Madagascar, fourth-largest island on the planet, is one of the lowest carbon dioxide emitters. It is however experiencing the devastating effects of climate change.
According to the, 1.5 million Malagasy residents are now facing the “first climate-induced food shortage” after years of severe drought. United NationsWorld Food Program. The island’s south continues to suffer from famine. However, other parts of the island are still suffering from the effects of five tropical storms that have impacted the country so far this year. They have killed at least 300 people and destroyed more than 45,000 homes. Nearly half a million people were also affected.
These events were also accompanied by a resurgence and significant loss of wildlife in one area of the world that is biodiverse.
Madagascar, which sits off the east coast of Africa, has reached out to a south Asian nation across the Indian Ocean for help — India.
The Indian-led initiative was taken by the island nation last week. Coalition for Disaster ResilientInfrastructure (CDRI). The group, which includes 29 nations, aims to assist island nations in developing resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.
According to the organization’s most recent annual reports, CDRI “supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (Paris Agreement on Climate Change), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the UN Agenda 2030 principles, leaving no one behind, no place, or ecosystem behind”
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This resilience is essential as the island faces increasing environmental threats.
Marie Christina Kolo from Madagascar, an activist and organizer, stated that the government and local organizations of Madagascar are calling for additional international assistance to address current needs as well as mitigate future disasters.
“Climate change is not a concept for us,” she said. “It is a fact because we already see the polluted sea, the coral reefs dying, rising sea level.”
She said, “We need support, but we don’t need just any kind of support.” “I don’t want to be told what to do by someone from another nation. With the support of governments as well as international NGOs, we must start to involve community activists.
Kolo said that her childhood memories are being lost as her grandmother’s fishing village is abandoned. The environment where she grew-up is turning on its head.
She can still remember the way things were.
She stated that she grew up in a natural environment, but that things aren’t the same as they used to be. Newsweek. “I get very nostalgic thinking about the things I often saw when I was growing up — colorful fish, whales, dolphins, sea turtles. Now, I only see plastic floating and coral reefs being destroyed.”
Kolo stated that while the people of Madagascar have displayed great resilience and innovation in spite of these major changes, the country does lack sufficient resources to address these problems on its own.
The following organizations include the World BankWhile the United Nations has provided resources to the country for decades, usually in the form of capital investments or humanitarian aid, many Malagasy activists, and community organizations, have criticized their approach.
Some claim that the West pushes a top-down approach for international development that silences the people living on the ground.
Kolo stated, “Western experts feel there is not enough knowledge and that they are better than the locals.” Kolo said, “I would be happy for experts from Western countries to exchange perspectives with me, but we don’t see equality or dialogue from them.” There is no sense that they approach this as a partnership.
She stated that Malagasy leaders are seeking a new model of global cooperation. This leads them to prefer collaboration with other regional powers like India or China.
Kolo stated, “It’s easier for countries in global south to connect and understand each other, and make efforts to improve the way organizations work today.”
According to the Embassy of India, Antananarivo (the capital of Madagascar), the U.S. is still the most aid-received nation, but nations like India have emphasized strengthening trade relations and signing agreements that will benefit both the military and economic sides.
Although monetary aid to Madagascar was relatively small, bilateral trade between India and Madagascar in 2021 stood at USD 363.99 million. Just one year ago, India was Madagascar’s second-largest import source, accounting for 9.4% of its total international imports.
Kolo said that the Indian government has been trying to foster a spirit and partnership with the Malagasy by engaging in trade, encouraging cultural interchanges, and hosting public diplomatic trips. This has made them feel more respected, heard and valued.
Christian Ntsay, Madagascar’s Prime Minister, has spoken out on numerous occasions over the past four years about India and Madagascar being “two neighbors connected through the ocean”.
Over the years, good relations have been established between the two countries. This has allowed India not only to be a key economic partner and political resource but also to play a crucial role in Madagascar’s fight for climate change.
India hopes that this alliance will bring about significant changes.
Abhay Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Madagascar, said that Madagascar has joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. “It will allow Madagascar to be more prepared for natural disasters such cyclones that it experiences almost every single year.”
Kolo is encouraged to see the international support and attention that is growing, but she stresses that the effects of the climate crisis have many consequences and Madagascar has urgent needs.
“Women and children are eating cactus and locusts to survive the drought,” Issa Sanogo (the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Madagascar) wrote in an official report. “This is happening within a country and in a region which has contributed the least to climate changes.”
Kolo also notes that the climate crisis is particularly affecting women and children. Kolo points out that Malagasy women are four-times more likely to become malnourished during this crisis.
“When we discuss climate change and the consequences of it, people don’t realize that women are often the first victims,” she stated.
Local activists, researchers, as well as community organizations, have already created models and strategies to reduce the damage caused by extreme weather events. These include limiting deforestation and leveraging solar technology. Trees and rice paddies can also be used to absorb the shock from storm surges.
“We work for innovation. Kolo stated that they do not work in high-tech innovation but low-tech innovation. “We are working closely with local researchers to find solutions that can be adaptable and can be very cheaply priced.”
Many of these strategies have been successful at a local level. However, Western global organizations often ignore local experts and dismiss their methods.
Kolo stated, “People tend to devalue traditional knowledge because of globalization.” “But when we bring back this traditional wisdom, we can value some community good practices that could work, especially in developing countries such as Madagascar, where most people live in rural areas.”
The climate crisis is a global issue that must be solved by global collaboration from all levels. Kolo stated that local communities must be empowered to participate in the process in order for it to succeed.
She said that she wanted international support, but not their pity.
