Adapting to climate change: From words to actions

What is the biggest challenge of this century? Adapting to climate change. Drought and water scarcity can lead to conflicts, as we can see. What individuals can do about climate adaptation and mitigation and how climate and safety are interconnected.

‘Think Big, Act Small, Start Somewhere, But Do It Now’. Although climate change is a large, complex issue, we can all make a difference. Whatever you can do within your area, no matter how small. If billions of people do that, then something really will change. Then there are those who can do exceptional things. First, let's look at the connection between climate and safety.

Development and safety

Conflicts in war zones demonstrate how safety and development cannot coexist. While soldiers in one province worked on safety, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the other worked on development cooperation projects. How sustainable is safety if people don't have a perspective? And what are the possibilities for bringing about development if an area is not safe?

Scarcity of water can lead to conflicts

Climate change also plays an increasingly important role in international safety. During this century, the world's population is expected to double, while water and food are already in short supply. Due to climate change, we have less built-up agricultural land at our disposal. During droughts or floods, harvesting fails. If we do not adapt sufficiently to the changing climate, many conflicts will arise.

“Unfortunately it's still important where you were born or who your parents are for the collateral and the uncertainties you have. As a society, we must together ensure that everyone has the resilience to overcome setbacks”.

Migration and extremism

In the vulnerable countries where climate change strikes the hardest, governments are often more limited in their possibilities to do something about adaptation. At some point people lose hope, and tensions and frustration arise. Some people will migrate. The World Bank predicts that in 2050 there will be hundreds of millions of migrants. Others seek refuge in extremism and organized crime. For people who are desperate, the step is quickly taken. If there are also ethnic differences in a country, then it can start to heat and lead to conflicts. We have seen that in Mali. This country has been suffering from an internal conflict for 8 years that is partly fed by the effects of increasing drought. Let's take a hopeful approach.

Water from the desert

Can you imagine getting water from the sky in the Sahara? During the Future Force Conference, inventor and artist AP Verheggen demonstrated this. But there is still some work to be done on this unique invention. There is no way this can be true. After some time, the inventor travelled to Mali. Using an army camp as a test site, he can refine his technique. With cheap technology, the inventor manages to remove 1 glass of water a day. Many tests later there is a device that yields 30 Litres of water per day with a solar panel. With one device you can therefore maintain a family.

In Dubai, Verheggen demonstrated a larger model that can produce up to 1000 Litres of water a day and even create a waterfall. To provide water and food to the world, we must come up with new concepts. This could be a very powerful agent for developing countries and we can prevent many problems with it.

Water from ice all summer

The Indian region of Ladakh also notices that the climate is changing. Snow is increasingly irregular. The moment the farmers need water in the spring to be able to plant their fields, the snow has already melted. Mechanical engineer Sonam Wangchuk devised a solution. In the winter he creates high ice hills with steep walls with a spraying system. These Icestoepas, which are sometimes 30 meters high, thaw so slowly that they provide villagers and farmers with water all summer.

Graves digging for greening

The non-profit organization Justdiggit comes in places where the upper layer of the soil has become so hard that rainwater cannot pull into the soil properly. As a result, the water evaporates or provides erosion and floods that wash away fertile soil, as happens in Kenya and Tanzania. Together with the locals, the organization digs tens of thousands of holes that absorb rainwater, giving it time to sink into the ground. This allows the seeds that are still present to germinate in the ground and bald plains are getting greener. Farmers can have their herds graze again, process their country again and it provides cooling. With smart, simple interventions you can offer people in dry areas perspective and prevent them from having to migrate.

Ecosystem collaboration

But how do you deal with the climate crisis on a larger scale? Using an argument to propose a different model of collaboration, for example. The meetings are usually attended by people from ministries, knowledge institutes, and business. Bringing in diverse expertise, such as anthropologists, architects, terrorism experts, and care professionals, will increase the load. It will be buzzing with ideas and the urge to work together. As well as seeing opportunities for a variety of projects, people also want to contribute to a safe, stable, sustainable world in which everyone has a voice. This is what the ecosystem approach aims to accomplish. Everyone has a sincere self-interest that is served by the umbrella interest: a safe and sustainable world.

Solutions based on inspiration

By becoming aware of the mutual coherence, people discover mutual dependencies, but they also see where activities overlap and complement one another. As a result, different thinking and renewal are stimulated through an ecosystem approach. People are inspired by cross-pollinations and are brought into ideas through cross-connections. Innovative solutions are developed more quickly, and practical solutions are implemented more quickly.

An important solution is that people start working together. None of us has a solution, but we all have a part of the solution. The trick is to bring that together.

“The climate crisis fairly and just shapes it: it is possible together. When the strongest shoulders bear the heaviest loads, if polluters make their 'fair' contribution, that will have a positive effect on all layers of society”.