Climate change adaptation - Practical Action's project work
Adapting to climate change
Helping people to cope
It is the world's poorest people who are hardest hit by devastating droughts, floods and other extreme weather events. This is a massive injustice - climate change is caused by the world's richest countries.
Around the world, Practical Action is working with people to help them adapt to the effects of climate change.
Rainwater harvesting in Zimbabwe
Rainwater harvesting is a way of capturing rain as it falls and retaining it in the soil or in tanks below ground so it can be later used as a source of clean water.
Coping with climate change in Nepal
In order to address the adverse impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, Practical Action Nepal has been working in Chitwan to identify and develop adaptation and coping strategies.
Preparing for floods in Nepal
Early warning systems, protective shelters and strengthened river embankments can help to reduce the impact of disastrous floods in Chitwan, Nepal.
Adapting agriculture to climate change in Sri Lanka
Salt water in Sri Lanka's coastal rice fields is a problem getting worse as sea levels rise. Practical Action's work has included farmer-led trials of traditional and modern rice varieties which are saline-tolerant.
Getting water home
Women in northern Kenya are having to travel further each day in search of water. Practical Action has helped to develop panniers to make more efficient use of donkey transport.
Securing a future with livestock
Following the drought in northern Kenya earlier this year, Practical Action supported livestock, creating 'nucleus' herds - meaning that when the rains returned families had the means to support themselves.
Resisting the flood waters in Bangladesh
Practical Action has worked with communities in Bangladesh to develop simple and affordable flood-resistant housing. Simple ideas, like a two-foot high concrete plinth, which will prevent a house being washed away.
Floating gardens in Bangladesh
Much of the land in the Gaibandha district is covered by water during the monsoon season, making it impossible to grow crops. Practical Action has developed a technology to allow farmers to grow food on flooded land.
Freak freeze conditions in Peru
Practical Action is working with remote indigenous Andean communities to help protect their alpacas and potato varieties to improve livelihoods and biodiversity thereby reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Increasing the resilience of poor communities to cope with the impact of climate changeThis project aims to increase the resilience of 37,000 men, women and children from vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to cope with, and adapt to, the impacts of climate-induced hazards. It builds on Practical Action's existing experience of working with natural disaster-prone communities in South Asia, bringing together issues of poverty reduction, environmental and natural resources management, disaster risk reduction and climate change. Read more ... |
In addition, Practical Action is working around the world to tackle climate change by helping people choose and use technologies such as renewable energy that do not contribute to climate change:
Microhydro in Kenya
The Tungu-Kabri micro-hydro power project in Kenya is a cheap, sustainable and small-scale technology that harnesses the energy of falling water to make electricity
Renewable energy village, Nepal
In Nepal Practical Action has established an "Energy Village" demonstrating how renewable energies, micro hydro, solar and wind can make an enormous benefit to income generation and local development without increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
Low-energy building
Low-energy building blocks can be made out of one part cement mixed with 12 to 18 parts soil. These blocks are low-cost and use very little water or energy to make, because they can be built on-site and dried in the sun.
Wind power in Sri Lanka
Practical Action South Asia is developing reliable and cost effective wind energy systems for charging batteries to help meet the electrical energy needs of rural Sri Lankans who do not have access to the national grid.
