Community based technology solutions: Adapting to climate change

Adaptation to the impacts of climate change will require considerable innovation and cooperation. Following the principles outlined in this Manual, users may successfully initiate technological solutions which benefit communities which are in need; and which will help at the very least to prevent causing harm with the 'best of intentions'.

The examples contained in this Manual are small, but through mainstreaming of the deas and processes they present, much benefit would be created for communities the world over. Each project may in itself be further replicated and enlarged. The Pintadas project already envisages a much larger project or group of projects that may in time extend across the whole north east of Brazil. The cumulative effects of this may be to reverse many decades of poverty, stop the migration and consequent destruction of these vibrant and warm communities, and help these communities to adapt to the ravages of worsening drought caused by climate change. It is not surprising that this project has achieved a &"best practice&" prize for its role in fostering sustainable development from WISIONS, an initiative of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, organised with the support of the Swiss-based foundation
ProEvolution.

SSN is in the process of preparing a Curriculum for Climate Change and Poverty Reduction based on its experience developing project learning in the field of poverty reduction and sustainable development in the context of climate change since 2001, in Brazil, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This Curriculum, which will include a revision and extension of the contents of this Manual, will be launched towards the end of 2008 in the interests of sharing with the global community.