Lecture xi - Role of NGOs in response to Climate Change

Question 1

What are non-governmental organisations (NGOs)?

Answer 1

• non profit organisat n formed by members of public
• operate independently of any govt
• hv mission to benefit human welfare, betterment of society

Question 2

What do NGOs do?

Answer 2

ppl want to
- address challenge of CC
- do their part to save planet, prevent it fr further degrad n
- minimise effect of CC on more vulnerable grp of ppl in community
- ensure long-term sustainability of earth for future gen use

activites include:
- environ, social, advocacy, human rights work

=> NGOs play critical part in developing society, improve community, promote citizen participat n

• NGOs hv gain considerable influence in national, international decision-making
• more NGOs participating in international environ negotiat n, activities
  eg
  environmental NGOs (ENGOs) draft UNFCCC at Rio Earth Summit in 1992 by participate in govt delegat n, lobbying, build public pressure, contribute to content, structure of negotiat n texts

Question 3

What are possible responses of NGOs?

Answer 3

1. protect environ thru green campaign
   - Greenpeace, International
   - Oxfam
2. work w partner aid communities prone to CC
   - improve agri infra to adapt
   - improve infra to adapt
   - Bangladeshi NGO prepare smaller city b uprooted by CC

Question 4

Explain Greenpeace as green campaign

Answer 4

• global organisat n, uses peaceful protest, strategic communicat n to highlight environ issue, promote sol n rooted in social justice, help communities impacted by CC
  -investigate, expose, confront environ abuse, champion environmentally responsible sol n, advocate for rights, well-being of all ppl
  eg
  Saving the Arctic campaign
• arctic now warming 2x fast as global avg (home to 13mill ppl, habitat to wildlife)
• CC edi removed >= 75% Arctic summer sea ice vol
• Greenpeace success launch Save the Arctic campaign in 2012 in bid prevent oil drilling, unsustainable fishing
• creat n of Arctic Sanctuary, put signi port n Arctic waters off limit to exploit n fr oil drill, other heavy industries (respect rights of Arctic communities)

Effectiveness:
-no fishing, no military, no extract n FF, minerals
- kicked Shell plc off Alaska coast, pushed Obama admin n ban all new oil drill in US water
- stopped entire fish fleet bottom trawling ard Svalbard fr venturing into new areas. Success put Pa on Norwegian govt establish 10 area full protect fr destructive bottom trawling
- took Norwegian govt to court, prevent oil drill in Norwegian Arctic

Question 5

Explain Oxfam as green campaign

Answer 5

• Make Rich polluters pay campaign demand accountability fr major polluter responsible for climate crisis (tax, generate billion to fight CC, support community most affected, build fairer future
• major FF company (gas, oil , coal) responsible for >75% global ghg emis n
• heavily industrialised country & company plunder, pollute earth for own profit but ppl in poverty, least contributors suffer most devastating consequence
• according to Oxfam’s report ‘climate equality: a planet for the 99%’, richest 1% emit as much global warm pollut n as 2/3 of humanity

Question 6

Explain improving agricultural infrastructure to adapt in Nyanyadzi, Zimbabwe

Answer 6

• CC cause crop fail, water supply dry up
• Zimbabwe (land-locked country) farmer crops threatened by flood, drought
• In Nyanyadzi, one of driest region, Oxfam oso help farmers w partners (United Nations’ Development Programme, Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources) to adapt to CC by help them set up gravity-powerd irrigat n, build gabions acting as slit trap, facilitate, regulate water flow

Effectiveness:
- as a result, > 400 hectare fields irrigated, reach > 720 farmers as they grow crops in drought prone region (good harvests, annual income rose)
- Innovat n eg drought-resistant seeds, reinforced homes, training on how grow new crops mean ppl most at risk fr CC effects can carry on living, earn, learn whatever future bring

Question 7

Explain improving infrastructures to adapt to climate change

Answer 7

• CC caused extreme weather events eg intense tropical cyclones exacerbate impact on saltwater intrus n fr Bay of Bengal further into coastal inland area of Bangladesh, contaminate fresh water supply used for drinking, irrigat n, cause serious water shortage, esp during summer
• vulnerable community cnt preserve collected water for long, too poor to afford bottled water fr market
• NGOs work w CC project by World Bank, eg provided locals in Bangladesh villages w water tanks so they can harvest rainwater for consumpt n, helped fund desalinat n plants to provide clean drink water

Question 8

Explain Bangladeshi NGOs preparing smaller cities for people uprooted by climate change

Answer 8

• in S. Asia, Bangladesh is most vulnerable to CC. 2014 report fr UN Intergovt Panel on CC identify Bangladesh as being at risk fr CC bcos of exposure to sea lvl rise, extreme weather events, conc poverty
• every year, ~ 500 000 ppl displaced, take refuge in diff slums in Dhaka. By 2050, no. of ppl displaced by CC may stand at 13.2 million as sea lvl rise inundates ~ 18% coastal land (Dhaka cnt shelter migrants anymore)
• in 2021, w $ help fr German Dvlopmt bank, BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), largest NGO, took initiative absorb climate refugees in other cities w newly set up Climate Bridge Fund, help improve slum condit n in 5 smaller cities (eg chittagong, khulna, raj shahi) so displaced climate victim of nearby region no need move to slums in overcrowded capital Dhaka in Bangladesh
• BRAC, w Climate Bridge fund, work improve infra at slums of 5 cities so ppl hv btr water, sanitat n, hygiene svc, train displaced victim create livelihood opportun

Question 9

Evaluate overall effectiveness of NGOs

Answer 9

effective:
- more trustworthy, not driven by profit, political agenda (neutral, trustworthy partner, provide continuous aid vs govt affected by elect n or state of econ)

not effective:
- limited $, mgmt expertise
Eg how about 95% of NGO generally sees operation because of inability and entrance in raising adequate funds
- low lvl self-sustain
- lack inter-organisational communicat n, coordinat n, esp international activities, cause limited reach to more members of community or affected areas (lack concerted efforts)
- small scaler intervent n (limited uptake of efforts)
- disempowermt, over-reliance of local communities (perpetuate cycle dependency unsustainable)