Published in August 2021

We are on 'red alert'. That’s the stark message from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC. In their recent report scientists from across the globe have concluded that ‘climate change is now widespread, rapid and intensifying’.

The conclusion won’t come as a surprise to many. The last 12 months has seen some of the worst extreme weather events, indicative of climate disruptions across the world. Just cast your mind back over the last year… There has been disastrous flooding in China and Europe. North America and Europe have experienced record breaking temperatures with wildfires and droughts as a result of extremely high temperatures and shifting patterns of rainfall. Hardly a day goes by without a news report of a climate driven disaster.

Now July 2021 has been reported as the world’s hottest month ever recorded. In the face of these stark reports of extreme weather, experts state this is a result of the long-term impact of climate change. 

And one thing is clear... governments across the world need to take action now to reduce the long-term impacts of climate change and put ambitious commitments on the table at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) later this year. Those commitments need to be delivered if the frightening impacts of a changing climate are to be avoided.

"We believe that building sand dams to help vulnerable communities harvest water in times of extreme rainfall so that they have reserves during periods of drought should be part of the global response of adapting to climate change."

The IPCC also highlighted that record breaking extreme weather will be with us for some time to come. That means there is something else the global community should be doing, and that’s helping others adapt to the disrupted weather patterns that we have seen over the last 12 months, as they will be with us for the foreseeable future.

The work Sand Dams Worldwide is doing in the drylands of Africa is just one example of the action that can be taken now. We believe that building sand dams to help vulnerable communities harvest water in times of extreme rainfall so that they have reserves during periods of drought should be part of the global response of adapting to climate change.

The IPCC report is a wake-up call to the world. Now is the time to get serious about reducing climate impacts and helping others adapt to the future. Let’s make building more sand dams part of that response.

Please consider making a donation and support vulnerable dryland communities to end hunger with sand dams, clean water and climate-smart agriculture.