Climate change

We work for lasting change, for our climate's sake.

Climate change is a matter of global injustice. It undermines development and its worst effects are felt by those who have contributed least to its causes.

There is an urgent need to tackle both the causes and consequences of climate change.

Climate Change Affects Everybody . . . But Not Equally

The pressure you put on last year in the run up to the Copenhagen talks meant that rich countries couldn’t get away with a compromised deal. Now, the push for a just deal continues.

The UK passed a climate change act in 2008, (click here for more information on Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Northern Ireland ) but this year you have the chance to shape Ireland’s climate change bill. Visit the Stop Climate Chaos coalition site for more information.

Climate Change In-depth

Read: Copenhagen: what went wrong and what happens next?

Copenhagen failed to deliver a fair, effective and legally binding agreement on climate change. World leaders must now return to the negotiation table and conclude the deal that science and equity demands.

Read Changing Lives: Climate Change in the Developing World

This publication is based on information collected by Trócaire and highlights how climate change is affecting our work in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The stories featured are from
people experiencing the impacts of climate change first-hand and serve to illustrate, in a
very real way, the scientifically established and accepted findings of climate change
science.

Read, 'The Cry of the Earth, the Irish Bishops' statement on Climate Change

A pastoral reflection on climate change from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Photos from Copenhagan Climate Change demonstrations

How climate change is hitting Africa

Photos from the Wave Climate Change March

What we want

People in developing countries have done least to cause climate change
but are suffering the worst impacts. We want climate change deal that

•   Protects the right to a better future for people in developing countries
•   Provides adequate, appropriate and additional support to poor countries to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
•   Reduces wealthy countries greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 % cut by 2020

Impact of Climate Change : Stories from across the world

From drought in Kenya to floods in Asia, hurricanes and landslides in Central America, poor countries are suffering the disastrous effects of climate change. Extreme changes in weather patterns are forcing people to abandon their traditional ways of living collecting. They are struggling to adapt to a new reality that they have not caused. Climate change is making poor people even more vulnerable and costing thousands of lives and if we don’t act soon it will get far worse.

We asked the people we work with overseas to tell us how climate change was affecting their communities. 100% said they are seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand. 86% described harsh weather conditions damaging crops and having a negative effect on community food supplies. Meanwhile 90% said that climate changes was badly affecting water supply and a worrying 43% said that water supply is a source of tension and conflict in their region.

Trócaire help these communities find ways of making a living that will let them withstand harsh weather conditions that effect crops and livestock. We also help people to become better prepared so they know how to cope during extreme weather disasters, such as flooding, drought and landslides. We also work, alongside climate change activists in the developing world, to campaign for the political change which is necessary if we are to truly tackle this global challenge, before it’s too late.

Helping farmers in Kenya to grow food during drought

El Salvador: “We lost all our crops but we’re the lucky ones”

What’s Trócaire doing about climate change overseas?

We help families and communities find ways of making a living that will let them withstand harsh weather conditions that effect crops and livestock. We also help people to become better prepared so they know how to cope during extreme weather disasters, such as flooding, drought and landslides.

For example;

Malawi is the most densely populated African country, and 80% of the population is living from agriculture and dependent on a single short rainy season. Both drought and floods are major hazards in this region. During the food shortages of 05/06, 4.8 million people, 40% of the population, was in need of emergency food distribution. Trócaire is helping communities to diversify their crops to reduce their reliance on one particular season, as the seasons are changing and becoming less reliable. We are also teaching farmers to use livestock to vary their sources of food and income which will make them less vulnerable.

In Honduras, the Colón and Olancho regions are very vulnerable to floods and landslides. During the last three months of 2005, three storms flooded the area, forcing over 25,000 people from their homes three times within this period. This flooding continues on a regular basis. Trócaire is helping communities to be better prepared for these disasters so that they can adapt and cope with these situations.