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On The Path of Climate Progress © Rhiannon Hare/The Nature Conservancy

Perspectives

On the Path of Climate Progress

Communities around the world are leading a culture of action on climate change

The world has encountered few threats as severe as climate change, and it will take a concerted global effort to change our current dangerous course. But the 2015 Paris Agreement has put the world on a new path. While there have setbacks, the last three years have seen significant progress on climate action—and not just at the national level, but on the ground, where thousands of organizations, businesses and communities are carrying the world forward on this path.

As we approach the Global Climate Action Summit, we’re seeing even more leadership from these sub-national actors who realize climate action can actually be an opportunity for investment and growth. States and regions are taking the lead on clean energy, cities are finding innovative ways to adapt to rising seas, and businesses are realizing big opportunities by investing in nature itself to reduce emissions.

There’s no doubt we’re at a critical moment for the future of our planet. But we’re given hope by the leaders at every level and in every sector who are helping their communities adapt to the changing climate even as they work to mitigate further temperature increases. Below, we share eight remarkable stories of the global progress on tackling climate change.

Insuring Reefs Ensures the Safety of Coastal Communities in Mexico

Mexico © TNC

Coral reefs are incredible natural buffers from coastal storms—a healthy reef can absorb up to 97 percent of a wave’s force. But reefs themselves can be damaged by severe storms, putting nearby communities at greater risk. In Mexico’s state of Quintana Roo, the state government, hotel owners, The Nature Conservancy and the local science community are piloting an innovative strategy to confront this threat. The Coastal Zone Management Trust uses taxes collected from the local business community to finance ongoing maintenance of reefs and beaches—and to purchase a first-of-its-kind insurance policy to ensure these vital ecosystems are restored after extreme storms hit.

Insuring Nature Mark Tercek, CEO of the Nature Conservancy, explains how an insurance policy could help restore coral reefs.

"Too often leaders believe protecting nature … is at the expense of the economy or human well-being. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. We’ve made great progress quantifying what you can achieve by investing in nature."

- Mark Tercek, CEO of The Nature Conservancy

States Take on the Mantle of Climate Leadership in the U.S.

USA © TNC

While the fate of the United States in the Paris Agreement remains uncertain, California lawmakers voted to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program, which sets an annual limit on greenhouse gas emissions that declines over time and requires companies to purchase or trade “allowances” for each ton of emissions. Meanwhile, in Iowa and other states where agriculture is a major source of emissions, TNC is working with farmers to implement soil health practices that both increase their yields and reduce their carbon footprints. And in New Hampshire, a clean energy fund is enabling investments that not only cut emissions but also reduce energy costs and create new jobs. 

Clean Energy in NH Scott Nichols discusses clean energy action in New Hampshire.

"It is very important for our future that we use what we can make here, just solar, wind, hydro, tidal and wood based energy, and maybe some other stuff in the future that we don't know about yet."

-Scott Nichols, Energy Committee Member, Lyme, New Hampshire

Climate Action in Iowa Tim Smith discusses sustainable agriculture on his family farm in Iowa.

"We live in a system, and everybody has an impact on that. As a farmer, it's important for me to be aware of that and do the things I can do."

-Tim Smith, corn and soybean farmer, Iowa

Green Growth Opportunities in Indonesia

Indonesia © TNC

Forests are some of the most important carbon sinks on the planet—but many countries also rely on their forests as a source of economic development. This doesn’t have to be a conflict, though—in fact, preserving and restoring forests is a growing business opportunity. Improving the management of working forests is a key strategy a new Green Growth Compact in Indonesia’s East Kalimantan Province. A partnership between 25 companies, government agencies, communities and nonprofit groups, the compact focuses on improving the management of 2.4 million acres of forest. The plan aims to both stimulate the local economy and also reduce forest-based carbon emissions by nearly 3 million tons each year—the equivalent of removing 600 million cars from the roads.

Community Action TNC developed a social process for engaging communities so that they are able sustain their natural resources.

"East Kalimantan is gearing up to be a leading example of what integrated action across all sectors of the economy can do."

-Justin Adams, Managing Director for Global Lands, The Nature Conservancy

Mapping and Enhancing Natural Defenses on the Frontlines in The Caribbean

Caribbean Islands © TNC

Small island nations like those in the Caribbean are on the front lines of climate change, threatened by more frequent and intense storms, flooding and degradation of the coral reefs that once mitigated the impact of storms. To protect these important reefs, a cross-sector group of partners is working to map the Caribbean’s coral reefs, combining layers of date from satellites, drones, aircraft and SCUBA divers to providing a first-of-its-kind assessment of reef health. That new data will allow for better management and decision making, such as identifying where reefs need to be supplemented by built infrastructure, as is being done in Grenville, Grenada. The local government, community members and a range of partners are working together to test an artificial reef design that emulates natural reefs. Not only will these reef installations improve storm resilience, they also attract some of the species local fishermen depend on for their livelihoods.

At the Water's Edge The beach is disappearing in Grenville, Grenada and coastal communities around the world face a similar situation.

"Most of the people in this area rely on the sea … the protecting of the reef is so very important for sustaining their livelihoods."

-Emmalin Pierre, Governor of Grenada

Supplying Water and Storing Carbon in Brazil’s Watersheds

Brazil © TNC

The challenges of water security and carbon emissions have a common solution: trees. Restoring and protecting forests in watersheds helps to reduce sediment pollution, improve water filtration and sequester carbon. In Brazil, for example, water funds in the cities of Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo offer a mechanism to engage actors in both the public and private sectors to invest in the restoration and protection of the Guandu and Cantareira watersheds. The result is both cleaner, more reliable water supplies for the cities and less carbon in the atmosphere.

Guandu Water Fund Learn about the water fund that protects Rio de Janeiro's water and benefits farmers upstream.

"When the forest is grown I’ll trap about 600 tons of carbon … Imagine if all the large landowners in this country did a little bit of what I’m doing."

-Carlos Alberto Marques, retired farmer and watershed reforestation participant, Guandu, Brazil

Women Embody Community Resilience in the Pacific

Federated States of Micronesia © TNC

Where do you go when there is no higher land than the sea’s edge? Climate change is fundamentally altering reality for residents of low-lying, vulnerable islands in Micronesia and Melanesia. The burdens caused by rising seas and diminishing freshwater supplies do not fall equitably, either—so often women bear the responsibility for keeping their families fed and safe under these challenging circumstances. But women in the Pacific are helping to lead efforts to adapt. A first-of-its kind convening in March brought together women leaders from seven island nations to share their stories and discuss their strategies for adaptation.

Women's Voices Emeliana Musrasrik-Carl discusses the importance of women's voices in conservation.

"To be frank, our world will probably tip over if we do not value women’s views. I would like to believe that the lawmakers of our country—who are mostly men—will cherish the voices of women."

-Emeliana Musrasrik-Carl from Pohnpei, Migrant Resource Center, Micronesia Coordinator

Pastoral Communities Adapt to a New Business Climate in Kenya

Kenya © TNC

On the grasslands of northern Kenya, the annual rains have followed a predicable rhythm for millennia. But disruptions to that rhythm, brought on by climate change, are threatening both wildlife and pastoralist communities as worsening cycles of drought create greater competition for grass. One way local community conservancies are addressing this issue is by managing grasslands to maintain wildlife habitat while also enabling sustainable livestock grazing. The Northern Rangelands Trust then purchases cattle from conservancies that have implemented rigorous sustainable grazing plans, with the help of impact investment funds raised by TNC’s NatureVest unit. This model gives herders access to more lucrative mobile markets and directs some of the income back to the community conservancies. These healthier, better-managed grasslands also sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

Livestock to Markets The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest initiative is helping to scale the Livestock to Markets program in northern Kenya.

"The cattle are there. The numbers are there. The market is there. It’s really just about scaling it up."

-Tom Lalampaa, Chief Program Officer, Northern Rangelands Trust

For media inquiries about our global climate work, contact media@tnc.org.

Further Reading

  • Special Feature: Natural Climate Solutions

    Explore the science of natural science solutions. View

  • New Research: Natural Climate Solutions in California

    Ecosystem management and land conservation can substantially contribute to California's climate mitigation goals. View

  • Special Feature: The Soil Science Imperative

    Soil carbon sequestration and the conservation of existing soil carbon stocks is an important mitigation pathway for global climate goals. View

  • Special Feature: Investing in Blue Carbon

    Coastal wetlands can protect communities and store a level of carbon equivalent to stopping the burning of over 2 billion barrels of oil. View