The need
The poor are the most defenceless to the effects of climate change. They are least able to protect themselves and to recover from floods, droughts, typhoons and famines. They often live in the most vulnerable areas, such as low-lying land which floods or marginal agricultural land prone to drought, and are especially susceptible to tropical diseases that spread through migrating mosquitoes.
The vision
The millions of poor who are most affected by climate change can play an important part in reducing its effects. They can be helped to sequester carbon in natural ways, produce low-impact energy and to implement other small-scale technologies.
Harmful land use practices, like forest clearing and burning, are responsible for more than a third of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. About 80 per cent of these emissions from harmful land use practices are from developing countries. Therefore, the poor have an opportunity, as do developed countries, to participate in sustainable, beneficial projects.
Benefits
The poor benefit from participating in climate change solutions in numerous ecological, environmental, economic and social ways. These include better soil management, increased crop diversity, reduced desertification, revenue from sale of tree crops, improved crop yields, learning better farming methods and reduced vulnerability to climate change effects.
Revenue generated from carbon offset credits (derived from projects that sequester or reduce greenhouse emission gases) can be re-invested in local communities for health and nutrition, education, water and sanitation and economic development. This helps to alleviate poverty, transforms local communities and changes society in a way that fosters development. As bio-carbon markets grow, World Vision intends to help the poor gain a voice in their environmental future and be compensated for fighting the effects of climate change in their own communities.