Once a thriving source of water, livelihoods, and biodiversity, Bolivia’s Lake Uru Uru is fighting for survival against climate-induced drought, industrial pollution, and environmental degradation. But while the lake’s deterioration has driven many to urban centers, an indigenous women-led initiative is proving that local adaptation efforts can turn the tide. 

In the heart of Sanda Magbolontor chiefdom in Sierra Leone, communities are taking decisive action against environmental degradation to strengthen resilience against climate impacts. Years of charcoal burning, timber trade, and unsafe mining have stripped the land of its forests, resulting in poor crop yields and acute water scarcity, pushing vulnerable families — particularly widows with children —deeper into poverty. In response, the locally led Wanwod Development Organization launched the “Cut One, Plant Two” initiative, a grassroots effort to combat deforestation while promoting sustainable agriculture.

As the climate crisis intensifies, rural communities in Burkina Faso are grappling with severe challenges—escalating food insecurity, ecosystem degradation, and poverty. Yet, hope is sprouting through a community-centred initiative spearheaded by Tree Aid. This project is helping rural populations adapt to climate change while improving food security through sustainable land use practices.

In the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, climate change has escalated into a severe and urgent crisis. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and declining freshwater sources are placing immense pressure on local communities. Find out about this grassroots sustainable solution to water scarcity.

Sri Lanka faces increasing challenges from climate change, including rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and more frequent natural disasters. In response to these escalating threats, EthicalX, a program initiated by SLYCAN Trust, is stepping up with an innovative solution that combines climate action with sustainable entrepreneurship.

The Mount Kenya region, home to lush forests and a vibrant ecosystem, is increasingly threatened by the twin pressures of climate change and deforestation. In response, Horizon Business Ventures Limited, an essential oil producer, has taken a groundbreaking approach to tackle these issues head-on.

In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), rural communities face severe challenges due to the ongoing impacts of climate change. With livelihoods heavily dependent on agriculture, small-scale farmers are struggling to adapt to erratic weather patterns, deforestation, and degraded soils. These challenges directly threaten their food security and survival. However, amid these difficulties, local communities are stepping up with initiatives designed to bolster their food security resilience and adapt to the changing climate.

In rural India, communities face increasing climate-related challenges, particularly in the areas of water scarcity, erratic rainfall, and agricultural vulnerability. The PraveenLata Sansthan Foundation has developed a community-driven approach that empowers local farmers to use organic farming, water conservation, and renewable energy adoption.

In Alue Naga, a coastal village in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, communities face the growing threats of climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining food security. The region’s environmental degradation and unpredictable climate patterns have made traditional livelihoods like fishing and farming increasingly challenging, pushing local communities to seek innovative solutions.

Natural disasters such as cyclones and wildfires are becoming more common and more severe due to human-induced climate change. Communities of beekeepers in Greece, where bees are critical for food security, are learning how to adapt to these natural disasters by making bee populations more resilient and faster recovering.

San Miguel Island in the Bicol Region of the Philippines faces escalating climate challenges, from unpredictable rainfall to extreme heat. These changes have severely impacted the island’s water supply, particularly at San Miguel National High School. Find out about their sustainable water solution.

In the rain-drenched hills of Meghalaya, India, a surprising climate threat looms: water scarcity. Despite being one of the wettest places on Earth, this northeastern state faces severe water stress during the dry season. The culprit? Degrading natural springs that provide water to 80% of the population. Deforestation, unsustainable land use, and climate change are accelerating the drying up of these critical water sources. Without action, the region’s springs—and the communities that rely on them—face an uncertain future.

In Tajikistan, climate change is intensifying the challenges faced by rural communities reliant on agriculture. Droughts, extreme weather events, and water shortages are directly impacting farming and threatening livelihoods, particularly in areas like the Kafirnigan River Valley, home to over 20,000 people. The Youth Ecological Center, established in 1979, has been addressing these challenges.

The rural community of Beatrice, Zimbabwe, is no stranger to the devastating effects of climate change. Recurring droughts have significantly depleted groundwater levels, weakened local food security, and threatened biodiversity. In response to these challenges, a consortium of three organizations has initiated an ambitious project aimed at tackling both water scarcity and food insecurity through a women-led food forest and empowerment center.

In the islands of Vanuatu, climate change poses a severe and persistent threat, with frequent cyclones wreaking havoc on vulnerable communities. The country has endured eight major storms in the last eight years. With 64% of the population living within one kilometer of the coast, communities are highly exposed to storm surges, coastal erosion, and agricultural devastation. Given that 75-80% of Ni-Vanuatu depend on local agriculture for food, the impact of these climate-related disasters is devastating, making climate resilience an urgent priority.

In the heart of Buenos Aires, the residents of Barrio 20, an informal settlement located just 12 km from the city center, face a growing climate threat—intensifying heat waves. The community has embraced a transformative approach to protect their homes and streets from the extreme heat.

In Indonesia’s Kulon Progo region, smallholder farmers are grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and floods, have wreaked havoc on coconut sugar production, a key livelihood for many. With associated declining yields, climate change threatens not just crops, but the community’s food security and economic stability.

In Niger, one of the world’s most arid and climate-vulnerable nations, the effects of climate change are stark and unforgiving. But change is taking root, thanks to an innovative solution born from local leadership and grounded in cutting-edge technology.

Bangkok is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable cities, facing a myriad of environmental challenges. In a city where infrastructure struggles to handle even current rainfall patterns, the need for adaptive and resilient solutions is urgent.

In West Africa’s Sahel region, communities are on the frontlines of climate change, grappling with extreme heat, destructive storms, and increasing desertification. The traditional housing structures, often made from flimsy materials, cannot withstand the impacts of climate change, pushing these already vulnerable communities further into poverty. Instead, new innovative solutions are being developed.

Across Greece, Cyprus, and the wider Mediterranean, urban and natural areas face a growing environmental challenge due to climate change and urban mis-management. With mounting pressure from climate change, these issues highlight the urgent need for local action to restore degraded environments and build climate resilience.

India’s urban poor are at the frontlines of the climate crisis, living in inadequate and unsafe housing that makes them especially vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. In places like the Sanjaynagar informal settlement in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra—one of the hottest and most densely populated regions of India—residents face daily hardships exacerbated by rising temperatures. As temperatures soar and resources dwindle, the urgency for climate-resilient housing solutions has never been greater.

Climate change is making life in urban centers more difficult. Increased heat, poor drainage caused by bad waste management, and increased stress on livelihoods are just three of the negative impacts. Upcycle Africa, based in Uganda but having impact beyond, is addressing all three of these issues by empowering local communities to upcycle plastic waste into eco-friendly homes and other products of value.

Funding through the Water Justice Fund is enabling women groups and women-led community organizations in Nepal to combat flooding.

Climate knowledge is often built top-down, overlooking diverse experiences and expertise of women and marginalized communities. This needs to change.