The consequences of climate change—including the escalation of sea levels, the disruption of ecosystems, and the occurrence of more frequent and severe extreme weather events—are becoming more apparent worldwide as global temperatures continue to rise. However, their impacts are not uniformly distributed; they frequently have the most severe impact on vulnerable communities.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we discuss a UN pilot program in Namibia that is testing a novel method of financing climate adaptation with Katherine Browne, a research fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute, and Margaret Angula, a senior lecturer at the University of Namibia. The project’s objective is to empower local communities by granting them direct access to decision-making and funding, thereby enabling them to develop resilience to climate change.
The process of climate adaptation involves adjusting to the effects of climate change in order to reduce risks and capitalize on new opportunities. This is an essential component of addressing the climate crisis, particularly for communities that are already grappling with substantial obstacles.
The United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF) is one of the most significant mechanisms for financing climate adaptation initiatives worldwide. Nevertheless, restrictions like unequal financing and distribution have made climate finance less effective, which emphasizes the need for more decentralized funding models. Browne elaborates:
There’s a recognition that the money the UN has been providing is not reaching the communities that need it most – so-called frontline communities.
She has been conducting an analysis of a US$200 million GCF pilot program that is currently in progress. The program is designed to address this issue by directly engaging local communities in the design and implementation of the projects. The goal is to guarantee that resources are directed to the communities that are most impacted and that they align with local priorities. Namibia is one of the countries that has received funding through this pilot program, and it is one of the most vulnerable to rising temperatures.
Angula, who is collaborating with Browne to evaluate the equitable distribution of climate finance to communities throughout Namibia, underscores the significance of community-led adaptation initiatives. Namibian communities are employing the funding to address climate change in a variety of ways, such as by drilling solar-powered borehole devices for water access and investing in firefighting equipment to prevent the spread of wildfires. In accordance with Angula:
[The programme] worked well for communities that have a level of awareness and knew what they were doing. The community came up with a project idea and how the money was spent.
Browne believes that community-led adaptation programs such as these have “a lot of potential,” but he acknowledges that there are constraints on the amount of funding that can be allocated through these models. She states, “It should not be the sole approach; however, I believe it will become a more significant component of the approach.”
You can listen to Browne and Angula on The Conversation Weekly podcast, which also includes an introduction from Kofo Belo-Osagie, the commissioning editor at The Conversation in Nigeria.
