Mountain farmers weather the effects of climate change
In the Andes, the effects of global warming are already clearly visible. The SDC’s Adaptation to Climate Change Programme (PACC) is a response to this situation and seeks to help the authorities and communities of the Peruvian Altiplano to become more resilient to the effects of climate change.
Peru is one of the countries that is hardest hit by global warming. And the phenomenon shows no signs of abating – in 2030, the average temperature will have risen by at least 1.5°C. In 40 years’ time, the people of the Andean highlands will have only 60% of the water resources that they have at their disposal today.
This development jeopardises the livelihoods and survival of communities in the La Puna region, in the south-east of the country. While fluctuating temperatures and low rainfall have always been a feature of this ecosystem, climate change accentuates their impact, which in turn threatens the livelihoods of the local population who are heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock farming. If these communities fail to adapt, many will be forced to leave their ancestral lands or endure a life of extreme poverty.
PACC helps to reduce the vulnerability of these communities to the effects of climate change. Efforts on the ground are concentrated in two regions: the Huacrachuco catchment areas in Cusco, and the Mollebamba catchment area in Apurímac. Over 1,700 families in 21 rural communities are direct beneficiaries of the project.
Cooperation with an international team of scientists
The PACC project has helped to make the Peruvian authorities aware of the critical challenges that global climate change poses for their country. The Peruvian government now incorporates environmental criteria in other national projects, such as Haku Wiñay which aims to safeguard food security in 17 regions of Peru. The international scientific community is also an important contributor to PACC. This consortium is led by the Institute of Geography of Zurich University and comprises assorted partner institutions from Switzerland and Peru. Training climate specialists at Peruvian universities provides the country with a supply of experts who are not only equipped to implement projects like PACC and Haku Wiñay but are also well-acquainted with the terrain and the customs of local Andean communities.
A real step forward
Another important feature of PACC, besides the involvement of the national authorities and the dissemination of knowledge, is the participation of women at all levels. The SDC has made concerted efforts to make women aware of the challenges posed by climate change, to enable them to play an active role in efforts on the ground and to ensure their inclusion in all decision-making processes. PACC has been cited in several recent discussions on the role of women in climate change adaptation, such as the discussion which took place during the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in December 2015.
Paris Climate Agreement, media release, 12 December 2015
PACC also receives considerable attention in international climate talks, to which Switzerland brings huge added value thanks to its project experience. One reason for the high level of interest in PACC is that it offers concrete recommendations on climate change adaptation, which is in contrast to international discussions that tend to focus on efforts to combat global warming and reduce CO2 emissions. Through its projects and initiatives, Switzerland makes a significant contribution to key climate issues, which will have a decisive impact on the future of other countries.
