Global South’s Climate Wisdom Could Save Us All, Experts Warn

Experts say the Global North lacks understanding of the valuable climate knowledge held by communities in the Global South. These communities possess experiences, inherited knowledge, and unique approaches that can improve humanity’s chances of surviving the climate crisis. Sharing these stories widely is essential for building effective solutions [168201].

In Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria, farmers have pledged to stop bush burning and plant more trees to fight climate change. Rising temperatures are already disrupting food production. At a World Environment Day event in Etinan, participants agreed to use “nature-based solutions”—methods that work with natural ecosystems—to protect their farms. These include planting trees to restore soil and using natural pest control instead of chemicals. Climate change is causing irregular rainfall and hotter weather, which damages crops and reduces harvests. “We cannot ignore what is happening to our land,” one participant said. “Bush burning destroys the soil. We must change our methods” [167645].

Meanwhile, environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey has urged Edo State in southern Nigeria to protect its forests and stop environmental damage. Speaking at Igbinedion University in Okada, Bassey warned that deforestation and pollution are making the region more vulnerable to climate shocks. He stressed the need to adopt renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. The event highlighted the link between local actions and global climate goals [167643].

A new report warns that rainforests like the Amazon are being pushed to a breaking point. The study says rising demand for minerals, biofuels, and pulp is adding to older threats like cattle ranching, monocrops, oil drilling, and logging. These new pressures come from industries that produce fast fashion, processed food, and packaging. The analysis finds that the extra strain is making it harder for rainforests to survive [153391].

Along Freetown’s coastline, a slow disappearance of mangroves is putting entire communities in danger. Oyster farming, a tradition that has supported generations of women, is now threatened. The shrinking mangrove forests leave these coastal farmers with fewer oysters to harvest and less income to survive [158244].

Southeast Asia’s wildlife is in crisis. More than 4,300 species in the region risk disappearing forever. The Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino now number only a few dozen each. The Cat Ba langur of Vietnam faces the same fate. The saola, a rare antelope-like animal in Laos’ Annamite mountains, may already be extinct. The main drivers are human activity: cities and farms expanding, forests being cut down, seas warming, and traffickers targeting rare animals for food, traditional medicine, and the pet trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) told This Week in Asia that this combination of threats is pushing species toward extinction at an alarming rate [155277].

Cuba is home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity. But climate change, human activity, and weak protections now threaten its endangered species. Scientists and activists are fighting to save the island’s wildlife and ecosystems [147762].