“We have joined the Water ChangeMaker Awards because there is no time like the present when more action is needed on water, especially given the COVID-19 crisis”, says James.
“Environment is where climate change makes its first impact. It’s either in the air we breathe, the temperatures we live in, the water we drink, the environment we are surrounded by. So environment is the front and center to climate change response, and that’s why environment of conservation needs to be in the discussion around change in water management”.
Commenting on whether people are thinking of climate resilience now in the midst of the COVID crisis, James says:
“If you look at the speed and scale of the response of governments, often criticized for being slow, on the way that they have moved and reacted to COVID is quite extraordinary, it’s quite harsh in some countries as well, but it’s there to save lives. This is an indicator of what we may have to deal with in the future with climate change in terms of sudden onset changes.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. For over 70 years, IUCN has provided organisations with knowledge and resources needed to address environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.