Healing the Planet

As global temperatures continue to rise, climate change has become one of the most pressing challenges of our time. The year 2024 was recorded as the hottest since record-keeping began in 1659, a stark reminder of the urgency of the crisis. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels and prolonged droughts are transforming economies and communities. However, every cloud has a silver lining.

While climate change is often seen as gloom and doom, disaster and despair, there are countless stories of resilience, adaptation, and innovation. Around the world, individuals and communities are finding ways to tackle this crisis—one farm, one forest, and one innovative idea at a time. Here, we explore some remarkable stories of hope and solutions that are making a difference.

Better Yields with Climate-Resilient Farming

Agriculture is one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change, with extreme heat, irregular rainfall, and pest infestations affecting food production. In India, a quarter of the country’s food supply is lost to pests, a problem worsened by climate change. But in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, farmers have adopted climate-smart agricultural practices, reducing crop losses and increasing their yields. Simple interventions like improved farm management and pest control techniques have helped them build resilience against unpredictable weather patterns.

A similar story of adaptation comes from Guatemala, where beans are a staple food. Faced with prolonged droughts, farmers began using a traditional method—punching holes in the soil with wooden spades before planting drought-resistant bean varieties. This localized solution has helped secure food supplies in the region, proving that climate challenges can be met with innovative, simple, and community-driven approaches.

Restoring Forests, Restoring Livelihoods

Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, acting as carbon sinks that absorb greenhouse gases. In India’s West Bengal state, a community-led reforestation project has transformed barren, rocky hills into lush greenery. The region around the Chotanagpur plateau was once home to dense forests, but deforestation due to industrial activities had left the landscape degraded.

Determined to reverse this damage, 125 villagers came together; planting nearly eight million trees over 5,000 acres. This on-going initiative has not only restored the environment but also improved local livelihoods. According to the Tagore Society for Rural Development, forest restoration in the area has increased people’s average income by 20%, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

Water water everywhere, even in the arid desert?

Ladakh, an arid region nestled between the Greater Himalayas and the Karakoram mountain ranges, faces severe water shortages, especially in spring. Despite being home to mighty glaciers, the region receives minimal rainfall and experiences harsh winters that delay the sowing season.

A decade ago, local innovator Sonam Wangchuk introduced a ground-breaking solution—artificial glaciers, or “ice stupas.” These towering ice structures store winter water, slowly melting in spring to provide much-needed irrigation. This creative approach has significantly boosted agricultural productivity in Ladakh. In 2023, potato harvests increased to 3,500 kilograms, ensuring food security and economic stability for local farmers.

Grasslands are not wastelands!

Grasslands, often overlooked, play a vital role in carbon sequestration. Unlike forests, which store most of their carbon above ground, grasslands store it underground, making them resilient to wildfires and deforestation.

In Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, local communities have embraced the conservation of brown grasslands, which sustain livestock and support diverse flora and fauna. Protecting these rangelands ensures sustainable grazing for nomadic pastoralists while strengthening an important carbon sink.

Climate-Smart Villages: Empowering Farmers

In central India’s Madhya Pradesh, the Climate Smart Villages Project is helping farmers adopt natural farming techniques to combat climate change. Launched in Sehore, Satna, and Rajgarh districts, this initiative promotes sustainable practices such as direct seeding of paddy, pulse cultivation on raised beds, organic manure usage, and drought-tolerant seeds.

Farmers have also turned to zero-cost natural fertilizers made from locally available plants like neem and Calotropis, reducing their dependence on chemical fertilizers. By improving soil health and minimizing emissions, this project is creating a model for sustainable agriculture.

Troubled by climate change, saved by lavender

Kashmir’s horticulture sector is struggling with unseasonal rains, heat waves, and water shortages. Given that 60% of the region’s agriculture depends on rain-fed irrigation, changing weather patterns have left orchardists vulnerable.

To counter these challenges, the government launched the Aroma Mission, promoting lavender cultivation as an alternative livelihood. Lavender, a drought-resistant crop, requires minimal water and provides high-value essential oils used in cosmetics and fragrances. Over 1,000 families across 200 acres in Kashmir have already embraced this shift, ensuring financial stability while adapting to climate change.

Guarding trout from climate vagaries

At the foothills of the Himalayas, Kashmir’s trout farmers are overcoming climate challenges through innovative water management. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) are helping maintain a steady flow of clean, cold water, critical for trout farming.

By tapping into groundwater through bore-wells and filtering impurities, farmers ensure a sustainable supply of water, even during dry spells. The success of RAS has led to a surge in fish farms across the region, with over 1,200 new farms established in recent years, providing livelihoods for many.

Cooling Cities with Green Spaces

As urban areas face rising temperatures, cities worldwide are adopting climate-resilient strategies to combat the Urban Heat Island effect. Paris has introduced the OASIS project, transforming asphalt-covered schoolyards into lush green spaces that function as cooling islands. Over 100 schoolyards have been converted, providing relief from extreme heat and improving the well-being of residents.

Inspired by this success, cities across the world are implementing similar initiatives, proving that simple urban planning solutions can have a significant impact on climate adaptation.

Balm to the wounds

In Odisha, farmers once faced devastating crop losses due to pest infestations. In response, a high school student, Rishikesh Nayak, developed ‘Kishan Know,’ a technology-driven solution to predict pest attacks.

Using satellite images and thermal cameras, the system detects early signs of pest infestations, alerting farmers 12 hours in advance. This innovation has drastically reduced crop damage, empowering farmers to take timely action and protect their livelihoods.

Newsrooms broadcasting hope

Climate change coverage often focuses on doom and gloom, leaving readers anxious and helpless. A recent PEW Research Center survey revealed that 70% of respondents felt saddened by climate news, and only 38% felt motivated to act.

The media has a crucial role to play in shifting this narrative. By dedicating more space to solutions journalism, newsrooms can inspire hope and action. Imagine if every newsroom had a dedicated desk for climate solutions—stories of community-led reforestation, innovative water conservation, and resilient farming would reach wider audiences, empowering them to take action.

(Note: This is an edited excerpt from “Climate Change: New Answers to an Old Question”- the book Abid co-authored and was published last in June 2024 by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a Germany based think-tank.)