Locally-led climate action – are we doing enough?

As climate change continues challenging our world, the call for locally-led climate action has never been louder. With a growing consensus that the most effective approaches are those tailored to local contexts, the global climate community is paying close attention. In this article, we delve into the crucial role of locally-led initiatives, spotlighting smallholder farmers in Uganda who are at the forefront of this movement. We also discuss the implications of the recent cancellation of the Regional Climate Weeks (RCWs) and what this means for the future of grassroots climate action.

Regional climate weeks: A missed opportunity?

Regional climate weeks introduced by UNFCCC, the UN Climate change body, aim to improve the contextualisation of climate action and amplify local voices. RCWs were established as a platform where government and non-governmental organisations could collaborate on region specific climate issues and provide space for a grassroots exchange. However, this year, the UNFCCC Secretariat announced that these crucial discussions will be cancelled due to funding issues. This announcement has raised concerns that an invaluable opportunity to amplify regional and local voices at the forefront of the climate fight will be lost. It is particularly concerning for countries like Uganda, where locally-led initiatives are crucial for building resilience against climate change.

Smallholder farmers at the heart of locally-led climate action

In Uganda, several initiatives are underway for smallholder farmers with a clear focus on mitigation and adaptation. One such initiative is the Climate Resilience Agri-Business for Tomorrow (CRAFT) project, implemented by SNV and its partners. Here, building resilience is at the heart of locally-led action. This project has promoted farmers' access to contextualised climate and weather information, enabling them to make informed decisions supporting farming productivity in times of climate change-related stresses and shocks. SNV's Country Director in Uganda, Phomolo Maphosa, asserts that the key lesson learned during the project is that effective locally-led climate action requires a two-pronged approach of both mitigation and adaptation.

Indeed, the role of smallholder farmers in mitigation activities is often not considered. However, many organisations acknowledge that smallholders can significantly contribute to mitigation and benefit from it, such as improved yields and livelihood resilience.

This is where locally-led climate action can be crucial in understanding a locally appropriate set of adaptation and mitigation measures. Events like RCWs could bring additional visibility to the localisation issue; however, for smallholder farmers, climate action happens on the ground, and the implementation of “local climate action” is not as simple as it may seem.

Locally-led action for meaningful engagement

Many donors and international organisations, including SNV, see an incredible value in locally-led climate action. Indeed, “locally led” is frequently equated to the effectiveness of climate action. Yet, there is a considerable knowledge gap in both research and practice on how to approach locally-led action to ensure meaningful engagement, and there is evidence that there is a lot to improve in how we engage with local communities. Some organisations have already introduced processes for the engagement of local communities. However, it is not unusual that participation is driven by ad-hoc consultations whose recommendations remain largely without impact.

The need for effective and inclusive climate action

Given the urgency of climate change, locally-led climate action should be effective in problem solving and, at the same time, inclusive and representative in identifying climate change solutions. Focusing solely on the inclusiveness of locally-led action without considering sufficiently its instrumental value could be an oversight. The instrumental value could include not only the identification of the most relevant and feasible local solutions, increased buy-in and more effective implementation, but also more inclusive and equitable outcomes for local people and communities.

It is essential to provide space for the inclusion of local voices, and these engagements must be meaningful, effective, and solution-oriented. SNV has been historically involved in strengthening local capacities and has recently introduced a working theme related to enhancing local institutions and governance frameworks.

First of all, it is evident that not only should local communities be actively participating in devising low-carbon and climate-resilient solutions, but they also need to have relevant knowledge and feel empowered so they can manage complexities and guide local climate change decision-making processes to be solution-oriented. Secondly, donors and development organisations must develop partnerships with local communities based on mutual accountability, trust and clear expectations.

Scaling up local action: Moving beyond promises to real change

Now is the time to double down on our efforts, support and scale up locally-led initiatives that are already proving effective, and make meaningful, sustainable impacts in the communities most vulnerable to climate change. The work doesn't end with plans and promises; it begins with tangible, grassroots actions that lead to real change. The future of our planet depends on it.

As for the RCWs, these events could have been a great opportunity to bring attention to local voices in 2024, and their cancellation has already brought to the attention of many stakeholders that we are not doing enough to support locally-led climate action. However, addressing the existing gaps in the engagement with local communities for climate action cannot be done via a few or many regional events. It should be seen as a learning process requiring continuous improvements in practice, review and humble reflection.

Author: Svetlana Frenova - Theme Lead Climate Adaptation and Mitigation