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Reframing climate change: How carbon reduction can also reduce poverty and inequality

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From a January 27, 2017, Oxfam blog post by Ruth Mayne

Many economic studies looking at the costs and benefits of reducing carbon pollution sooner rather than later have been produced. Because the “climate is a global public good” which benefits everyone, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions now makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, the costs associated with making the necessary changes can be significant.

In her blog post, Ruth Mayne argues that the social, economic, and health co-benefits from carbon reduction are substantial and should be considered in evaluating the up-front costs. In addition, countries that are trying to use better technological solutions will receive the most benefit from their proactive approach, potentially leapfrogging the most polluting fossil fuel industries.

Policies and programs used by developed nations such as the U.S. must be designed such that benefits can be shared with their poorer neighbors. Otherwise, the existing inequalities between rich and poor countries will become even more profound. For example, developed nations must take greater responsibility in their exports to developing countries of second-hand vehicles, which tend to “emit high levels of pollution” and “lead to negative health and environmental impacts linked to climate change and also respiratory conditions caused by breathing in pollution and particulate matter.” Positive, considered, altruistic actions by richer nations will “contribute to fairer, healthier and more prosperous communities, and a more human economy.”

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It’s not Affecting Us, Right?

For those of you who live in the United States, what sights come to mind when you think of natural beauty? Majestic mountains? Sun-washed seashores? Golden fields of grain? Lazy rivers that spread across our nation? America is a beautiful country – with a myriad of parks and green spaces for all to enjoy. We have enacted laws to control litter and limit the cancerous effects of second-hand smoke. Sadly, in the upcoming years, the greatest danger will not be from litter or cigarette smoke – it will be the increasing air pollution, the growing number of unusual and extreme droughts and floods, and the creeping rise of the seas, whose effects are already being felt in certain coastal areas. Many of us will never see the slow effects of climate disruption, until we go to the grocery store and notice the rising cost of food, or perhaps we’ll receive our annual homeowner’s insurance bill and it will have increased once again. Even then, most Americans won’t starve due to climate disruption. This is not true for others around the world, people like…

…farmers in Zambia, where late rains first resulted in severe drought, but then caused flooding, severely reducing the harvest of corn and wheat. In a country of limited resources and resilience, a 55-pound bag of ground corn went from $5 in February to almost $12 now. The Zambian government is thinking toward the future, however, by encouraging a return to more traditional, climate-hardy crops, such as millet.

…fishermen in developing countries in the tropical areas of the world. People living in these areas – countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone – depend on locally-caught fish for protein, as well as the micronutrients that are essential for health.  Overfishing by some countries, plus the devastating effects of warming oceans, toxic algae, and dying reefs, have left local fishermen struggling to provide for their families and villages. With no funds to import food or to move to better fishing grounds, citizens of these nations are relying on the World Trade Organization and countries like the United States to ensure that adequate access to local fish stocks is made a priority. Some countries, however, like China, have yet to join the effort to help these vulnerable residents.

…farmers in Bangladesh, who are caught in the seemingly never-ending cycle of debt as they borrow to buy rice seeds, only to see their crops destroyed by extreme floods. A 2016 preliminary assessment by the Bangladeshi government noted that almost 700,000 farmers have been affected by flooding, which destroyed about $60 million worth of crops. Overall 4.2 million people have been affected by these floods. In the past, farmers would relocate when an area flooded. Now, there is less and less land available for crops. The Bangladeshi government does not have a program in place to help reduce or end the cycle of debt of these farmers. Instead, the cycle of poverty continues on and on.

Even in more developed countries, our apples, morning cup of coffee, chocolate bars, pancakes covered in maple syrup, or guacamole dip could one day soon be in short supply. Although no one will starve because of these shortages, coffee growers and harvesters, for example, may lose their means of support. Apple trees cannot be replaced overnight and orchards cannot simply move to cooler climates. Climate disruption will affect everything and everyone on this planet. As we enjoy our majestic mountains and smoke-free playgrounds, let us keep in mind the increasing number of people, plants, and animals that are already feeling the effects of a world that is reeling from too much industry – too much us. We should work together now to help with immediate needs, but we must also encourage our national leaders to work with other countries, so that a better future for all of our children and grandchildren will be ensured.

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The Tribes Paying the Brutal Price of Conservation

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From the August 28, 2016, edition of The Guardian, by John Vidal

According to one report, indigenous people groups comprise about 5% of the world's population, although they account for some 15% of the poorest in the world. One such group in the United States, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, has been in the news lately as they fight to save their lands from invasion and disruption by a pipeline company. Sadly, these types of incursions are not new in the U.S. In fact, they are not new in many of the countries around the world with large indigenous populations. What is new, however, is using ‘conservation’ as the excuse to push people off of their ancestral lands, while other abuses, such as mining and tourism, are allowed to continue unabated.

Vulnerable tribal peoples are being removed by force from India’s tiger reserves and forests; tribal groups such as the Ogiek and Sengwer, the San, Maasai and Baka are being forced out of forests and wildlife-rich plains in Africa; and from Thailand to Ecuador, Cameroon to Bangladesh, ethnic groups are being dispossessed in the name of protecting nature.

An upcoming meeting in Hawaii of the International Union for Conservation of Nature will explore this strange twist in the conservation challenges that the world faces, and seek ways to keep the poorest of the poor from being pushed to the brink of starvation and loss. Read more about this important issue here.

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Pope urges Christians to save planet from 'debris, desolation and filth'

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Reuters, September 1, 2016, by Crispian Balmer

We missed it – did you? September 1 was the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. People of faith around the world were asked to set aside a day to join together in prayer,

for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live.

Thanks for the parks our children play in; for the oceans and shores we spend our summers at; for the food we eat and the air we breathe and the land we walk on. Thanksgiving comes easy for most – it is the confession of our carelessness that is much more difficult. Pope Francis called out to all of us by saying that “God gave us a bountiful garden, but we have turned it into a polluted wasteland of debris, desolation and filth." What debris? Just look to the oceans and beaches for which we were just giving thanks. How much plastic and trash must be cleaned up each day so that we can romp and play? Who is cleaning up the plastic that is killing sea creatures before it even gets to our shores? And just look to the news to see more and more destruction of climates, lands, and homes. Thanksgiving is needed and necessary, but without taking responsibility for our acts of both commission and omission, our words are empty.

Read more about what Pope Francis had to say about the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It’s not too late to pray…or to act.

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When Climate Adaptation Plans Hurt the Urban Poor

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From the July 28, 2016, edition of The Atlantic, by Laura Bliss

Floods in Louisiana, massive fires in California, droughts and excessive heat in other parts of the world – our news is filled with more and more scenes of suffering. There are also news reports of new employment opportunities in the solar and wind energy sectors, as well as communities working together to slow the effects of climate disruption. More and more often, people are working together to help build resilient structures in cities around the country. Awareness of the changing climate of our world is leading to discussions about better building practices and the development of more green spaces. Local governmental leaders, along with members of their communities, gather across tables to discuss options. Sadly, those missing from the discussions are those least able to respond when the floods or heat waves or droughts affect their lives: the poor and the marginalized of our towns and cities.

Climate-adaptation planning can and should be an opportunity to create more, not less, equitable cities…

This article draws attention to the many ways the urban poor are currently being excluded in some of our major cities across the US, such as Boston, but also highlights cities that are taking steps to include all sectors of society, such as Oakland and Los Angeles. With climate disruption certain to cause more and more harm to people and nature around the world, especially to the most vulnerable, it will be up to those with the most resources to ensure that those with the least have a voice that can be heard.

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Can America's First Floating Wind Farm Shake Off Environmental Concerns?

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From the July 31, 2016, edition of The Guardian, by Matt Weiser

Another year of record-breaking heat has caused many technology pioneers to start thinking creatively about ways to help with current and future energy problems around the world. Even as wind turbines are becoming more frequent sights in the United States, a new idea for a different type of wind farm is being developed – a floating wind farm far out at sea!

The United Kingdom currently meets 5% of its energy needs through anchored offshore wind farms, with China, Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium also utilizing this technology. In the U.S., though, the state of California (on the west coast) is concerned about energy development occurring off their shores. In 1969, three million gallons (11.4 million liters) of crude oil from an offshore oil drilling platform were spilled in the coastal waters near Santa Barbara, soiling miles of beaches and impacted thousands of seabirds and other coastal animals. This event led to the enactment of strict environmental laws at the state level.

The Trident project, submitted by Trident Winds from Seattle, Washington, has filed an application to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to lease about 50 square miles (129 square kilometers) of ocean, but will also need approval from several state agencies. With the signing of a new law last October requiring half of California’s electricity to come from renewable resources by 2030, the state must double its current levels in just 15 years. Approval of the Trident project also could take years, however, if at all.

In addition to meeting high standards for environmental and endangered species protection, this project faces another hurdle – new technology. Currently, most offshore wind projects around the world, and the few that exist in the U.S., use wind turbines installed on platforms attached to ocean floor by pillars built into the shallow seabed. The Trident project will take advantage of stronger and more consistent winds farther offshore by placing 100 turbines on floating foundations, which would be anchored by cables that attached to the sea floor like a ship’s anchor. If this technology is successfully used in California, much of the U.S. coast could be used for similar projects.

Read more about this new technology and how the Trident project is trying to balance the energy requirements of the U.S. with the need for environment protection.

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The Faces of Climate Change

Climate change. Do the words make you cringe or quickly go on to the next news story? Is it really all a hoax? Who cares about the numbers or science or how fast an iceberg is melting? The facts, figures, and graphs can be overwhelming and confusing. Climate change is more than a bunch of numbers, however. Climate change is about real people being adversely affected by a world gone haywire. Here are a few of their stories.

Aasia’s Story

Aasia is ten years old and lives in Bangladesh. Like most children her age, she goes to school and watches over her younger sibling. She also is responsible for helping put food on her family’s table. If she doesn’t catch any fish, then they will only have rice with a few small vegetables and spices to eat.

I go out to fish three or four times a day. We have nothing at home – that’s why I catch the fish.

The country of Bangladesh is located on a low-lying delta, much like America’s New Orleans, but without the system of levees that currently protects cities on the Mississippi River. About 20 million people in Bangladesh draw fresh water for both humans and livestock from their delta, along with water for their crops. The fresh water supply they depend on is being inundated by rising ocean levels, turning the water salty and unusable. Aasia often finds only a few fish when she goes out; even their meager vegetable crops are sometimes ruined by the salt water. Organizations are trying to help in Bangladesh by building dikes to keep out the salt water, but these may not be adequate. More help will be needed to save lives and livelihoods.

Amina and Others in Somaliland

Amina used to enjoy eating the mangoes grown on her family farm. She used to have plenty to drink and even time to play. Now, Amina has to walk four hours in the hot sun to find water and grazing land for her family’s sheep. Her stomach hurts because she is so hungry. Lions roam nearby so she travels with other girls for safety. The mangoes are gone. The grazing lands near her home have disappeared. A severe drought has ravaged their land. She gets one cup of water a day. One cup. And now the fights between farms over the remaining water and grass have started.

In another village, 70-year-old Mohamed Ali Ismail says things are steadily getting worse.

I have lived here all my life. We were wealthy and had lots of livestock. There were wild fruits on the trees, thick forests, good livestock and wild animals. We were not worrying about our life. But things got harder because the rain has failed, or is less frequent … In my 70 years, I have never seen an ostrich die without water, never seen a deer die without water, so when I see these wild animals dying, unlike at any time before, I don’t see the climate getting better … It is a critical situation.

The Residents of Kivalina, Alaska

Surely Alaska will be spared the worst effects of climate change, right? Sadly, Alaska is already struggling with rising seas, changes in sea ice, and limits on local hunting grounds. Kivalina is a prime example of how a global problem affects local communities, even in developed nations such as the United States.

About 400 people live in Kivalina – a tiny town located on a barrier island in the Chukchi Sea. The local inhabitants, the Iñupiat people, used to hunt bowhead whales near their town’s shores. Today, the ice has thinned so much that it is too dangerous to hunt whales – or to live on the island at all. Waves now wash over the village from time to time, making it necessary for the islanders to relocate to mainland Alaska. They will lose their homes and their traditions. Without the millions of dollars needed to move elsewhere, they face a very uncertain future.

The Rest of Us

These are but a few of the faces of climate change. There are others – from Louisiana to Ethiopia to China. The old, the very young, women, men, children. People who fish in Indonesia. Coffee growers in Guatamala. The elderly in heat-stricken India and Arizona. And polar bears, the Adélie penguin, North American cod, coral reefs, and myriad other species of plants and animals. In reality, all of us are being touched by climate change. It’s not a hoax. It is not a series of incomprehensible numbers or charts. Climate change is real and tangible. It is time to notice the faces and make the necessary changes that will ease the suffering of all.

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Conflict Incurred Global Cost of $13 Trillion

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From the June 9, 2016, edition of Public Finance International, by Emma Rumney

How much does peace cost? Apparently, the countries of the world do not yet understand that peace is cheaper than war. A recent report produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace stated that wars cost the world almost $13.6 trillion in 2015, while at the same time, investments in peacekeeping and peacebuilding amounted to only $15 billion. At a time in the United States when conflict among groups seems to be increasing – polarized elections, fear of immigrants, fear of the police, too many guns or too few, anger at ‘the other’ without knowing who the other really is – just imagine what could be done here and elsewhere to bring peace with even a portion of those $13 trillion!

Decreases in peace lead to higher military and internal security spending and greater losses from conflict, crime and interpersonal violence.

If we in the U.S. would invest more funds toward peace, even a modest 10% increase, the benefits to our own country and to the rest of the world would be almost unimaginable. But try!! Imagine a world with less fear and more time to build peaceful solutions to our currently insurmountable problems! Imagine a time of peace for our children and grandchildren!

Read more about the report on how even a small re-apportionment of funds could be of huge value to the entire world.

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World Heritage Sites at Risk from Climate Change – Joint UN Report

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From the May 27, 2016, article published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, UNESCO, and UNEP

Most of us have only seen Komodo Dragons in zoos. This magnificent lizard – at 10 feet long and weighing in at more than 300 pounds – is the heaviest lizard on Earth. Their beautiful home, Komodo Island in Indonesia, is one of many World Heritage sites that are threatened by the more and more extreme weather and environmental fluctuations associated with climate disruption. Rising and more acidic seas, droughts, and higher temperatures are causing stress to their breeding and feeding grounds. With only about 5,000 dragons left in nature, and only about 350 females in this population, we may soon find ourselves left with only zoo specimens – another species gone the way of the dodo bird.

A recent report published by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Union of Concerned Scientists looked at all World Heritage sites to determine any future risks related to climate change.

Globally, we need to understand more about how climate change will affect all World Heritage sites, and how it will interact with and amplify the effects of other stresses, including urbanization, pollution, natural resource extraction and, increasingly, tourism.

In addition to other well-known sites such as Venice and the Galápagos Islands, our very own Statue of Liberty and Yellowstone National Park are also threatened as the world’s climate continues to change in drastic ways. In some places, there are immediate steps that can be taken to save these world treasures. For some places, like Komodo Island, we may be too late. Read more about all of these treasures here.

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UNHCR: 2,500 Refugees Drowned on Way to Europe in 2016

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From the May 31, 2016, Al Jazeera online news magazine

We skip past the articles on Facebook. We tune out as the images fill our TV screens. If we do take a moment to watch, the true horror of what we are seeing does not really sink in because we have seen it over and over again. More refugees dying. More people trying to escape from somewhere and didn’t quite make it. It’s tragic…

And that’s the end of the concern for most. It’s tragic and there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it, right? Sadly, that’s likely correct. We cannot make substantial changes in the politics of places like Syria, Nigeria, Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, or the Ivory Coast. We cannot stop the smugglers who trade in the lives of innocent people searching for hope and escape. And most of all, we don’t want them here – in the United States! How do you stop smuggling? You stop it by allowing people to have hope by helping them leave the oppression, starvation, bombing, and tragedy of their current lives. You grant them peace. You work to grant them safe passage. You give them a future and a hope (In Jeremiah Ch. 29, v. 11 from the Bible, God states, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope”).

More than anything else, however, we take a moment to actually see these people as individuals and not just numbers released in a news article. These were husbands and wives. Children and grandparents. Their stories did not make the news. There is no funeral or flowers for them. They were loved by their families – families that may not ever know what happened to them. Families who will mourn, but not know the true loss of their deaths. Take time to care and keep watching or reading the stories. Take time to ask what we can do to help stop these deaths. Take time to see these people as individuals who lived and loved and died. Take time.

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Meteorologists are Seeing Global Warming's Effect on the Weather

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From the May 27, 2016, edition of the Guardian, by Paul Douglas

Weather. At one time, weather was a safe subject for awkward first meetings or elevator small talk. In Tornado Alley, places like Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, discussions about the weather used to be daily events in order to maintain vigilance and security. Lately, however, our weather discussions have become unsure and fearful. What is happening? Extreme droughts and then extreme floods. Stronger winter storms and massive hurricanes and typhoons. Weather extremes are not new, but in the past at some level were predictable. Now our growing seasons are lengthening, weather extremes are becoming the norm, and ‘usual’ weather can no longer be predicted very far in advance.

People ask, “What’s a couple of degrees, Paul?” Well, when was the last time you were a couple of degrees warmer? Chances are you felt miserable. And there were visible, tangible symptoms: sweating, chills, headaches, nausea. Your physician popped a thermometer in your mouth and confirmed you had a fever. Chances are you didn’t make a fuss, argue with the doctor, or deny the diagnosis.

Paul Douglas, a meteorologist and business owner, explains some of the reasons why we are seeing extreme weather events increasing world-wide. Yes, they are related to climate change. Please do not stop reading because of your feelings about climate change, however. There are noted, scientific changes being observed in weather patterns around the world that can no longer be explained by ‘normal’ fluctuations. Our planet has a fever and the symptoms are becoming more and more observable, and experienced, by all of us. Read the article here to learn more about these changes.

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Careers with a Future

Record temperatures, more floods and droughts, environmental refugee numbers growing – even with many nations switching from coal- or oil-based energy to more renewable methods, the effects of climate disruption continue to grow. Over the next few years, we all will be faced with new challenges related to our misuse of the natural world. How will help more people understand the intersection between faith and climate issues? If you are interested in pursuing a degree that will help you and others understand the issues better, a number of options are out there. The following are some possibilities to consider, in no particular order and without any endorsement:

Undergraduate Degrees

Many universities offer the option of dual degrees. The following majors should be considered:

Anthropology Biology Community Development Ecology Environment and Sustainability Environmental History Environmental Sociology Ethics Geography Meteorology Natural Resources Philosophy Public Policy Studies Religion/Religious Studies Renewable Energy and Biofuels or Wind Technology Renewable Energy Policy, Planning, and Management

Graduate Degrees

California Institute of Integral Studies Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion – Ph.D.

Drew Theological School (New Jersey) Religion and Ecology – M.A.

Graduate Theological Union (California) Theology and Ethics (science emphasis) – Ph.D.

Loyola University – Loyola Institute for Ministry (online) Pastoral Studies, Religion and Ecology Emphasis – M.P.S.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio Practical Theology: Ecology and Justice Specialization – M.A.

University of Florida Religion and Nature – M.A. or Ph.D.

University of North Texas Environmental Ethics and Philosophy – M.A. and Ph.D.

Yale University Religion and Ecology – M.A. (online degree)

Other Options

Research Institute for Spiritual Ecology (RISE) Essays for personal study (online)

Sewanee: The University of the South Center for Religion and Environment: Certificate in Contemplation and Care for Creation (online with two short sessions at Sewanee)

These are but a few of the universities and schools who are offering degrees or classes related to the intersection between climate disruption, justice, and theology. The world will need the leadership of people who understand this intersection and can act on behalf of the poor and marginalized, as well as all affected by more intense climate disruptions.

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Caritas: Humanitarian Crisis in South Sudan is One of the Most Terrible in the World

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From the May 10, 2016, issue of Rome Reports, a TV New Agency

In 2012, Global Environmental Relief spent several months in South Sudan working in partnership with Food for the Hungry. At that time, people in South Sudan faced a lack of food and clean drinking water, poor or completely lacking infrastructure, and few educational opportunities. The country had hope, however, for a better future after finally separating from Sudan to their north. New leadership and a myriad of organizations from around the world were working together to help them as they moved forward.

Just four short years later, the situation has taken a drastic turn for the worse as civil war has broken out. Over 2 million people have fled their homes; half of the population needs emergency food aid; and it is estimated that almost 15,000 children have been recruited as soldiers. There is very little mention of this in the U.S. news. Where are the reports of bombings or the brutality? Where is the pressure from the outside world to stop the killing and return to hope? Read more about the situation here from Caritas, a Catholic relief agency that is still in the area providing as much assistance as possible.

So the whole country is at war and destroyed. There was not much before but now it's even worse. So it's really a terrible situation, one of the worst that can exist in the world today.

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Resettling the First American ‘Climate Refugees’

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From the May 3, 2016, edition of the New York Times, by Coral Davenport and Campbell Robertson

“You don’t want to wait until people have lost their homes, until they flee and become refugees,” he said. “The idea is to plan ahead and provide people with some measure of choice.”

New reports about environmental/climate refugees are becoming more and more frequent. Read our earlier post (here) to find out the basics concerning this particular kind of refugee. Most people would say that climate refugees are all from Africa, Asia, or some other place, right? Actually, that’s only partially correct. Right now, most people fleeing environmental degradation are in other parts of the world, but we are starting to have environmental refugees right here in America.

The U.S. government, through the Department of Housing and Urban Development is already providing funds for communities affected by climate disruption to help with levees and drainage systems as our oceans begin their slow rise and begin reclaiming coastal shores. For the first time, however, a grant has been given to move an entire community: The residents of the Isle de Jean Charles off Louisiana’s coast.

“We’re going to lose all our heritage, all our culture,” lamented Chief Albert Naquin of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw, the tribe to which most Isle de Jean Charles residents belong. “It’s all going to be history.”

People have caused most of the erosion to this community through the actions of loggers and oil companies, as well as changes made to contain or redirect the Mississippi River’s flow in order to keep upstream cities from flooding. These impacts, combined with a hurricane and rising seas, have resulted in a loss of more than 90% of the island’s land mass since 1955. The struggles and challenges with moving this small community will be studied and used to plan potential future relocations of millions of residents from other coastal communities, such as Florida and the Marshall Islands. Read more about the residents of this small community and efforts to help them maintain their culture and lifestyle in the midst of the worsening effects of climate disruption.

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Gripped by Drought, Ethiopia Drills for Water

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From the April 18, 2016, edition of The Star Online:

Several months ago, Global Environmental Relief posted a blog about the worldwide weather effects of El Niño, including the massive drought causing devastation in Ethiopia. With the help of UNICEF and other charities, the government of Ethiopia has begun digging wells that will initially bring clean drinking water to over 40,000 people in the town of Wukro. In addition to the wells, tree seedlings are being planted to help limit erosion, and needed infrastructure, such as toilet blocks for the school, are being built. Plans are to expand the clean water supply to five other villages in the same area within the next two decades, easing the horrific effects of recurring drought in the region.

Last year, Ethiopia celebrated the achievement of halving the number of people without access to safe water since 1990, with 57 percent of the population now using safe drinking water. But the challenges remaining are huge.

Education on basic cleanliness practices, such as hand washing, is also being taught in the schools. This has led to lower rates of viruses and parasitic diseases and is benefitting the entire community.

Read more about this success story in Ethiopia here.

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Empowering Girls through Education in Emergency Situations

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From the Devex community, an April 20, 2016, article by Christos Stylianides

All too often we hear stories on the evening news or through social media of girls being kidnapped on their way to school and sold into slavery. It’s heartbreaking to see the faces of the parents as they desperately try to bring their children back home. In many developing nations, girls are often not educated due to financial or cultural reasons. Now, in an effort to keep them safe from kidnapping or other forms of violence, or even conflicts or natural disasters where they live, many parents are keeping their daughters home.

The European Union (EU) is striving to make school in developing countries a safe place of learning for both girls and boys, even in times of emergency.

This year, the EU has significantly stepped up its funding for education in emergencies — from 11 million euros ($12.5 million) in 2015 to over 52 million euros this year. By the end of 2016, EU humanitarian aid will have enabled access to education for over 3.8 million girls and boys living in emergencies in 46 countries around the world.

In addition to basic education, the EU is helping provide children with the necessary skills and tools to cope under adverse conditions and to try to break the cycle of violence and help with their communities' recovery. Even something as simple as raising awareness about the importance of having a nutritious meal is indirectly improving the health and nutrition of the next generation. We witnessed firsthand in Macedonia how a healthy meal can make a huge difference in the life of a child and greatly increase his or her capacity to learn.

Read more about how the EU is helping keep girls in school and make education for all children a top priority here.

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Earth Day – April 22

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From the Earth Day Network’s website:

Earth Day was started in 1970 – years after DDT decimated our bald eagle populations and before words such as Love Canal, Three-Mile Island, and the Exxon-Valdez became a part of our environmental heritage. Forty-six years later, representatives from countries around the world will meet at United Nations headquarters in New York to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – an agreement to limit carbon emissions to keep a global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

We’ve made a good start in working toward a better future for all of creation. There is more that can and absolutely should be done, however. The Earth Day Network is hoping to plant 7.8 billion trees over the next five years! That’s over 4 million trees a day!

But why trees? Here’s a few examples of what trees can do:

Trees help combat climate change. They absorb excess and harmful carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. In fact, in a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs, or sequesters, the same amount of carbon dioxide produced by driving an average car 26,000 miles.

Trees help us breathe clean air. Trees absorb odors and polluting gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.

Trees help us to counteract the loss of species. By planting the appropriate trees, we can help counteract the loss of species, as well as provide increased habitat connectivity between separated forested areas.

Trees help communities and their livelihoods. Trees help communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability and provide food, energy, and income.

Read more about Earth Day Network’s plan to plant trees around the world and find an interactive map for Earth Day events in your area here.