Looking to the future: Our colleagues share their hopes…
We asked colleagues to share their hopes for the future…
Lucy Stevens: Head of Urban Services
My wish for the next 20 years is for a transformation in how cities operate and a movement towards being more people-centred. Too often, visions for cities are about steel, glass and highways, not people. I’d like to see more slum and low income residents helping shape responses to the changing climate – so that when a drought makes water scarce, or when floods are forecast, the impacts are minimal. Communities should be able to continue to thrive and grow, learning to live with climate change impacts.
Western Kenya: Promoting World Toilet Day 2022 and the urgent need for improved sanitation in urbanizing towns.
Tom Stevenson: Energy and Climate Officer
Sadly, a certain level of climate change is now locked-in by past emissions, and people face the grim reality of worsening impacts around the world. Therefore, I hope to see modern energy solutions that are climate resilient and increase people’s resilience so that gains in health, incomes, and overall wellbeing can be sustained. I hope to see modern energy supporting natural ecosystems and long term food security: for example, enabling regenerative agriculture that is also profitable for rural people.
Monica Cuba: Knowledge and Communication Officer for Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, in Bolivia
During the hard quarantine of COVID 19, we received calls from the communities in Bolivia we worked with. They were concerned about how people in the city were coping. They were actually more resilient than people in the city, partly because of the work we were doing with them. This is what I want for the future. For the people we work with, and their children, to live in resilient spaces, adapting their livelihoods to any effects of climate change or other threats.
Naman Ondego: Senior Project Officer, Transforming Rural Economies and Youth Livelihoods
Our work with young people in Kenya, introducing them to regenerative farming, has created a promising trend of increased food productivity and job creation at a minimal cost. I hope this continues. Young people have a vital role to play in the future of food production and environmental protection. They can bring fresh perspectives, energy, creativity, and passion to this field. They can also benefit from the skills, knowledge, income, and impact that a career in farming can offer. It’s a practical way that youths can contribute to a more resilient and healthy food system for themselves and future generations.
You can help us start making these future visions a reality, today. Make a gift at practicalaction.org/donate Thank you.
We’d love to hear about your hopes for the future! Share them with us on social media using #HopeNeedsAction