CLIMATE CHANGE.
The evidence is clear: our climate is changing rapidly with devastating consequences for life on Earth.
Globally, climate-related fire, floods and weather events have displaced 21.5 million people per year since 2008. (UNHCR)
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
Climate change is the long-term change in weather and temperature patterns in a defined geographical location or ecosystem. While some level of climate variation is natural, the current rate of change is unprecedented and has been attributed to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
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The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and include rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, more frequent and severe extreme weather events, and shifts in ecosystems and species distribution.
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Addressing our relationship with and impact on the climate is crucial for safeguarding our planet's future and ensuring a sustainable and habitable world. The good news? Positive change is possible with the right approach. It is essential to recognise that we will never effectively address changes to the climate using the same mindset or systems that led to environmental destruction, civil rights abuses and excess emissions. Climate care, ecosystem restoration, and respect for human rights are all interlinked. A vital component of addressing climate change will be a shift in consciousness to reconnect with Nature and a restored focus on working holistically within local communities, biocultures, and ecosystems to care for our planet.
THE SCIENCE:
Burning fossil fuels releases gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, leading to the planet's warming and disrupting Earth's systems. Deforestation compounds the problem by releasing carbon stored in forests, preventing further carbon sequestration by forests and impacting the water cycles that provide rain to inland weather systems.
HEATING UP:
February 2023 to January 2024 was the first 12-month period with an average global temperature of 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. This 12-month period was also marked by numerous wildfires and extreme weather events.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND GENDER EQUITY.
Climate change disproportionately affects women due to underlying socioeconomic, political, and legal barriers. Gender-based cultural norms such as gender roles, domestic duties, and family responsibilities can hinder a woman’s ability to react quickly during a natural disaster. These same cultural norms also restrict access and exclude women from climate discussions and decision-making.
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Despite these barriers, women often have innate knowledge and expertise that can play a significant role in land and forest restoration efforts to mitigate climate change's impacts. Furthermore, women's contributions can support their communities in strengthening resilience against disasters and developing strategies to help families adapt to changing circumstances. Evidence shows that including women in decision-making and action planning improves community and climate outcomes. Women have a key role to play in climate solutions. Read more about why we centre women here.
Globally, women tend to take on more domestic and household-based roles. This means that in times of emergency, women tend to be within the home and may choose to remain there, a factor that directly contributed to 70% of the victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami being women.
(C) WECAN + SAFECO
(C) Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute.
WHAT WE ARE DOING.
TreeSisters supports communities, biodiversity and entire ecosystems - through this holistic approach, we aim to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Many of our project partners are located in places that experience extreme weather events and natural disasters linked to climate change.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing a concerning trend of more frequent and severe extreme weather events on a global scale, and some of our partners are feeling the effects. Within just six months, the project we support with Aquaverde and the Ashaninka people in Brazil has encountered both forest fires and flooding, endangering local people and threatening restoration efforts. As these extreme events continue to pose a risk, we are responding in the best way we can by listening to the needs of local people and taking an adaptable approach to our funding.
Our partners focus on working with local communities, original nations and indigenous peoples to restore forests and landscapes.
Our approach and impacts go far beyond the number of trees in the ground. They intend to rebalance power dynamics, support connections with Nature, empower women and champion the knowledge of those working directly with the natural environment they inhabit. All while reforesting and restoring our incredible natural world.
Trees provide numerous co-benefits for ecosystems and communities, including biodiversity conservation, soil erosion prevention, water purification, cultural cohesion and livelihood support for millions worldwide. We recognise the invaluable role of trees and communities in climate change mitigation and their role as critical components of global climate action.
(C) International Tree Foundation.
Forests can act as climate safeguards, sequestering carbon into the trees and the forest floor and stabilising local weather systems. However, deforestation exacerbates climate change. Removing trees releases carbon, prevents further carbon sequestration and impacts regional humidity and rainfall.
