鈥淥ur house was at risk of being swept by the floods.鈥�
Farmers Heriya and Omar in Ethiopia describe five years of irregular rain: 鈥渢he temperatures are rising and sometimes there is no rain. Sometimes it gets too cold; sometimes, it gets too hot.鈥�
They rely on their maize farm to live 鈥� but the highly disrupting and destructive changing weather means their yield is often at risk, as well as the safety of their home.
But they received training and planted elephant grass 鈥� which is helping provide some protection.
鈥淲e had frequent floods that washed away our crops and brought a lot of silt and stones. But after planting this grass (elephant grass) the flooding has decreased. Only the clean water needed for the vegetables pass through the grass and the sand. Silt and stones stay up the hill. They are held back by the roots of the elephant grass. And it is also used to feed our livestock.鈥�
Our new podcast 鈥�Living Climate Change Africa鈥� is coming soon.
Living Climate Change Africa podcast
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Episode 1: Forecasting
In this episode, presenter Diana Njeru takes us on a journey to meet pastoralist herders and farmers, as well as representatives from Kenya鈥檚 Meteorological Office. She examines traditional beliefs around weather and climate, how these communities are experiencing the impacts of climate change, and how scientists are beginning to work alongside traditional forecasters to build trust and understanding. -
Episode 2: Adaptation
Human beings are some of the most adaptable species on Earth 鈥� but we all face a new challenge: adapting to and surviving extreme weather caused by climate change. And this is a huge challenge for poor communities who are most at risk. This episode, presented by Diana Njeru, explores how people in East Africa are trying to adapt to the rapidly changing climate, and how they are coping when they cannot. (Content warning: this episode contains mentions of suicide). -
Episode 3: Decision-making
How do you make critical decisions about your livelihood without trusted information? The increasingly unpredictable climate in East Africa is making it harder to make decisions 鈥� about whether to follow age-old migration patterns, about which crops to grow, and about when to go out on the water to fish. We explore how people in East Africa are making these tough decisions, and what that means for their livelihoods and their traditions. -
Episode 4: Projections
What lies ahead for our global climate? The projections are bleak: wet areas will get wetter, dry areas drier. And countries across Africa will experience both extreme drought, and devastating flooding. In this episode, our host Diana Njeru explores what the future holds for communities across East Africa, whose culture, traditions and livelihoods rely on our Earth. -
Episode 5: Policy
The Paris agreement, the Montreal protocol, the Stockholm convention, the Bonn agreement鈥� there are countless agreements aimed at developing policies and getting countries to take action on climate change. But climate scientists warn there is a gap between policy and action. In this episode, our host Diana Njeru explores what people in East Africa want from global leaders and policymakers, as they experience the extreme weather patterns caused by climate change.