Global Challenge
The climate is changing. But what does this mean?
We increasingly hear it: the climate is changing. But what is climate change exactly? Why is it a negative development? And more importantly: what can we do to tackle climate change? You will read about it on this page.
The climate can be seen as the regular weather is a specific area. For example, temperatures in the Amazon are always high and it rains there almost daily, whilst in Antarctica is always freezing. But, when there occurs a change in the regular temperature, the amount of rainfall in a certain area and the winds drastically changing, then we speak of climate change. In that case, climate change is not only perceptible in specific areas, but the consequences of climate change are scientifically noticeable on a global scale.
Climate change is nothing new. In the past natural occurrences, such as eruptions of volcanoes and El Niño (warmer-than-average sea temperatures) have caused variances in the global temperature and amount of rainfall. What’s new is the impact that human activity has on climate change. We travel by car, we warm our houses when it’s cold outside and we use energy to cook. These everyday activities cause emissions of greenhouse gasses, such as CO2. These gasses make it more difficult for warmth to leave the earth, with global warming as a result. The biggest driver behind climate change is mostly a result of human activity.
Global warming has multiple different consequences. These are the most important:
Because of climate change, heat waves occur more frequently, rain showers are more intense and the sea level rises. Mostly in vulnerable areas, such as sub-Saharan Africa, the consequences of climate change are felt on a daily basis. Extreme heat and the lack of rain causes the soil to dry up, resulting in ruined harvest yield and animals dying.
When rain is falling, these showers are often so intense that the water has no time to sink in the soil. As a result, the water flows to downhill areas, bringing along in its stream, the upper layer of fertile soil. A process known as erosion. This causes land to degrade: the land becomes less suitable for agriculture, vegetation is lost and the draught remains. In the worst cases, this causes food shortages among the local population.
When there is no food security, people migrate to different areas, in the hope of finding fertile soil, suitable for growing crops. These people are known as climate refugees. They have to leave as a result of the negative consequences of climate change.
By regreening we are able to reduce CO2 emissions . Consequently, this will limit global warming.
How does it work exactly? Regreening consists of the planting of trees and establishing green spaces. As this vegetation will store CO2, less CO2 will remain in the atmosphere. Ultimately, this will reduce global warming. Besides, plants and trees offer shade to the soil, causing less water to evaporate from the soil and consequently more water will be available for plants, people and animals. Regreening also stimulates the local water cycle, resulting in more frequent rain showers and more water to retain in the ground. Ultimately, regreening can make soil suitable for farming again, providing local communities with food security and a source of income.
Justdiggit aims to restore damaged ecosystems in Africa by developing and coordination of large scale landscape restoration projects.
Our regreening projects help the water balance in the soil and restore vegetation, which has a positive effect on the local and regional climate. In addition, these projects increase water and food security and biodiversity in the project areas. In doing so, we work with local partners and communities, which ensures sustainable projects. With sponsored media campaigns, we strive to increase the impact of the landscape restoration projects and create a landscape restoration movement so that together we can start greening all of Africa.
Bringing back greenery has a positive effect on the climate, biodiversity and people's living environment. Do you want to combat climate change by regreening African landscapes? Do your part by donating!
What is climate change?
When there occurs a change in the regular temperature, the amount of rainfall in a certain area and the winds drastically changing, then we speak of climate change. In that case, climate change is not only perceptible in specific areas, but the consequences of climate change are scientifically noticeable on a global scale.
What causes climate change?
The biggest driver behind climate change is mostly a result of human activity. We travel by car, we warm our houses when it’s cold outside and we use energy to cook. These everyday activities cause emissions of greenhouse gasses, such as CO2. These gasses make it more difficult for warmth to leave the earth, with global warming as a result.
How can we reduce climate change?
By regreening we are able to reduce CO2 emissions. Consequently, this will limit global warming.
What can I do to help climate change?
Bringing back greenery has a positive effect on the climate, biodiversity and people’s living environment. Do you want to combat climate change by regreening African countries? Do your part by donating!
What are the consequences of climate change?
Global warming has multiple different consequences, like changes in weather patterns, food shortages among populations and causing climate refugees.
How does Justdiggit mitigate climate change?
Regreening consists of the planting of trees and establishing green spaces. As this vegetation will store CO2, less CO2 will remain in the atmosphere. Ultimately, this will reduce global warming.
