Every child is promised of a resilient, sustainable future
A thriving environment for children and the future generations to come
Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people globally live in highly vulnerable contexts to climate change. In East Asia, due to its vast coastline, high dependence on the Mekong River’s natural resources in most countries, forest degradation, natural resources exploitation, and relatively low capacity to adapt to the changing climatic conditions, each country in the region has been experiencing the ramifications of climatic change in diverse ways. Livelihood disruption, economic losses, crop failures, water crisis, damaged infrastructure, and health concerns are among the climate-induced issues that have a profound impact on communities and children in particular, limiting their opportunities for education, holistic growth and well-being.
Without action on climate change, disasters will continue to intensify, land degrade and desertification accelerate, and the hunger crisis will be further exacerbated.
There is an urgency to act collectively at various fronts and levels on mitigation and adaptation. At World Vision, we believe that every child has the right to both a healthy and safe environment today and a sustainable future. Children are asking us to act now. We are working hard to respond to climate change and disasters. We partner with communities to restore the environment, build resilience, advocate for climate action from local to global stages, and ensure continued well-being and sustainable development for all.
A crisis we cannot ignore
During the last 50 years, the Asia Pacific region has witnessed a multifold increase in natural disasters.
Our priorities for climate action
Appropriate climate action will be taken up under our six identified priority areas incorporated into our developmental work:
- Children empowerment for climate action
- Clean energy and energy-efficient applications
- Restoration of ecosystems and natural resources
- Promote sustainable agriculture and alternative livelihoods
- Water management
- Disaster preparedness for community resilience
Children empowerment for climate action
Children will be empowered to participate and advocate for climate action through various platforms such as children consultations, national/ international forums, child-led street plays, rallies, campaigns, and child journalism on climate change.
Clean energy & energy-efficient applications
Communities are introduced to and assisted to access clean energy and energy-efficient applications at household and community levels, including alternative cooking energy for rural communities.
Restoration of ecosystems and natural resources
This includes the regeneration of degraded forest lands, community lands, farmlands and mangroves through our project models and community-led ecosystem-restoration solutions such as Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and Regreening Communities.
Promote sustainable agriculture & alternate livelihoods
World Vision is replicating climate-smart agriculture across its programmes, especially in communities experiencing the impact of the climate crisis. This approach attempts to improve agricultural productivity and increase adaptation to climate change. Where possible, it also helps to reduce the practices that have negatively contributed to climate change.
Water management
Water management through rainwater harvesting includes the construction of small check dams, community ponds, farm ponds and the installation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. This solution helps to improve surface and ground water availability in water-scarce areas.
Disaster preparedness for community resilience
World Vision partners with vulnerable children, families, and communities to reduce their exposure to climate risks through a community-led approach to disaster risk management. When disasters hit, we rapidly respond to provide urgent life-saving assistance and support the recovery of disaster-affected populations. To complement our community-based approach, we promote ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction strategies (e.g. early warning system, habitat restoration, soil conservation) that serve as nature-based solutions to disaster risk in some of the most vulnerable communities.
Related stories & features
Environmental Stewardship
In recognition of the criticality of the climate change issue as well as being a good steward of the natural environment, World Vision has been taking necessary initiatives towards reducing the organisational carbon emissions through its various operations at all levels. This encompasses intentional reduction of electricity consumption, vehicle usage, in-house fuel, paper usage and air travel.
