White paper: Elevating the voices of affected people in climate adaptation

• by Wendy Chamberlin and Graham Wright
• Feb 21, 2024
• 1 min
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MSC’s whitepaper with CGAP and CIFAR Alliance provides insights on elevating the voices of affected people in climate adaptation.

By 2030, half of the global population could be exposed to the harsh realities of heatwaves, droughts, and floods. This is a direct consequence of an increase in Earth’s temperature by 1.5C above preindustrial levels. Vulnerable communities bear the brunt of these climate shocks and stresses. It affects their homes, health, livelihoods, and access to essential services.

Research in various sectors, such as finance, agriculture, health, and food security, has shed light on how financial services can boost the resilience of those most affected by climate change. However, very few studies directly incorporate the affected individuals’ perspectives, which poses a significant challenge. Without their perspectives, we risk oversimplification of their experiences with climate events and overlook existing community resilience efforts. The ripple effect of climate shocks further complicates matters. This emphasizes the need for holistic solutions that consider the multifaceted impacts on vulnerable populations. Rushed efforts to create targeted interventions may overlook these complexities, which can result in ineffective outcomes.

We must amplify the voices of vulnerable populations and understand their experiences firsthand to address their challenges. Only then can we develop holistic, community-driven solutions that recognize the multidimensional impacts of climate change and foster genuine resilience.

Our whitepaper with CGAP and CIFAR Alliance provides more information on elevating the voices of affected people in climate adaptation.