Climate change is reshaping our world, affecting human health, ecosystems, and both rural and urban areas. Tackling this challenge requires collective action at all levels. In this article, Heqi Climate Action interviews Mr. Dawei Zheng and Mrs. Yan Zheng to explore the multifaceted effects of climate change and the steps communities can take to mitigate and adapt to its impacts.
The Growing Impact of Climate Change
Climate change has been widely studied over the past decade, with research highlighting its diverse effects: extreme heatwaves, unpredictable weather patterns, pest outbreaks, declining crop nutrition, and negative impact on mental health. These changes affect regions in different ways. For instance, in northern China, historically harsh winters once limited agricultural productivity. However, rising temperatures have made winters milder, increasing grain production in some areas. While this may seem beneficial, other industries, such as winter sports, are suffering. Ice and snow sports depend on sub-zero temperatures, and global warming is threatening their viability, impacting local tourism. Meanwhile, in southern China, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, posing serious health risks. While some regions may experience temporary benefits from climate change, these advantages are often short-lived. Once temperature increase surpasses a certain threshold, they become harmful. Traditional Chinese agricultural practices, based on the 24 solar terms, are already being disrupted, requiring farmers to adapt to shifting seasonal patterns.
Strategies for Community-Level Climate Action
To address climate change effectively, communities must adopt two key strategies: mitigation and adaptation.
- Mitigation involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions by cutting down on energy and resource consumption. For example, minimizing water waste is crucial since water supply, protection, and transportation require energy.
- Adaption is more complex and requires localized solutions. The first step is addressing climate risks specific to each community. Based on these assessments, communities can develop targeted strategies. Governments are already implementing policies, such as China’s Responding to Climate Change: China’s Policies and Actions, which communities can reference and apply to their own contexts. Adaptation is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and innovation. Rather than focusing solely on immediate risks, communities mush build long-term resilience to cope with climate-related challenges.
Implementing Climate Action in Communities
For community-led climate initiatives to succeed, residents must first understand what climate change is, how it affects them, and why it matters. Climate change is not just a scientific issue—it has direct social and economic consequences. The best approach to develop tailored solutions. Community leaders often struggle with where to begin. Our two experts recommend starting with climate risk assessments and identifying the most vulnerable groups within the community. This enables the development of comprehensive adaptation strategies. Finding common concerns across different groups helps refine solutions, and evaluating the effectiveness of these measures ensure continuous improvement.
While general adaptation frameworks exist, solutions must be tailored to local conditions. For example, fire risk differs between urban and rural areas. In cities, high-rising buildings made of synthetic materials increase the likelihood of rapid fire spread, creating a “chimney effect.” In rural areas, fire risks are more closely linked to agricultural activities and ecological shifts. Urban strategies focus on improving emergency response efficiency, while rural approaches emphasize strengthening ecosystem resilience. Effective risk assessments rely on extensive data collection and analysis. Without sufficient data, it is difficult to predict disasters, or implement preventive measures. For instance, forecasting wildfires requires analyzing factors such as air humidity, fuel types, and fire distribution patterns, rather than just focusing on past fire events.
Nature-Based Solutions and Policy Support
One promising approach to climate adaptation is nature-based solutions (NBS), which use natural ecosystems to enhance resilience. For example:
- Water has significant thermal properties—evaporation absorbs heat, and freezing/melting causes temperature fluctuations. Zhejiang Province has applied this principle by using deep mountain reservoir water to cool buildings via circulation systems.
- In Beijing, foam and hollow bricks are replacing traditional materials to improve insulation and energy efficiency.
However, the success of nature-based solutions depends on strong policy support and widespread adoption. Social organizations play a crucial role in this process. According to Mr. Denggao Zhang from Shanshui Hefei, social organizations do more than just help communities combat climate change, they also guide them in identifying their own challenges and solutions. By aligning community needs with government policies, these organizations can facilitate sustainable development.
Conclusion
Communities are on the front lines of climate change and must take an active role in both mitigation and adaptation. By understanding local climate risks, developing resilience strategies, and leveraging nature-based solutions, communities can build a sustainable and climate-resilient future. Collaboration among residents, policymakers, and social organizations will be key to driving meaningful change.
