How can we thrive in the face of climate change?
Resilience
Through disaster risk reduction frameworks and a holistic needs assessment approach, we aim to build resilience to the changing climate across all aspects of life.
Sustainability
We know the word ‘sustainability’ is thrown around a bit. We define sustainability as geographically, socially, and economically feasible implementations that last without depending on external inputs.
Collaboration
We believe that for our work to be resilient it must be sustainable, and to achieve both, we must work together. Together, every implementation is more effective and efficient. No one can change the world alone, neither can we.
120 million will be displaced.
By 2050 it is predicted that nearly 120 million people will be displaced from their homes by climate change across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America. In affected countries, internal displacement will significantly inhibit government ability to respond to the pressures of increasing population concentration. Emigration will see exponential increases, shifting pressure onto developed nations.
The root, cause.
We, at Mlato, believe that current UK policies and resources should be redirected to tackle the underlying causes of forced migration at its source rather than addressing the symptoms. On the ground, we see that even in severely at-risk communities, individuals do not want to leave their homes - often, they have inhabited the lands for far longer than living memory. We also see that nowhere near enough is being done to address the inadequate support systems. Resources must be directed to address the root of the issue, by developing knowledge and support systems at the village scale.
What we can do.
Through existing community structures and specialised local organisations, there are ways people can stay where they want to be – at home. We believe this is the better alternative for those on any side of the globe.
Beginning in a rural village in Malawi, we aim to build resilience to reduce the danger of disasters. Harnessing local knowledge and expertise in collaboration with new approaches to climate adaptation and technologies, we base our strategy on the principle that to solve big-picture problems such as climate migration we need to properly address the insufficient support networks at the village level. What does ‘properly’ mean? To us, it means not settling for support in one area over another, it means adopting a comprehensive approach - this is where collaboration comes in.
Following the identification of a village, local, national, and international organisations, specialising in each of the areas of need, coordinate under a joint implementation strategy. By partnering and focusing on a single location, we aim to act with the necessary speed and efficacy required in climate-vulnerable areas, but also partnering under a joint strategy will lead to greater, sustained results.
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