Climate Change Action Plan: A Global Perspective on Human Well-Being
Since 1990, the poorest 50% of the world’s population have been responsible for just 7% of total global emissions.  In fact, the entire continent of Africa has accounted for less than 3% of total global emissions.
In addition, as the climate resilience color gradients on the map indicate, Africa is now also most likely to endure the worst impacts of climate change.
“In the 21st century, I think the heroes will be the people who will improve the quality of life, fight poverty and introduce more sustainability.“
Bertrand Piccard
What Lies at the Heart of the “People & Planet” Climate Action Plan?
The People & Planet Plan is centered around a proven Employ-to-Plant initiative, which transforms under-served communities and also creates a living wage for people in extreme poverty — all through the planting and nurture of mangrove forests.
Climate Change Action Plan: Impact 1 – Carbon Capture
Why mangroves? Nothing is more critical to the global climate-change mitigation than removing existing carbon from the air as effectively and swiftly as possible. Mangroves store more carbon per unit area than any other ecosystem on Earth. They’re vital entities that capture and stockpile large quantities of “blue” carbon in both the bodies of the plant and the sediment beneath them.
Compare mangrove forests to terrestrial ones: Mangroves store up to 10 times more carbon per hectare (100 acres). Plus, while the latter store carbon in their trunks and branches and release it when the trees die, mangroves store the most carbon in their soil and sediment. If left undisturbed, that carbon can stay put for millennia.
This carbon-storing superpower makes mangroves a critical part of the global climate solution.But that’s not all — check out Impact 3 below!
Climate Change Action Plan:Â Impact 2 – Climate Justice
Mangroves are native to a limited band of global locations, including Madagascar. Here, at one 600-hectare site, just $20 will create one full day of work — and fair income — for a community member to plant 100 mangroves!
The “Employ-to-Plant“ structure has provided fair wage employment in Madagascar since 2007. This is critical, since the island has the third highest rate of extreme poverty in the world. In fact, 3 out of every 4 people there live off less than $1.90 a day. The population also endures the world’s first climate-induced famine.
As well as creating livelihoods and increased household income, recent surveys of local employees also report changes in families’ abilities to meet food needs, secure health services, and access water sources.
All of these elements enable Employ-to-Plant projects in Africa to multiply several-fold the environmental and social benefits of every dollar invested: alleviating poverty AND increasing the volume of CO2 removed from the air!
Climate Change Action Plan:Â Impact 3 – Climate Adaptation
Because mangroves are so efficient in sequestering carbon, they have become a key tool in tackling global climate change. Equally important, restored mangrove forests also protect exposed coastal communities from harmful environmental impacts like rising seas and flooding, while functioning as vital habitats for marine life.
When it comes to biodiversity (within the Madagascar location), the preservation and replenishment of these native “gems” is especially crucial, since 90% of the region’s forests have been destroyed and a full 90% of plants and wildlife is exclusive to this island.
When all of these factors are added together, it’s easy to see that local geographic areas supported by an Employ-to-Plant infrastructure will steadily enhance their climate resilience over time, making them better armed to withstand the effects of increased global warming in the future.
Race Against Time Quick Quiz:
How well do you know The Magical Forests Between Land and Sea? Find out here!
Climate Change Action Plan:Â Impact 4 – Climate Mitigation
No climate action plan could be complete without a focus on how to reduce emissions going forward! Check out the chart here for the four areas where we all have the opportunity to make smart changes that can really count, starting with home energy usage which represents the largest single source of personal emissions.
The final element in the People & Planet Climate Change Action Plan is that all supporters of the Employ-to-Plant project in Marovolavo, Madagascar also receive a subscription to a monthly Sustainable Solutions series. This informative content provides you with a practical road-map for creating your own low-carbon lifestyle. It’s a digital collection highlighting 12 practical contexts to heighten carbon sensitivity in our daily lives including the principles of a Circular Economy, the critical importance of water, emissions reduction through home-life choices, the impact of travel or food waste…and much more!
Taken together, these highly relevant pieces offer a personal climate mitigation plan that complements the carbon removal and climate resilience benefits already underway on the ground in Africa!Â
Race Against Time Quick Quiz:
Do you think you would be great at Grappling with Greenhouse Gases? Find out here.
“Everyone is going to need to understand climate change the same way you would assume everyone in business needs to have some fluency in social media today, or that everyone would be able to use a computer 20 years ago.”
Andrew Winston
The People & Planet Climate Change Action Plan aligns with a framework recently drawn up by the climate action think-tank, Project Drawdown. Its final assessment highlighted the necessity to work holistically on all aspects of the climate equation—namely 3 connected areas:
1. Support Sinks — uplift nature’s carbon cycle
2. Improve Society — foster equality for all
3. Reduce Sources — bring emissions to zero
The People & Planet Plan directly addresses each of these three areas. If you subscribe to the Purpose on the Planet monthly newsletter, you’ll be able to learn more about the power of restored mangrove forests to provide much needed livelihoods and income. You’ll also get inspired to make your own 4-in-1 climate impact changes.
