originally published in Spanish here.  It was written before Hurricane Beryl (the second named storm of the year) reached category 4 and battered a number of Caribbean islands before turning towards Mexico this week.  He highlights the complexity of vulnerabilities for populations in Haiti who already experience so many challenges, should a storm like Beryl strike the island.

As the 2024 hurricane season started on June 1st in the Atlantic, forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) paint a concerning picture for the region. According to NOAA, this year the hurricane season is ‘hyperactive’, and forecasts show an 85% chance of an above-normal season, and only a 10% chance of a near-normal season and a 5% chance of a below-normal season. These intense storms are expected to be fueled by the effects of climate change and the ongoing La Niña phenomenon. As the hurricane season officially began on June 1 and runs until November 30, various actors are preparing to address the situation.

The agency predicts between 17 and 25 named storms, with 8 to 13 potentially becoming hurricanes (winds exceeding 119 km/h), and 4 to 7 reaching Category 3 or higher (winds over 178 km/h). If Haiti is struck by a Category 3 or stronger hurricane this year, the consequences could be catastrophic, particularly in a context in which more than 50% of the population are in acute food insecurity, 580,000 displaced people have fled gang violence and the spread of cholera has already killed 1278 people since its reappearance in 2022.

Given this multidimensional, complex, and complicated crisis, the question arises: How can we better approach this hurricane season, given the intensifying needs for planning, prevention, and response? Significant efforts have been made, such as identifying over 1,400 shelters across the country using geospatial information. However, these shelters do not all meet the required criteria for adequately housing displaced individuals, lacking proper sanitation facilities, potable water, and food storage capabilities. Moreover, with access to many routes already blocked, delivering aid could be challenging if the country experiences a Category 3 hurricane or higher. Even tropical storms may cause important flooding.

In a conversation with Aldrin Calixte, the Director of the local NGO Haiti Survie, who specializes in natural resources and sustainable development, he shared that his organization has already developed a contingency plan to better participate in the response to storm or hurricane crises that could affect the communities in the South and Northeast departments where they operate. Calixte’s plan takes into account the significant challenges of the moment, such as difficult access, rising prices of basic goods, and their availability in the Haitian market and intervention areas.

 I also discussed the matter with Salomon Brutus, an Agronomist and the Humanitarian Coordinator for the joint office of DKH, LWF, and NCA in Haiti. He believes it is crucial for civil society organizations, the structures of civil protection and local authorities to work together, to foster better coordination and support to communities in the process of reducing risks, in conducting anticipatory actions before crises to reduce the impacts of the disasters, as well to work in synergy during the response phase by assisting affected people efficiently and on time. For this season, he is collaborating with a network of nine ACT Alliance member organizations in Haiti, aiming to cover at least five departments with a plan to help vulnerable communities to be better prepared. While creating the plan is one thing, implementing it is another challenge, but significant efforts are being made in both preparation and execution.

An interesting approach utilized by several organizations and communities in Haiti is the SCLR (Survival Community Lead Response) in which support is provided to initiatives and actions led by the communities themselves and a hand is given to amplify the impacts. This approach, employed by DKH, LWF and NCA with their partners in Haiti, is a crucial aspect of helping communities, especially leaders, guide anticipation efforts, plan with local authorities, prepare, and intervene in within 24h to 72h after a disaster response without external intervention. Some communities are better prepared to take charge before, during, and after crises, thanks to valuable experiences gained from various challenges the country has faced over the past five years. For me, SCLR is the way forward to help have more resilient communities in Haiti.

OCHA and the DGPC (Directorate of Civil Protection) are already working to facilitate better planning for this year’s hurricanes. The 1,400 temporary shelters identified and set up across the country are important. However, the question remains: How will they implement this plan given the challenges we already face? Communication about the severity of the situation is lacking, and the population should be on alert regarding potential disasters. The rainy season of May 2024 already highlights the shortcomings and challenges the country could face if communities see more torrential rain and severe wind.

Resources are lacking, but communication about potential dangers is not up to par. Some communities receiving support from local authorities and external aid may be able to cope, but not all communes are in the same situation. Insecurity and population displacement remain challenges that are difficult to predict but easy to address if the Haitian state prioritizes preparedness and prevention. With more prevention efforts, we can reduce the need for response in the event of a hurricane, for example.

Angeline Anesteus, Action Aid director and CLIO President mentioned how they are very focused on anticipatory actions with multi–year projects to carry out activities in the field, particularly in the Grand Anse area. They have emergency funds to implement rapid actions if a hurricane should hit Haiti. CLIO members are encouraged to work together to avoid duplication and have more effective interventions in many communities. 

For several years, one of the manifestations of climate change in Haiti has been prolonged periods of drought in various regions. Some communities in the south and Grand Anse departments did not receive a drop of rain from November 2022 to July 2023, making it extremely difficult for thousands of farmers to find drinking water and sustain their crops and livestock, as water sources were on the verge of drying up. However, 2024 has brought a different scenario, with significant rainfall starting in February and increasing in May, leading to minor flooding and even tornadoes in some areas, including the Bassin Bleu region in northwestern Haiti.

During my visits with farmers in the in the South-West region in August and November 2023, they complained about the drought affecting their work areas in the year before. They told me they continued to pray for rain in the coming months, but hoping not to experience excessive rainfall or storms. For now, they have received enough rain in early 2024 to aid their planting efforts and hope for a good harvest during Haiti’s spring season from April to July 2024. I hope their prayers will continue to be answered, and Haiti will not be affected by serious storms this year. Even with good prayers, effective preparation and prevention remain crucial. We must continue to inform populations and communities on how to behave before, during and after meteorological events like storms, hurricanes, tornadoes. Haiti cannot withstand another disaster. Many decision-makers know what to do, but will we unite with a strong will to protect the population this year, setting aside political considerations and instead focusing on saving the already drifting economy and – most importantly – innocent lives, with the potential to grow and better serve the country in the future?

 

Together, we can make a difference!!!

Not linked to reality: Bonn climate talks missing urgent action 

MEDIA RELEASE 

Two weeks of UN climate negotiations in Bonn have ended. The next time parties meet will be at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan this November. There, they are expected to adopt a new goal for climate finance.  

But the Bonn negotiations, meant to prepare for COP29, have made little progress. Compared to the effects of climate change that faith groups and marginalised communities around the world are experiencing, this is deeply concerning. Global climate leadership is needed now more than ever. Yet, as shown at these talks, global action and cooperation to urgently address the climate crisis is deeply inadequate. 

Nushrat Chowdhury, ACT member Christian Aid’s Climate Justice policy advisor comments: 

  • The climate talks are not related to the reality we see on the ground. The need for action is urgent, and it relates to mitigation, adaptation and efforts to address loss and damage.

The Bonn talks focussed on climate finance. This is a core element of the climate debate, as any of the goals related to green and resilient transition of the world depend on investment and access to climate finance.  

One of the options of the level of finance the goal needs to aim at was put forward by African States. The Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN) proposed that a USD 1.3 trillion publicly mobilized goal is needed every year to address climate change in the Global South. This number may seem high compared to the current target, USD 100 billion per year. However, USD 100 billion was a political compromise. When we talk about climate finance, we must look at the need. And the need for funding is huge.  

One of the deep conflicts in the debate about climate finance is the so-called contributor base. This is the number of countries responsible for mobilizing climate finance. The reality is that many developed countries still are not contributing. Poland, Portugal, the USA and Greece mobilize minimal amounts of climate finance, despite their large historic responsibility in creating emissions.  

Illari Aragon, member of ACT’s Climate Justice group comments: 

  • Countries in the Global North should take the lead and share the burden of mobilizing climate finance. We still wait for substantial contributions from developed countries that lag in delivering their climate finance commitments 

While finance was the focus at Bonn, other elements of the climate debate need attention. By the beginning of 2025 all parties should have submitted new and updated national climate plans (also called NDCs). These plans should show what each country will do to deliver on the Paris Agreement. These plans should refer to mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage. 

The debate about mitigation has been almost invisible in Bonn. This is worrying, as parties are still far from reaching the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.  

Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice group, says: 

  • At COP28, last year’s climate summit, negotiating parties agreed to justly transition away from fossil fuels, and to triple investments in renewable energy. These commitments should not be forgotten, and I hope all parties will consider them when they develop their new climate plans. 

While the efforts of parties to develop new and more ambitious plans are important, the question of climate finance remains. Many of the existing plans have still not been implemented. This is largely due to lack of access to funding. The adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10 to18 times greater than international public finance flows, according to UNEP. There remain huge funding challenges for the Global South to enhance gender mainstreaming in their climate planning development and implementation. 

Julius Mbatia, ACT Alliance, comments:

  • We need new national climate plans to ensure that the world can manage the climate crisis. If there is no finance, plans will never be put into action. The level of ambition and implementation will thus depend on the availability of climate finance. This is why climate finance is at the core of the climate debate. 

The plans will reflect the transition countries must go through to lower emissions. However, the transition must be fair, and this was also addressed in Bonn. Parties unfortunately did not make any significant progress.  

Irene Anena, ACT Alliance Uganda Forum Coordinator, comments: 

  • The Global South is vulnerable and has unique challenges that should not be overlooked. We call for recognition of a fair share by the big polluting countries. We can only have a just transition with a fair distribution of the carbon budget, finance delivery, technology transfer, capacity strengthening and by embracing the principles of human rights.

The talks included a workshop on the Gender Action Plan, specifically on moving from plans to action in fostering gender equality in climate action.  

Says Elena Cedillo of the Lutheran World Federation:  

  • A stronger draft text on gender and climate would urge all Parties to designate and support a national focal point on gender and climate change for negotiations, implementation, and monitoring. … It is essential to align gender responsive Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans with national development planning in a manner consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

Speaking at the Interfaith Liaison Committee’s press conference in Bonn, Sostina Takure of the ACT Alliance Zimbabwe Forum spoke of the challenges faced by women and girls in all their diversity and youth with regards to migration caused by the climate crisis:   

  • We must look at the ripple effects of migration and displacement due to climate change. It is not even planned migration in my context. We are just moving people because a disaster has happened. They don’t have food in the new place. They will marry off their children as young as 8 and 9 years old to develop kinship and community, and to share scarce food.  We are destroying a whole generation of young children to survive the effects of climate change. As we go to COP29 let’s remember at the core of Loss and Damage are vulnerable people.

Members of ACT Alliance witness daily the growing effects of the climate crisis on the most marginalized communities in the Global South; those who have done the least to contribute to life-damaging emissions. These effects can only be addressed by a strong commitment to their future by those countries with more resources, who also have a historical responsibility for the emissions that have caused the crisis. This would be climate justice at a global level. 

Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice group, comments: 

  • As climate diplomats return to their countries, all governments must remember that the climate crisis is real. Just like the COVID-19 crisis was real. The climate crisis can be handled, but only if efforts are made to ensure a just, equitable, green and resilient transition where nobody is left behind.  

For interviews contact:  

Mattias Söderberg, ACT Alliance Climate Justice group co-chair, DanChurchAid Advocacy lead, WhatsApp: +45 29 70 06 09 

Fiona Connelly, ACT Alliance Communications Coordinator, Tel and WhatsApp: +1 647 210-1238 

 

 

 

 

On the road to Baku: Bonn SB60 a milestone

PHOTO: Albin Hillert/LWF.

By Elena Cedillo 

On the road to Baku, Azerbaijan and COP29, the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB60), now beginning its second week, is an important milestone in climate negotiations.  

The conference will specify what the conclusions of the Global Stocktake (GST) mean for the next set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Country representatives must address elements of transparency and reporting while preparing to resolve outstanding issues on carbon markets and voluntary cooperation mechanisms.  

Week one milestones

Parties are divided on the focus of this dialogue. Some believe it should focus solely on finance, using it as a platform to follow up on developed country commitments under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Others argue for a broader scope that includes all outcomes of the Global Stocktake. 

New Collective Quantified Goal target debated

The NCQG is set to be adopted at COP29 in Baku later this year. Tough questions about the quantity and quality of climate finance will need to be answered. The new target is expected to build on the previous goal of mobilising $100 billion from developed countries for climate action in developing countries.  

Meaningful climate finance is important to ensure enhanced climate action for mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. Yet the amount of climate finance needed is still under debate. Different figures have been proposed by the negotiating parties and civil society organisations. So far, “trillions” are needed. 

Gender and climate need stronger text

The first three days of SB60 featured a workshop on Gender Action Plan (GAP) implementation. Preliminary results of the GAP implementation review were shared, and the World Café methodology was used in reflection sessions. Both Parties and Observers participated, but some reflection sessions were closed to observers and results were not shared in plenary. 

Parties need to simultaneously improve and continue GAP implementation to produce a new, higher quality GAP with a longer period for implementation, concrete targets and indicators, and more clarity on roles and responsibilities. 

A stronger draft text on gender and climate would urge all Parties to designate and support a national focal point on gender and climate change for negotiations, implementation, and monitoring. It should call for the inclusion of women in leadership positions within delegations, the sharing of best practices, and the integration of key components of the GAP into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). It is essential to align gender-responsive NDCs and NAPs with national development planning in a manner consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

Week two begins: June 10 to 13 

Parties have much to discuss and agree on during this second week. There is no denying the devastation that many vulnerable communities are suffering from both extreme weather and slow onset events due to climate change.  

The week will begin with the SB60 co-chairs presenting a revised version of the NCQG text. There is broad agreement to discuss transparency and qualitative issues such as access, gender, and Indigenous rights.  

While the quantum, or amount due, is under discussion, the parties must reflect the seriousness of their intent and raise the level of ambition, as well as guarantee grants instead of loans. 

WIM review 

Parties are discussing the terms of reference for the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) review. The third and final Glasgow Dialogue (GD3) focused on the need for fit-for-purpose coordination among the UNFCCC Loss and Damage bodies (Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) Ex-com; Santiago Network (SN); Loss and Damage Fund) to strengthen the Loss and Damage finance regime within and outside the UNFCCC.  Discussions are focused on the scope of the WIM review, whether it will focus on WIM performance, and a review of its functions. Parties have agreed on the need for more clarity in the proposed text. 

Loss and Damage Fund needs

What is needed from the Loss and Damage Fund? Direct access and rapid disbursement of loss and damage financing, and inclusion of the most vulnerable: women, boys and girls, Indigenous peoples, and displaced persons. 

NAP progress slow

COP28 called on Parties to have their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) policies and planning processes completed by 2025 and to have progressed in implementing them by 2030. To date, only 53 countries have submitted their NAPs. Nevertheless, parties at SB60 are discussing them. A draft decision text on NAPs will be submitted to COP29.  

Parties have a proposed text to guide further NAP discussions during week two. Key points include the need for a clear distinction between the formulation and implementation of NAPs, recognition of vulnerable countries’ exceptional circumstances, and support from developed to developing countries as outlined in the Paris Agreement.  

Further discussions will need to clarify the role of private sector sources in the formulation and implementation of NAPs. Reliance on loans is not a viable solution for NAP implementation. 

Elena Cedillo, LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice and ACT Climate Justice Reference Group co-chair.

 

 

Media advisory: SB60 Press conference: A faith perspective on non-economic losses and damages and its financing

10 June 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Bonn, Germany: During the SB60 conference, members of the faith community will renew their call for urgent action to address loss and damage, as climate change continues to wreak havoc on communities around the world. The moral call for justice has never been more urgent. Polluters continue to burn fossil fuels at alarming rates, as those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis continue to bear its worst impact.  

Whilst the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund was announced during COP28 last year to much fanfare, levels of finance remain woefully inadequate. Beyond the headline of financing, it is the hidden losses of climate change which remain untold and unaccounted for. The irreversible impacts to individual health and mobility, cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge, or ecosystems and biodiversity are hard to quantify but equally devastating.

The Interfaith Liaison Committee will bring together voices from across different faiths who are united in their calls for climate justice to discuss the non-economic aspects of loss and damage. We’ll hear from representatives of communities who are experiencing the impact of climate change firsthand, and highlight the blurred line separating economic and non-economic losses and damages. 

Who: 

Nushrat Chowdhury, Policy Advisor (Christian Aid)
Steve Chiu (Tsu Chi)
Sostina Takure, (ACT Alliance)
Jamie Williams (Islamic Relief Worldwide)
Sindra Sharma (PICAN) 

Moderator: Valeriane Bernard (Brahma Kumaris)

Where: Nairobi 4 and online

When: Tuesday 11th June 11.00 am

The race to 1.5 C: how the new fossil fuel treaty might rekindle optimism

After decades of negotiations to reduce the impacts of human-induced climate change, a new initiative could change the game.

Daniela Varano

 

The campaign for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty aims to stop the fossil fuel industry from extracting more oil, coal and gas. For 30 years, governments have focused on international agreements and targets to reduce emissions but have not regulated fossil fuels production in line with their climate goals. Today, global efforts to reduce the demand are met with plans to increase fossil fuel supply.

The world is sitting on a “carbon bomb” ticking towards climate catastrophe.

 

The fossil problem

The science is clear. Fossil fuel emissions are the dominant cause of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that in 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuel.

The economic and health implications of fossil fuel extraction and burning are also profound. According to a Harvard University-led study, more than 8 million people around the world die annually from breathing air containing particles from burning fuels. The economic costs of air pollution from fossil fuel are estimated at $2.9 trillion, far exceeding the likely costs of reducing fossil fuel use.

Fossil fuels are not just a climate issue; they are integral to many products, from plastics to everyday items. Their extraction and use threaten land and biodiversity and are major obstacles to ensuring humanity’s survival.

 

Unacceptable harm

Despite evidence that the health and well-being of planet Earth’s occupants are at risk, the biggest fossil fuel producer, such as Shell, Exon Mobil, BP and Chevron, have made more than $ 2 trillion in profits over the past three decades. These companies are the main drivers of the climate crisis, and they are betting against our chances to survive it.

They won’t stop, unless we make them.

An investigation by The Guardian revealed that fossil fuel companies are planning more than 150 new projects, each resulting in billions of tonnes of CO2. These expansion plans will make it impossible to keep emissions within the Paris Agreement targets.

With awareness raising and the planet warming, the oil, coal and gas industries are doubling their efforts to stop progress.

Apart from the much-publicised fact that the president of the COP28 was the chair of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), a company that pumped 2.7 million barrels of oil a day in 2021, with plans to double that by 2027, the number of fossil fuel industry representatives at UN climate talks has been increasing. A record number of 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists were granted access to the COP28 summit in Dubai, more than the delegates from the 10 most climate-vulnerable nations combined.

France brought fossil fuel giants such as Total Energies and EDF as part of its country delegation, Italy brought a team of ENI representatives, and the European Union brought employees of BP, ENI and ExxonMobil.

The industry seems to join these events to greenwash its image and reposition itself as part of the solution. For instance, the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, signed by 50 industry executives at COP28 pledged to reach net zero by 2050 operations, but not for fossil fuel exploitation. This means that it is still OK to drill oil if the drilling is solar-powered.

The harm and influence that these groups are gaining in the UN Climate Talks is unacceptable.

 

The Consensus Trap

Given that COP decisions require consensus, it is highly unlikely that the richest oil, gas, and coal-producing and consuming countries will agree to ban and phase out fossil fuels any time soon.

In 2015, the Paris Agreement failed to include incentives and penalties to ensure countries did their part. Efforts to reduce the gap between individual pledges and collective temperature goals have also fallen short.

The agreement’s celebrated flexibility has led to widespread non-compliance. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol’s “top-down” approach, where emission targets were collectively negotiated internationally, the Paris Agreement allows countries to set their own emission reduction pledges.

Since the Agreement’s entry into force in 2016, the focus has been largely on “growing ambitions” and “accelerating efforts” rather than ensuring urgent implementation.

The first global stocktake, which debuted at COP 28, acknowledged the need for a “just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems”. This seems to be a cautious first step in the right direction but much more needs to be done to slash carbon emissions.

The Fossil Fuel Treaty process could represent an opportunity to achieve this common ambition and strengthen the Paris Agreement with new binding rules and mechanisms to fast-track implementation.

 

Why the new treaty could work

Modelled on the campaign to achieve a Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the Fossil Fuel Treaty campaign aims at gathering global support to begin negotiations for a new treaty to end fossil fuel exploitation.

This new international agreement would address the core of the problem: the Paris Agreement’s failure to mention or constrain fossil fuel supply and production.

It’s not the first time that corrective measures have been used in international law to correct regime deficiencies with new legally binding law. Most recently, the new initiative for a UN Tax Convention led by the African Group at the UN that aims at correcting the current inadequate international legal framework on taxes.

The Fossil Fuel Treaty would be complementary to the Paris Agreement and provide a strong signal to investors, industry and fossil fuel producers.

The proposal supported by the campaign includes:

  • Ending the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
  • Managing a rapid and equitable global phase out of existing fossil fuel production.
  • Ensuring a peaceful, just, and equitable transition for all communities and countries.

Most importantly, the new treaty could include prohibition and compliance mechanisms similar to those in the Montreal Protocol on the ozone layer, which contributed to its success in a relatively short timeframe.

 

“Climate crunch time”

Faith leaders and organisations worldwide, including many ACT Alliance members, have already endorsed the campaign.

As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres eloquently said: “this is climate crunch time. We have no more time to lose”.

The 2024 Season of Creation launched this week, features a dedicated page on the Fossil Fuel Treaty campaign website. ACT Alliance invites all its members to support the campaign and sign the call for a fossil fuel free world.

“Supporting the Fossil Fuel Treaty campaign is crucial,” says Elena Cedillo, LWF Program Executive for Climate Justice and ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group co-chair, “as people of faith we are called to care for creation and uphold the dignity of all life. We should end the destructive practices that harm our planet and its people. It is a commitment to justice, compassion, and the protection of our common home for future generations”.

 

 

East Africa: two new Climate Justice projects

PHOTO: ADS/ACT. Adaptation funding in Kenya will help communities tackle drought.

Two recent projects launched under the Climate Justice programme will make a big difference to climate justice advocacy on adaptation in Africa.  While mitigation is critical in addressing the impacts of climate change, adaptation is urgent and the main climate priority for the continent.  

The Locally Led Climate Fund (LLCF) grew from seed funding provided by the ACT Canada Forum. The pilot project, which runs from April 2023 to April 2024, is the result of a 2022 consultation between the Canada Forum and ACT members in the East of Africa. Discussions with the Canada Forum are now underway for the next phase of the project. The LLCF accepts contributions from all ACT members and Forums who wish to support locally led climate action.  

The second project supported by a philanthropic organisation, BMGF, supports needs-based adaptation advocacy. ACT is part of a consortium led by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). Other consortium organisations include the Organization of Instituted African Churches and the East African Farmers Federation. “Each organisation in the consortium brings something unique,” says Vincent Ondieki, ACT’s new Kenya-based staff supporting the projects. “ACT’s focus is our faith-based approach to advancing advocacy.”  

Locally Led Climate Fund (LLCF) pilot project  

The LLCF pilot project focuses on practical grassroots projects and enhancing communities’ advocacy skills. Working with a range of African ACT Forums, it involves local communities in creating local solutions such as the following:  

  • Members of the Kenya Forum, including Lutheran World Federation, World Renew and Anglican Development Services, train climate ambassadors as agents of change who in turn inform others in their communities. Participants are drawn from rural areas and represent diverse abilities, genders and ages.  
  • The Uganda Forum advocates for increased financing from their national government to support adaptation needs at the local level  
  • The Zimbabwe Forum addresses local water shortages by drilling deep boreholes to access potable water, an idea proposed by local communities. It also documents Indigenous knowledge on how best to respond to climate change at the community level. 
  • The Ethiopia Forum delivers adaptation alternatives through activities such as poultry raising, beekeeping and vegetable production.

Needs-based adaptation advocacy   

As a member of the adaptation advocacy consortium led by PACJA, ACT focuses on advocacy for agricultural adaptation at the national and regional levels. Through an application process, the following ACT Forums were selected to participate in the project: Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Ethiopia Forums.  

The project’s goals are centred around support to agricultural adaptation and increasing the flow of climate finance to local communities. The means to achieve those goals include:   

  • Enhancing faith actors’ and leaders’ understanding of their country’s National Adaptation Plans so that they can hold duty-bearers accountable.   
  • Enhancing faith actors and leaders’ ability to influence their national governments.  
  • Building cooperation with governments and multifaith actors on adaptation goals. 

This article is based on an interview with Vincent Ondieki, ACT Alliance Senior Programs Officer for Climate Justice. For more information, please contact him at vincent.ondieki@actalliance.org. 

Blog: Waiting for the rains 

By Collins Shava

As you travel across Zimbabwe, particularly in communal areas, you will be greeted by maize fields full of wilting crops, dying due to “thirst.” The rains have been erratic and unpredictable this season. It does not look good for farmers that depend on rain for irrigation. Our country is headed for a long drought. 

Dr Anxious Masuka, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development said on February 21 that if the country did not receive rain in the following two weeks, Zimbabwe would need to find alternative ways to get maize supplies. This would most likely mean importing grain from countries that have an excess. The cost of living would increase, increasing the vulnerability of a large part of the population. Drought will be a disaster for Zimbabwe, as its people are facing other economic challenges. 

Drought and climate change 

For me, climate change is the biggest threat to the well-being and livelihoods of people in African nations such as Zimbabwe. Climate uncertainty is increasing African countries’ vulnerability to more occurrences of drought and floods. The World Bank predicts the annual likelihood of Zimbabwe enduring severe drought will increase by 21 percent from 2040 and 2059 and by 47 percent from 2080 to 2099, compared to the baseline period of 1986 to 2005. Due to climate change, Zimbabwe will have more occurrences of drought than ever before. 

Small holder farmers who largely depend on rainfed agriculture and do not have access to irrigation infrastructure will be most affected. Most grow their crops in fields of between one and ten hectares, primarily using traditional farming practices. 

One solution: Pfumvudza plots 

Over the past few years, the Government of Zimbabwe has introduced the “Pfumvudza/Intwasa” farming technique, known to communities as “dhiga udye.” With this technique, small holder farmers plant a wider variety of crops in mulched basins. In 2023 3.4 million pfumvudza plots were prepared for the current 2024 farming season. This practice has helped the country maintain a constant supply of grain, so far. 

With projections of reduced annual rainfall in 2040, Zimbabwe will need to develop more initiatives to complement the Pfumvudza programme. This will help small holder farmers and communities adapt to climate change. 

Do communities and farmers know what’s coming? 

A growing number of people in Zimbabwe now understand the impacts of climate change. Others believe the current climate shocks, drought and floods are a spiritual issue, because the gods/God is angry with the people. As a religious person I understand this perspective and appreciate these beliefs. But given the current phenomenon, it is wise to consider that while we may pray for rain, our requests may not be granted. What we can pray for is to ensure that the gods/God provides wisdom to our scientists and leaders to develop and implement methods to navigate climate change. 

There is a need to listen to science and start working on climate adaptation initiatives to cushion our communities to climate change. National and local governments and development partners need to play a leading role in implementing climate adaptation initiatives to save our communities.  

We now need to focus more on efficient water harvesting techniques, improved climate-smart varieties of seed, and new farming practices that respond to how the climate is changing. Most importantly there is a need to constantly raise community awareness of the effects of climate change.  

Collins Shava is a climate change specialist who is co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Campaigns and Communications group. He has worked with the All Africa Conference of Churches and was an LWF  youth delegate at previous COPs. He now works with an African environmental agency.

For more on adaptation in Zimbabwe, see the ACT video Climate Adaptation in Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

Adaptation matters (more) after COP28 

By Niko Humalisto

PHOTO: Albin Hillert/LWF. The keys to adaptation are part of the COP28 Climate March.

It was expected that COP28 in Dubai would revolve around controversies on loss and damage; instead, it is likely to be remembered as a threshold when the world decided to transition away from fossil fuels. Significant progress was also made on how humankind can adapt to the unfolding climate crisis. 

Before Dubai, climate negotiations had failed to define adaptation goals. Having no agreed goal had led to the fragmentation of adaptation activities and funding projects in the Global South. Too many claimed to target adaptation needs which, in reality, had no relevance at all.  

Global Goal on Adaptation 

As a result, there was significant pressure to define a shared Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). The work program to define it, launched at Glasgow’s COP26, had reached its end. After parties in the technical negotiations had sabotaged any progress in defining the goal, the political dialogues at COP28 were able to deliver decisions.  

The most significant contributions of the GGA are its eight thematic target areas, which range from advancing food security on our warming planet to protecting cultural heritage. Parties also agreed to a cycle for evaluating needs to tailor action and support. This consists of dimensional targets on planning, implementation and monitoring, most to be achieved by 2030.  

The framework that will guide action has several principles that are important for ACT Alliance: targeting vulnerable populations such as women and people with disabilities; respecting human rights; and supporting local leadership. It also emphasises nature-based solutions to build resilience, linking climate and biodiversity.  

Far from final 

The governance framework is far from final. The most obvious omission is the exclusion of defined adaptation indicators. However, a work program has been established to develop science-based metrics. Notably, although action and support are discussed in the framework, no new additional financial commitments were made. On a positive note, a ministerial dialogue was established to develop plans to double adaptation funding. This is needed due to the declining share of adaptation in climate finance – despite a commitment to increase it.   

The decisions made at COP28 will need to be translated into national and sub-national policies guiding adaptation action. ACT Alliance members have diverse expertise in building adaptive capacities, decreasing vulnerability and increasing resilience. This is a golden opportunity for members to advocate for establishing or renewing existing national policies to reflect human rights and equity-oriented outcomes in the GGA – and to follow the progress of turning words into action.  

Niko Humalisto is a member of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Advocacy group. He works as a leading advocacy specialist in Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission and holds a title of an adjunct professor in the University of Eastern Finland. Apart from his work in advancing climate finances and circular economies, he volunteers in the bicycle workshop of Turku, Finland.  

Acknowledge local resilience in global climate forums

PHOTO: Lorenzo Fellycyana/YEU. The youth group Karang Taruna Prima Gadung initiated a tree-planting project called Javanese Bamboo Sewing Earth, drawing inspiration from traditional tree-planting practices. This innovative approach will not only fortify the soil and mitigate landslides, but also bolster the local economy by cultivating economically valuable and sustainable horticultural plants.

By Jessica Novia

YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) supports over 50 women’s and community groups  in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where we help develop community insight and responses to the profound impact of a changing climate.

In these vulnerable regions, rapid-onset disasters include floods, landslides, and strong winds that cause significant damage. Repairs to a family’s home can cost the same as or more than the income from their harvest. Such devastation also affects their mental health. A survey of 34 women’s communities in the Gunungkidul region of Yogyakarta revealed that some experienced PTSD, anxiety, depression, and even suicide as a result of loss and damage. Water scarcity is also a significant threat, made worse by the unremediated environmental impacts of previous development projects. 

Community resilience clear

COP28, the annual global climate conference, has left us reflecting on the urgency of addressing climate change impacts felt by grassroots communities. There is also a need to acknowledge their many resilience efforts. While discussions and commitments at the global level are crucial, we must not lose sight of local efforts. Robust global regulations could ensure recognition of community-based resilience and provide sustained, accessible funding for them. 

In Gunungkidul, the resilience of local communities is clear. In one community, a group of young people initiated a tree planting project called Javanese Bamboo Sewing Earth, drawing inspiration from traditional tree-planting practices. The trees will strengthen and bind the soil, mitigating against landslides. This innovative approach will fortify the soil and bolster the local economy by cultivating economically valuable and sustainable horticultural plants. The young people further preserve their culture by using native trees that are disappearing from the area, and use this Indigenous knowledge to defend against climate threats.

Elsewhere in the region, farmer groups have developed mist irrigation which conserves water and offers easier access to farmers with mobility challenges. Despite this, their crops may fail due to El Niño, which is expected to cause the first drought in the area.  Another example of innovative resilience comes from women’s groups such as the Melati Women Farmers’ Group. Facing ongoing drought, these groups secure their families’ livelihoods by managing water, animal feed, and their rice fields. They also use waste to produce organic fertilizer and manage plastic waste. These activities have allowed them to generate additional income during the dry season and to mitigate the risk of floods in the rainy season.

Women’s groups’ unique insights

Women’s groups often have unique insights into potential disasters, understanding the local context and the specific challenges they face. By including the voices of their representatives, COP meetings could ensure that policies and decisions address communities’ real concerns. Gender justice must be at the forefront, acknowledging how women are often disproportionately affected by climate change. Their perspectives offer valuable insights into building resilient communities and sustainable solutions. Amplifying local voices, particularly those of women, is not just a matter of justice but a practical necessity for creating effective and inclusive climate policies.

Developing inclusive and effective approaches

Community-driven initiatives need direct and accessible funding. Decisions made at global COPs should prioritise the voices of grassroots communities as they grapple with the urgent impacts of the climate crisis. Regulations governing the use of loss and damage funds should ensure easy access for community-based initiatives. Support for capacity strengthening and accountable monitoring should be part of effective implementation. 

A more inclusive and effective approach would include the following steps:

  • communicate climate disaster contexts in simplified, local languages for community understanding;
  • develop partnerships with local organizations that collaborate with communities to leverage insights for effective climate resilience strategies;
  • formalise grassroots women’s leadership in public decision-making structures;
  • channel financial investments to grassroots organisations to build their knowledge, skills, and leadership capacities;
  • prioritise partnerships with grassroots organizations to ensure their access to funding and decisions that are aligned with community priorities. 

A resilient and just future

Climate conference decisions must amplify the voices and experiences of communities on the frontline directly affected by climate-induced disasters. Global leaders should ensure that funds allocated for loss and damage, along with efforts toward gender justice, directly benefit society. COP meetings should transition from theoretical discussions to pragmatic solutions grounded in the realities of the most vulnerable communities.

Local communities, especially women, play a crucial role in identifying and dealing with potential disasters caused by climate change.  With a community-centred lens, we can pave the way for a more resilient and just future.

 

Jessica Novia attended COP28 as an ACT delegate in December 2023. Her work with ACT member YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) includes strengthening the capacities of at-risk groups, people with disabilities, women and older people with community-led disaster preparedness and humanitarian response. She is also a young representative of YEU’s climate focal point, striving to increase accessibility, accountability, and inclusion in her work. 

Photo: The youth group Karang Taruna Prima Gadung initiated a tree-planting project called Javanese Bamboo Sewing Earth, drawing inspiration from traditional tree-planting practices. This innovative approach will not only fortify the soil and mitigate landslides, but also bolster the local economy by cultivating economically valuable and sustainable horticultural plants.
PHOTO: Lorenzo Fellycyana/YEU

Slow-onset loss and damage a reality

Tsitsi Musingazori (left) and Anjeline Sumu received food assistance in Mwenezi, Zimbabwe. They both lost their yields due to drought. PHOTO: Ruusa Gwaaza/FELM

By Ruusa Gawaza, Felm

In December, as I travelled through southern Zimbabwe with our local partner, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the disastrous impact of climate change was clear. Usually, the fields would be full of maize, sorghum, and millet as high as your knee. Instead, the fields were empty and dry, and the temperature was much higher than usual.  

In the southern districts of Mwenezi and Gwanda, farmers had been left with nothing for the second year in a row. This was due to a lack of rainfall, made worse by the effects of El Niño. The annual Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment report estimates that more than a quarter of the population, about 2,700,000 people, will face food insecurity in the coming months. More than 95 percent of farmers across the country had not yet started ploughing their fields due to lack of rainfall, even though the rainy season was already halfway over.  

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches supports communities with both short-term food assistance and long-term climate resilience work. During the week, we saw food being distributed to the most vulnerable communities in the area. The assistance package included 50 kg of maize flour, 40 kg of beans, and 4 litres of cooking oil, enough for a household of five for one month.  

Listening to community members, I heard one desperate story after another. Mr. Vila, the Chair of the Ward 14 Food Distribution Committee in Mwenezi, told me that the situation is catastrophic. Some days, the temperatures have been 10 degrees higher than in an average year. The crops he planted in October, after the first rains, had already withered and his cattle had started to die. When I asked Mr. Vila what the solution might be, he said quietly: “It would be best just to leave.”  

We heard more stories of drought, hunger, the inability to produce food, and loss of livelihoods. Farmers had prepared their fields and fixed natural dams to contain water for livestock and irrigation, but the rain never arrived. The situation was dire and getting worse by the week. Food assistance was all that was keeping them alive.  

Seeing empty fields and listening to community members, it was obvious that slow-onset losses and damages are already a reality. It might never again be possible to practice farming in the same way because drought recurs each year. When a farmer loses the ability to grow crops on land that has produced food for generations, non-economic loss becomes very real. The communities face the loss of culture and Indigenous knowledge at the same time as they lose their livelihoods.  

While we continued our discussions with Zimbabwe communities, world leaders at COP28 in Dubai discussed the Global Goal on Adaptation and made pledges to the Loss and Damage fund. The decisions made in these annual climate conferences are a matter of survival for people in rural communities like the ones I visited in Zimbabwe.  

If the goals of the Paris Agreement for mitigation and adaptation are not met, and sufficient funds for adaptation, loss and damage are not available, millions of people like Mr. Vila and his family will have no option but to leave their homes forever. Lives, livelihoods and culture will be lost. 

Ruusa Gawaza works for the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Felm) as a Global Climate Resilience Advisor and lives in Harare, Zimbabwe. She is a member of the Act Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group and co-chairs the Global Climate Program Community of Practice.

 

 

 

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