SDC Climate Change & Environment (CC&E)

Forests and agriculture are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, disasters and land degradation. However, they are also key to addressing them. Properly managed, forests and agriculture can support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts across scales whilst also increasing biodiversity. The SDC is supporting the development of climate resilient agriculture and food systems and innovative approaches such as social forestry that improve the livelihoods of communities, prevent deforestation and restore forest ecosystems – which are essential carbon sinks.

Mountain regions provide a multitude of ecosystem services. However, mountain ecosystems are also fragile and vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including melting glaciers that threaten downstream water security. Deforestation and forest degradation, land use change, land degradation, disasters, poor watershed management and the marginalisation of mountain communities also have a major impact on these ecosystems, their associated water resources and the people that rely on them. The SDC is active in mountain regions and watersheds across the world, and seeks to promote water security and create better living conditions and decent incomes for mountain communities. The SDC also funds the Climate Change Adaptation in Mountains network on weADAPT, as part of the Adaptation at Altitude (AaA) programme.

To avoid the worst impacts of climate change and to strengthen urban resilience, development activities need to follow low carbon and climate resilient pathways, promoting, for example, energy efficiency. This is especially the case in fast-growing cities across the world, where already vulnerable populations are also impacted by air pollution and poor building quality. The SDC is engaged in the development of diverse technologies, solutions and initiatives aimed at promoting healthy environments and resilient livelihoods, in particular amongst poorer urban communities.

Climate change around the world is creating new challenges for those involved in international development, since poor countries and population groups are much harder hit than prosperous ones. Climate change hampers development and jeopardises the progress that has already been achieved. It is also a hugely complex issue, with far reaching, integrated and often cascading consequences. The SDC is strongly engaged in addressing the nexus issues associated with climate change, including on food, energy, migration, conflict, disasters, infrastructure development and health.

To plan for and adapt to the impacts of climate change requires high quality data, information and knowledge on what climatic changes will occur, where and when these are likely to occur, and how they will impact the local environment, society and economy. The SDC is actively involved in the provision of climate services, tools, training and platforms that support communities, students, researchers, practitioners, government planners and policy-makers to increase their capacity and make informed decisions.