Climate change and local action in developing countries

Nov 09, 2026 Letters

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Dear Editor,

The latest warning from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regarding the widening climate adaptation financing gap should serve as a sobering wake-up call for developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. While the international community continues to negotiate financial commitments and establish ambitious climate targets, the reality is that millions of people remain increasingly exposed to the devastating consequences of flooding, droughts, rising temperatures, coastal erosion and other climate-related hazards. The challenge before us is no longer simply to acknowledge the threat of climate change, but to determine how urgently and effectively we respond to it.

According to UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2026: Ready? Not, released on 4^th November, 2026, developing countries will require approximately US$305 billion annually by 2035 to meet their climate adaptation needs. Yet, even if international public adaptation financing is tripled by 2035, in keeping with the commitments made by governments, it would satisfy only between 20 and 29 per cent of projected requirements. This leaves a substantial financing shortfall at a time when global temperatures are projected to reach and potentially exceed the critical 1.5°C threshold. The implications are profound: the countries and communities with the greatest vulnerabilities are facing a future in which the resources required to protect their populations, economies and infrastructure remain significantly inadequate.

These findings underscore an uncomfortable but unavoidable reality: developing countries cannot afford to make their climate resilience strategies entirely dependent on the expectation that international financial assistance will eventually materialise. While developed countries must honour their obligations and strengthen their climate financing commitments, vulnerable nations must simultaneously assume greater responsibility for advancing practical adaptation measures within their own national, regional and community settings. International support is indispensable, but it cannot become a substitute for local initiative, national leadership and collective responsibility.

Guyana provides a particularly compelling example of why this approach is necessary. As a low-lying coastal state, with a substantial proportion of its population, economic activities and critical infrastructure concentrated along the coast, Guyana faces considerable exposure to flooding, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Our continued dependence on effective drainage and irrigation systems, sea defences, water management infrastructure and other protective measures makes climate adaptation not merely an environmental consideration, but a fundamental pillar of national development, economic security and public health and public safety.

However, climate adaptation must extend well beyond major infrastructure investments and government-led interventions. It must become an integral part of local governance, community development, public education, institutional planning and individual responsibility. Indeed, the effectiveness of national climate policies will ultimately be determined by their impact at the community level, where people experience the consequences of climate change and where many practical solutions must be implemented.

It is against this background that Mindful Guyana Inc. urges the Government of Guyana, local democratic organs, civil society organisations, private sector stakeholders, educational institutions and communities to intensify their efforts to implement practical, inclusive and locally responsive climate adaptation initiatives.

Among the priority areas requiring sustained attention are:

1. Strengthening community preparedness and disaster resilience. Communities should be encouraged and supported to develop, regularly review and practise local disaster preparedness plans. This should include identifying vulnerable households, establishing reliable communication networks, designating emergency contacts and ensuring that residents understand the appropriate actions to take before, during and after extreme weather events. Preparedness must become a culture rather than a reaction to disaster.
2. Improving drainage, sanitation and environmental management. Greater emphasis must be placed on the regular maintenance of drains, canals, culverts and waterways, alongside effective solid waste management. Indiscriminate dumping and the obstruction of drainage channels undermine national efforts to reduce flooding. Local authorities and residents must therefore work together to promote responsible waste disposal, protect waterways and organise sustained community clean-up initiatives.
3. Protecting and restoring natural ecosystems. Mangroves, wetlands, forests and other natural ecosystems provide essential environmental services and contribute significantly to climate resilience. Their conservation, restoration and sustainable management must be incorporated into local adaptation strategies. Nature-based solutions should complement engineered infrastructure as part of a balanced approach to reducing climate risks.
4. Advancing climate-smart and resilient agriculture. Agriculture remains important to livelihoods, food security and economic development throughout the developing world. Farmers must therefore be supported through education, technical assistance and access to appropriate technologies and climate-resilient agricultural practices. Improved water management, suitable crop varieties, sustainable farming methods and better access to climate information can help reduce vulnerability and protect agricultural productivity.
5. Expanding public education and climate awareness. Climate change education must reach beyond formal institutions and become a continuous national awareness effort involving schools, workplaces, religious organisations, community groups and households. Citizens need to understand the causes and consequences of climate change, the risks facing their communities and the practical measures they can adopt to reduce vulnerability. An informed population is better positioned to participate meaningfully in building national resilience.
6. Improving early warning and emergency response systems. Communities must have access to timely, reliable and understandable weather and flood warnings, supported by effective communication and emergency response arrangements. Practical provisions for evacuation, emergency assistance and the protection of lives, livelihoods and property should be established, particularly in communities with heightened exposure to climate hazards.

It is important to point out that, not every meaningful adaptation intervention requires substantial financial investment at the outset. Some can be initiated through stronger community organisation, public education, volunteerism, partnerships and more effective utilisation of existing resources. Others will undoubtedly require dedicated government financing, specialised technical expertise and international assistance. The critical requirement is the recognition that climate adaptation must be continuous, planned and measurable, rather than an exercise undertaken only in the aftermath of a disaster.

At the same time, we must be unequivocal that local action does not absolve the international community of its responsibilities. Developing countries have contributed comparatively little to the historical accumulation of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet many face disproportionate exposure to the resulting climate impacts. The principle of climate justice therefore demands that developed countries provide adequate, predictable, accessible and sustainable climate financing to vulnerable nations. Such financing should also be structured in ways that do not deepen existing debt burdens or undermine the development prospects of the very countries it is intended to assist.

Mindful Guyana Inc. believes that the climate crisis demands a fundamental shift in our development mindset. We must move away from treating climate change as a distant environmental concern and recognise it for what it is: an immediate and growing threat to economic stability, food and water security, public health, social well-being and national development. Therefore, our response must be proactive rather than reactive, preventive rather than merely remedial, and inclusive rather than confined to a few institutions or stakeholders.

Guyana, has a special opportunity to demonstrate that economic advancement and environmental responsibility can proceed together. Our development trajectory must be accompanied by a deliberate commitment to protecting our natural capital, strengthening community resilience and ensuring that the benefits of national progress are not undermined by inadequate preparation for climate-related risks. Achieving this will require sustained collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, educational institutions, businesses, non-governmental organisations and, importantly, ordinary citizens.

The central message emerging from UNEP’s report is that the international financing available for climate adaptation remains woefully short of what developing countries require. This should strengthen, not weaken, our determination to advocate for climate justice, equitable financing and greater international cooperation. However, we must not allow the financing gap to become an excuse for postponing practical measures that are within our reach. There is much that can and should be done now, using the resources, knowledge and collective capabilities already available to us.

Yours faithfully,

Royston King

Chairman

Mindful Guyana Inc.

Guyana

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• coastal erosion, Letters, Mindful Guyana Inc., rising temperatures, Royston King, UNEP

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