The Imperative of Upholding Climate Agreements for Local Communities and LMICs

As climate change accelerates, its impacts disproportionately burden local communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These communities, often with minimal contributions to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, face severe challenges, including land degradation, resource scarcity, and heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events.

This writeup underscores the need to respect and uphold international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, to secure environmental, social, and economic benefits for local communities in LMICs. Through a lens focused on equity and sustainability, this discussion outlines the tangible benefits of adhering to climate commitments, emphasizing ecosystem restoration, resilience building, and social stability.

International climate agreements, established in response to global warming and climate-induced environmental degradation, are cornerstones of collective action to mitigate climate impacts. These agreements aim to curtail GHG emissions, promote adaptation, and secure financing to support LMICs. However, challenges in implementation persist, with many agreements lacking stringent enforcement and some high-emitting countries wavering in their commitments. This analysis examines the rationale for respecting these agreements, particularly for the benefit of local communities in LMICs, who bear the brunt of climate consequences despite contributing least to the crisis.

LMICs are vulnerable to various climate-induced issues, including rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events, which threaten food security, water availability, and economic stability.

Agricultural Disruption: Agriculture, a primary livelihood for many LMIC communities, is severely impacted by climate variability. Reduced yields from droughts and soil degradation compromise food security and exacerbate poverty.

Water Scarcity: Climate change affects hydrological cycles, leading to reduced rainfall and groundwater levels, which disproportionately impacts communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

Increased Health Risks: Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are linked to the spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria and dengue, in vulnerable populations.

Upholding climate agreements provides a pathway to resilience and adaptation for LMICs. Key provisions of climate agreements—such as emission reductions, adaptation measures, and climate financing—directly benefit these nations and their communities.

Emission Reductions: Slowing global warming through emissions reductions reduces the risk of extreme climate events, helping to stabilize conditions in regions where economic livelihoods are highly sensitive to climate shifts.

Adaptation Measures: Climate agreements promote adaptation strategies, such as sustainable land use, water management, and early-warning systems. These strategies are essential for building resilient infrastructures in LMICs.

Climate Financing: Many LMICs lack the resources to implement climate adaptation and mitigation independently. Climate financing provisions within agreements, if met, provide these communities with essential resources for sustainable development and climate resilience.

Respecting climate agreements leads to tangible benefits, including ecosystem restoration, increased agricultural productivity, and improved community well-being. Key benefits include:

Enhanced Food Security: By supporting sustainable agricultural practices and promoting reforestation, climate agreements help to restore degraded land and improve soil fertility, enabling more stable food production.

Job Creation: Implementing climate-adaptive practices, such as agroforestry, renewable energy projects, and ecosystem restoration, creates jobs and stimulates local economies, particularly for youth, in vulnerable areas.

Health and Well-Being: Reduced GHG emissions contribute to cleaner air and lower pollution levels, leading to health improvements for local communities, which otherwise suffer disproportionately from pollution-related illnesses.

The Soil Solution, in collaboration with partners, has demonstrated the effectiveness of climate adaptation through land restoration projects in The Gambia. With funding from the G20 Global Land Initiative Grant, the NGO is embarking on a 50-hectare restoration project, rehabilitating land and creating green jobs. By focusing on youth employment and skill-building in sustainable agriculture, the initiative supports both climate adaptation and economic development in a region vulnerable to climate impacts.

To ensure that climate agreements are respected and benefits reach LMICs effectively, the following recommendations are proposed:

Strengthen Monitoring and Accountability: Establish robust mechanisms to monitor and enforce commitments under climate agreements to prevent backsliding by major emitters.

Increase Access to Climate Financing: Facilitate direct access to climate financing for local communities, ensuring that funds reach vulnerable populations promptly and effectively.

Promote Regional Partnerships: Encourage collaboration across LMICs to share resources, knowledge, and strategies for climate adaptation, fostering resilience on a larger scale.

Climate agreements are not merely legal documents; they are instruments of justice, resilience, and hope for communities facing the greatest climate risks. Respecting these agreements is essential for mitigating climate change and safeguarding the future of the planet’s most vulnerable populations. For LMICs and local communities, the benefits are life-changing—ranging from enhanced food security and health to job creation and ecosystem stability. As stakeholders gather at COP29, it is imperative to remember that respecting climate agreements is a step toward a more equitable and sustainable world.