Climate Change Adaptation in the News

The United Nations Development Programme have advocated increased role for Nigerian women especially in the areas of decision making, planning and allocation of land and other critical natural resources in the country. National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme of UNDP, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise also emphasized more involvement of women in business. She also called for a national plan for women and youth entrepreneurship, with emphasis on environmental management, as this would ensure that all the resources needed are available. 

With funding from the global Green Climate Fund and support from the United Nations Development Programme, Benin has embarked on an 18-month US$1.5 million initiative to further plan for climate change adaptation. The project will support the formulation of a National Adaptation Plan, in coordination with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), and build longer-term capacities to integrate climate change adaptation into development planning and budgeting. Expected to be completed early 2020, the plan will address the impacts of climate change on the country’s most vulnerable sectors: agriculture, water resources, energy, forestry, infrastructure, tourism and health. 

Schools in South Africa have been designating students as "eco-warriors" as part of an initiative supported by the UN Development Programme to drive environmental and climate change awareness amongst the young and old in their communities.

Groundnut farms in Brong-Ahafo region are being affected by delayed rainfall or heavy rains due to changes in climatic conditions. With support from the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme of the United Nations Development Programme, farmers are adopting improved soil and water conservation, preparation and use of organic manure and cultivation of short-term drought resistant seeds. The project has also provided almost 200 households with improved cookstoves, reducing local deforestation and improving health.

Climate change has endangered the livelihoods of the Sri Lankan farmer communities, further exacerbating poverty. The consequential changes in production patterns, increased disaster exposure, lack of availability of water and irrigation, and other socio-economic factors directly correlate to the prevalent poverty and food insecurity across the island. To address these issues, the "Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Marginalized Agricultural Communities Living in the Mahaweli River Basin in Sri Lanka" project [also known as the Climate Change Adaptation Project] is being implemented by the World Food Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the financial assistance of the Adaptation Fund.

Recognising the social, economic and environmental challenges of climate change, Papua New Guinea has embarked on developing an 'SDG 13 Road Map' with the support of the United Nations Development Programme. Once completed, the road map will present priorities, actions and opportunities to enhance Papua New Guinea’s efforts to address the impacts of climate change. In opening a forum to discuss the roadmap, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, the Hon. Geoffery Kama said, “Government recognises the acute challenge that climate change presents to the people of Papua New Guinea. There is no aspect of our lives it will not impact. The science is clear, we are at a critical tipping point and it is now time for all countries to act.”

Rainwater harvesting — a simple, time-proven method of climate change adaptation — is now being tested and observed by students and teachers of 70 training institutions across the nation, as a result of a gift of water storage tanks, conveyance systems and drip irrigation hoses from the Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership.  Dr Ronald Blake, executive director of the Government-run Jamaica 4H Clubs, which co-implemented the project with the United Nations Development Programme said: “This system is not a new concept, but what is great about it is that it's the first time we are allowing young Jamaicans, especially those likely to become future farmers and agriculturalists, [to use this technology]; they are playing with it, and working it and seeing it creating a difference. The project's work with young Jamaicans is setting up the future of the Jamaican agricultural sector in a great way.”