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Getting water on the agenda

Photo: Splash! by notsogoodphotography

We know water is essential to human, plant, and animal life. It is the life source of the planet.

We know that many countries face multiple water crises, including contaminated drinking water, droughts, and flooding, all of which is worsened by the impacts of climate change.

'The world is waiting for this generation'

The impact of climate change on global water resources was discussed with Humberto Lizana, an alpaca farmer and civil society leader living and working in the Huancavelica region of the Peruvian Andes, this week in Progressio’s first-ever liveblog.

Setting the scene, Humberto said, “Climate change is bringing us freezing days and a high incidence of sun. And these big temperature changes do not allow agriculture on a small scale to flourish.”

‘Breakthrough’ for water at climate change summit

Progressio has welcomed as a ‘breakthrough’ calls for the impact of climate change on global water resources to be addressed by the United Nations.

At the Cancun climate change summit in Mexico this week half a dozen poor countries demanded that the neglected issue of water be seriously discussed as part of the UN’s climate negotiations.  

Cancun: more in hope than expectation

Maggie von Vogt gives a personal reflection at the start of the UN climate talks from Cancun.

It’s the opening press conference of the UN climate talks in Cancun, Mexico, and Christina Figueres, Executive Secretary of the talks, says, “Cancun can launch a new era for global action on climate change, where each year brings increasingly effective answers to keep humanity on track to a safer future.”  

The urban farming revolution

Water is precious in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, as drought takes its toll on the amounts of water available to local people. Water rationing is becoming more frequent and severe year on year. In a country of gaping inequalities, it is the poorest who bear the brunt of scarcity and who need most help to cope with erratic weather.

Flooding crops and hope in Honduras

For many farming families in the highlands of Marcala, Western Honduras, Climate change is not an abstract concept. Its effects are clear as you visit the communities. It’s wreaking havoc throughout the country, distress and hardship falling especially on the poorest people. In this part of the world, extreme weather is worsened by climate change, pushing already vulnerable communities into debt, and closing down opportunities for health education.

Beyond climate change

"The water came up to here," he points to the middle of his chest, nodding emphatically.  "Two walls fell and the house filled up and fell down.  The water took all the firewood and the clothes.  It was scary, we had to go stay in the school up there," he tells us with eyes wide, pointing in the direction away from the coast.  

Hopes for Cancun

In the run up to the UN climate talks, we caught up with our Environmental Policy Officer, Petra Kjell, to find out what Progressio's hope are for the climate process.

So, Petra, why are we contributing to these debates?
 
Climate change is happening now and we need to take action. Everyone has a responsibility and everyone needs to do their bit. But this is also a global problem that requires global solutions and this is why the UN climate change negotiations are so important.

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