Climate change campaign guide

Your issue guide

. e g n a h c e t a Clim . d e t r Get sta mpact. i n a m u h e h t Exploring

e g n a h c e t a m i Cl . s e v i l s cost being hit hard y d a e lr a re a rty living in pove se in some a re c in n a n Many people e s be infall, which nge. There ha ra a h le c b ta te ic a d m li re c p un by le vents, notably e r e th a ore, the peop e m w s e t’ a h W . extrem ts ugh sons, which floods and dro a e to s s e te th u t ib ic tr d n co pre s it’s harder to e. u ll te h it w rk t the right tim a s we wo p ro c ir e th ult to plant t of produce mos makes it diffic s ie tr n u o c h c se ri e. Yet, it’s the unfair. Becau g n ry a T h c ? y te k a c m lu li n U se c ases that cau g e s u g hit hardest. o in h e n b e re re a o h the g w tries poorest coun e th in le p o e for a number p le b ra e ln u v re mo in in poverty are g in v li forced to live le p n o e e ft P o e ’r y e s or instance, th ooding, storm fl to e n of reasons. F ro p d lan few ttlements, on dy hard – so a e lr a temporary se is g in v y. s. Making a li an emergenc and landslide in n o k c a b ll gs to fa will have savin oung people y d n a , e c ti s tackle this inju rest people, o o p ’s d rl o We all need to w e to play. Like th ate le ro l a it v a e v r causing clim ha fo le ib s n o p s n least re in the future. d te you have bee c e ff a t s o ou will be m change, yet y

What is climate change?

What happens if we don’t act?

Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that there have been changes in the global climate since the early 1900s. These changes, and future climate change predicted over the next century, are largely due to human activities and excessive greenhouse-gas emissions, which are warming up the Earth.

This is the (weather) forecast for poor countries if we don’t cut emissions by 2080: • Sea levels could rise 50cm and twice as many people could be exposed to serious flooding – most of them in South and South East Asia.

• Water shortages could leave three billion people in the Middle East and India desperate for water.

• Droughts and floods could cause food shortages, destroy homes and livelihoods, help spread infectious diseases, and damage economies.

www.oxfam.org.uk/climatechange

Source: UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

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Adapting to climate change in Bolivia In 2008, devastating floods hit the region of Beni, in Bolivia. Crops were ruined and farmers and families were pushed even further into poverty. Around the world, it’s thought that climate change will make extreme weather events like these more frequent and more intense in years ahead.

With support from Oxfam, communities here have revived an ancient ‘floodproof’ system of farming.

It involves raising ridges of land (‘camellones’ in Spanish, or ‘camel humps’ in English) and collecting water in the surrounding channels. Crops are then grown on the ridges and fish are farmed in the water.

Because the land is raised, crops and seeds are protected during floods. As one farmer, Marta Barbara, says: “The camellones mean we can produce seeds and gather them during a flood. This used to be a big worry for us, but because of the camellones, it’s as if we have insurance.”

Main photo: Marta Barabara tends to her vegetables on the camellone. Smaller photos (from top): Villagers return from a day working on the camellones; A view of the camellones surrounded by water; Farmers navigate their way around a camellone by boat. Photos: Mark Chilvers and Jane Beesley. Source: Bolivia: Climate Change, Poverty and Adaptation, Oxfam report, 2009.

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Source: Oxfam, April 2009

Adaptation

Mitigation

Climate change adaptation comes in many forms. For example, it could be raising homes above flood levels, so that they are not washed away. It could be planting crops which can tolerate dry conditions, so families have a source of food if it doesn’t rain. Or it could be implementing radio warning systems, so families can prepare themselves when extreme weather is on the way.

The solutions exist – what’s needed to put these projects into practice is money. At the UN climate change summit in 2009, world leaders agreed to a global fund for climate change adaptation which would provide US$100 billion every year by 2020. We need to ensure that rich countries stick to this agreement and that each provides its share of the money.

Increased carbon emissions will make climate change worse for poor communities.

As individuals, reducing our carbon emissions – or ‘carbon footprints’ – is an important and meaningful part of being a global citizen.

This includes things like using less electricity, cycling to places rather than driving, and turning the thermostat down on our central heating.

But this, on its own, is not enough. World leaders need to take urgent and decisive action to cut emissions on a larger scale.

We need to keep up the pressure on rich countries, including the UK, to agree a deal which commits the world to reducing its carbon emissions. Oxfam is calling for a 40% reduction (on 1990 levels) by 2020.

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Adapting to climate change in Bangladesh Keya is a bright, chatty 11-year-old who lives in Char Atra, a small island village in Bangladesh. She wants to be a doctor when she grows up, but the changing climate is already affecting her chances.

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In recent years, floods have had an increasingly devastating impact here – sweeping away homes, possessions, and the rice crops on which communities depend. During the floods, Keya and her family spend weeks living on a tiny raised platform. Meals are meagre, and diarrhoea can spread quickly if drinking water is contaminated.

With Oxfam’s help, Keya’s community is now preparing for tougher weather conditions. They’re raising the foundations of their homes, and building latrines and wells above flood levels.

This means they can stay safe and healthy, and be sure of clean drinking water during floods.

Main photo: Keya sits on the tiny raised platform that her family has to live on during floods. Watch Keya’s story at tinyurl.com/39n79sr.

Photo: Dan Chung. Smaller photos (from top): A woman wades through flood water to safety in south west Bangladesh; A local painting shows how Bangladeshi communities prepare for floods; Shahia holds a radio used to communicate early warnings about floods. Photos: Abir Abdullah/EPA, Jane Beesley.

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Ideas for taking action Demonstrate

Make a film

Organise a petition

Students at Xavarian college, Manchester, went ‘blue in the face’ about climate change and held a demonstration on their school field (pictured, above). At the same time, they arranged for their school bell to be rung as a wake up call to the government.

The Oxfam Youth Board – a group of committed young people who advise us about youth action – produced a film to highlight their concerns about climate change (pictured, right). They put the film online and distributed it to all of their friends.

Fairfield School in Bristol made a giant petition for the Prime Minister with 800 signatures. It was so big they had to drape it from the fifth floor of their school building.

tinyurl.com/39q6pjz

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What about fundraising?

If you want to do some fundraising as part of your climate change action, Oxfam can use the money to support adaptation projects around the world.

Email youthteam@oxfam.org.uk to find out more.

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Taking action

Pushing for a global deal in Copenhagen Throughout 2009, hundreds of thousands of people pushed leaders to agree a global deal at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen. Thousands of young people took action with Oxfam – some even took their message to 10 Downing Street.

Despite the groundswell of support, the conference was disappointing. However, world leaders did agree to provide US$100bn per year by 2020 for climate change adaptation.

And, as they continue to deliberate over a deal, the global campaign goes from strength to strength. Thanks to people like you.

Main photo: Young campaigners on a demonstration in Copenhagen during the climate change conference. Photo: Rully Prayoga.

Top left: A campaigner wears a polar bear costume to get their message across. Photo: Ainhoa Goma.

Bottom left: Young people deliver their message to 10 Downing Street. Photo: Crispin Hughes.

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