Facing
climate change

Those that did not cause climate change are hit the hardest

This is the story
of Federman Moreno

Colombia

This is the story
of Simangaliso Dube

Zimbabwe

This is the story
of Nasrin Begum

Bangladesh

Urgent climate action is needed now – before it is too late

The Swiss NGO DRR Platform calls on decision-makers and investors, especially those in Switzerland, to make the necessary changes to foster a low carbon and climate resilient future

Impacts of climate change

Colombia

Climate change is a high to very-high risk for livelihoods, health and economic development in many areas of Colombia. It is expected to accelerate land degradation, impact water quality and agricultural production.

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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is located in a semi-arid region characterised by large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall, with climate change making the timing and volume of rainfall much more uncertain. The country faces severe droughts, heatwaves, heavy rains and flash floods.

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The country is flat and low-lying, dependent on the monsoon system and as the population is impoverished its coping capacity is severely reduced.

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We must limit global warming to 1.5°C to avoid a global climate disaster.

Current commitments for cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are not enough.

Climate change hits the poorest communities of the world the hardest.

Rich countries need to provide more funding for adaptation and low-carbon development in poorer countries.

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This website has been developed by member organizations of the Swiss NGO DRR Platform to convey the human story of climate change and the challenges it brings to the billions of poor people and most vulnerable of the world.

https://drrplatform.org

© Swiss NGO DRR Platform, 2018

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Colombia

Climate change is a high to very-high risk for livelihoods, health and economic development in many areas of Colombia. It is expected to accelerate land degradation, impact water quality and agricultural production as well as increasing exposure to tropical vector diseases, such as malaria and dengue. In addition, Colombia has one of the highest rates of internally displaced people in the world, leaving over six million people especially vulnerable to climate change.

The average annual temperature in Colombia is projected to increase by 2.4 °C by 2100, and in the Caribbean and Amazonian regions precipitation is projected to decrease by between 10 to 40% by 2100. By 2060, the sea level on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts could increase by between 40 to 60 cm, with approximately 23,000 hectares of coastline in the Caribbean region expected to be lost by 2100.

Colombia already has the highest recurrence of extreme weather events in South America. Climate change is expected to further increase the incidence of droughts, floods, landslides, heavy rainfall, glacier retreat as well as heatwaves and forest fires. Climate change may also lead to more intense El Niño and La Niña events, with resulting challenges in crop production and water supply.

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Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is located in a semi-arid region characterised by large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall, with climate change making the timing and volume of rainfall much more uncertain. The country faces severe droughts, heatwaves, heavy rains and flash floods. According to the Zimbabwe Meteorological Service, not only has rainfall declined by 5% across the country during the last century but the frequency and intensity of both mid-season dry spells and droughts occurring back-to-back in the same season have increased.

The impact of climate change is particularly significant for agriculture, which is the primary source of income and food for most households in Zimbabwe. Approximately 80% of the rural population is dependent on rain-fed agriculture, making those people highly vulnerable to climate change.

Climate change has already shifted the boundaries of the five main agro-ecological zones in Zimbabwe. The projected hotter and drier conditions, in particular drought, are expected to have major implications for agricultural productivity, food security and poverty reduction.

Furthermore, climate change is expected to lead to a further reduction in the amount of land suitable for agriculture, as well as to a scarcity in domestic water. It is also likely to reduce both surface water resources and pastureland-carrying capacity, but increase the incidence of malaria.

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The country is flat and low-lying, dependent on the monsoon system and as the population is impoverished its coping capacity is severely reduced.

According to the IPCC, the number of intense cyclones in Bangladesh, with higher wind speeds and storm surges, is likely to rise in the future. The coastal zone, home to nearly 40 million people, is especially vulnerable. Sea-level rise, high tides and storm surges lead to seawater flooding and the salinization of soils, as well as both fresh and groundwater. Drinking water security is further affected by the changing rainfall patterns that alter groundwater recharge, and the projected prolongation of the dry season.

Currently, nearly six million people are exposed to high salinity surface waters in Bangladesh. Climate change is expected to increase this number to close to 14 million by 2050, most directly affecting the coastal populations in Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat Districts. The sustained intake of saline drinking water causes several severe health problems, including hypertension and miscarriage among pregnant women, skin diseases, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases.

Given the crucial role that women play in water security and household resilience, the impact of climate change on agricultural livelihoods and drinking water security disproportionately affect the women and girls of Bangladesh. Women and girls not only lack access to income-generating resources, but also to decision-making power, with socio-cultural barriers limiting participation outside the home.