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Climate change and natural disasters hit hardest among those already suffering from poverty and exclusion. Reducing the risk of disaster and planning for future climate change is essential for truly sustainable development. At the same time, climate change places compounded stress on the environment, as well as on economic, social and political systems.
Whether it comes in the form of extreme weather phenomena such as droughts and floods, or just regular events such as unpredictable weather patterns and shifting seasons. Climate change undermines development gains and leads to shortages in basic necessities among poor people. These circumstances lead to worsening hunger and poverty. Put simply, where poverty is seen as an underlying risk, the climate becomes either a magnifier and in many cases a multiplier, of existing underlying causes of risk and increasing dependence of communities on humanitarian aid. Among many of the rural communities where CGA works, a majority rely on agriculture and natural resources to survive. For these people, the effects of climate change — limited water and food sources and increased competition for them — are a critical matter. As a result, considering the challenges each community is facing, and then developing localized solutions that will make the biggest impact remains a big challenge. CGA has an opportunity to broaden its approach in this area by strengthening the capacity of research and development organizations and communities to mitigate its effects in relation to planning and design of conservation initiatives affecting them and also assist such communities to adjust to the vagaries of climate variability. Under this thematic area, the key interventions will include:
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