Sven Harmeling (CARE International), Karin Lexén (SIWI) and Colin McQuistan (Practical Action) discuss why action on climate change is urgently needed, introduce their organizations’ engagement in taking stronger climate action and highlight priority areas of intervention.

Climate change is happening now and its effects are felt most by the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities. Please share to keep climate change top of the global agenda.

Many would say that global warming is the most serious environmental issue of the twenty first century. As a result of climate change, women have seen their workload increase in many activities which have traditionally been women's responsibilities. For instance, fishing has been made more difficult by the intrusion of salted water in fresh water systems. Fetching clean water and fuel has also become more difficult.

Litigation (legal action) for justice over climate change is an immense global issue which is likely to increase in the future. The complexities of legal systems are a disadvantage for poor communities, who often suffer the most serious impacts of climate change. Is it worth these people going to court over climate change?To
date, there are about 17 different climate legal initiatives underway, in both
developed and developing countries. The most recent cases have involved human
rights issues, addressing both causes of climate change and the impacts. Judgments

Existing policy responses to climate change in Nunavut, Canada have largely focused on mitigation. However, because of the likelihood of adverse climate change impacts there has been a growing push for adaptation policies. This paper argues that research on adaptation policy in the Arctic is nascent and the policy deficit is evident in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, which shows the limited discussion of adaptation policy.

The Inuit residents of Sachs Harbour, Canada, are struggling to maintain their way of life in the face of climate change. Their lifestyle and culture depends on their ability to adapt to this new challenge. Given the dramatic changes that local people have observed, IISD and the Hunters and Trappers Committee of Sachs Harbour initiated a year-long project to document the problem of Arctic climate change and communicate it to Canadian and international audiences.

Climate change is recognised as a factor that will increase the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, notably of droughts and floods to which the agriculture sector is especially exposed.

Agricultural productivity growth and policy development have allowed the sector to better cope with these risks and reduce overall impacts.