Teen Activist Series: Darfur's Climate Solution

By: Tejal Patel

While seeing climate change and its life-threatening effects in the news is sorrowful, uplifting news such as Greta Thunberg and her impact on the world has influenced me to research more about its effects and help advocate about climate change. As dangerous as this issue is, it’s important to hear the positivity around the world and what others are doing to fight climate change.

In Darfur, Sudan, water is precious. There is only 20cm of rain a year, and climate change is making their problem worse. In addition to a shortage of basic necessities, research has shown that the impacts of climate change increase “the risk of armed struggles, particularly in regions where populations are already divided.” Any climate-related disaster increases armed conflict; in fact, a quarter of the violent conflict in ethnically divided countries were caused by climate. Violence occurs because groups fight over resources, especially water, or eventually flee from their territory.

Luckily in Darfur, a solution has been found. People have joined together to transform the seasonal river that runs by El Fasher into weirs, which are used to control the flow rates of rivers. They slow the flow of water from the rain, spreading it out, which also allows more people to work.

Now, farmers and camel herders who were once enemies are coming together to build these weirs and share resources. While there had been a lot of violence, groups who had previous differences have come together to work and fight challenges they face together.
​
Community and communication have enabled people to work together and solve problems they face. It is crucial that together, we continue to fight climate change and find ways for us to live a healthy and sustainable life.