Voices from the Frontlines of Climate Change

Hear voices from the frontlines of climate change. These stories remind us why urgent climate action is needed; for those living in its shadow today, and for all of us tomorrow.

Bargun, Pakistan: Climate change is not a distant threat for communities like Bargun’s – it’s a daily reality. As a Wakhi farmer in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley, Bargun’s life and livelihood are shaped by the rapidly shifting environment in one of the most vulnerable regions in the world: the Karakoram and Pamir Mountain ranges.

Stories like Bargun’s remind us why urgent climate action is needed; for those living in its shadow today, and for all of us tomorrow.

Jaffar, Kenya: Jaffar tell us how mangrove harvesting in Lamu was once guided by nature. The winds dictated where dhows (boats) without motors would sail, giving mangrove forests time to regenerate.

Today, with motorboats and rising demand for housing, mangroves are being lost more rapidly than ever, threatening both the environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities like Jaffar’s.

Geeta Devi, India: Geeta Devi has witnessed firsthand how erratic rainfall is transforming agriculture, health and nutrition. Where her community once grew a variety of crops like millets – known for their nutritional value – they now rely mainly on rice and wheat, leaving diets less balanced and communities more vulnerable to illness.

Rain-fed irrigation has given way to diesel-powered pumps, adding environmental pollution to the challenges faced by farmers. In response, Geeta Devi is learning climate-friendly agriculture techniques, like solar irrigation and bio-inputs.

Voices like Geeta’s remind us that the effects of climate change ripple through every aspect of life.

Tawfiq Ali, Syria: In Salamieh, extreme heat keeps farmers like Tawfiq Ali indoors until evening – a stark contrast to years past, when cool breezes allowed them to work from dawn to dusk. The land has grown so dry that farmers must dig as deep as 25 meters to find water.

Once self-sufficient, many farmers now face economic hardship, with shrinking water supplies threatening their livelihoods. Tawfiq’s story highlights the cost of rising temperatures and water scarcity.

Grace Mnale, Tanzania: Grace, an AKF Green Champion helping farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change. She has witnessed unseasonal and heavy rains disrupt farming, damaging crops and threatening livelihoods and food security.

In Tanzania – and everywhere – healthy ecosystems provide fresh air, water for crops, and the food communities depend on.

Through regenerative farming techniques, Grace is leading the way toward solutions that restore balance.

Mairambek, Kyrgyz Republic: Mairambek, an Agricultural Consultant from Bishkek, sees the impacts of climate change on farmers every day.

Winters now bring less snow, leading to frost that kills roots and perennial grasses. Springs are shorter, with early heatwaves burning freshly sown seeds of vegetables and fruits.

Masia Juliet, Uganda: Masia Juliet is a teacher and farmer. She reminds us that climate change has an impact indoors, as well as outside in the natural environment.

Climate change affects every aspect of life, from education to agriculture.

Sali Ali, Tanzania: Said Ali shows us a once-productive cashew tree that has lost all its leaves due to unseasonal rainfall. Early rains, often carrying harmful chemicals, are causing trees to wither and die – putting the future of this vital crop at risk.

Tanzania ranks among the top 10 cashew producers worldwide, but climate change is threatening the earning potential of Tanzanian cashew farmers like Said Ali.

Rajesh Vasava, India: Rajesh, a farmer in Gujarat, India, has watched erratic weather patterns disrupt agriculture over the past five years. Once predictable, rainfall is now unreliable – coming too early, too late, or all at once.

Heavy monsoon rains and hailstorms damage crops like paddy and cotton, while dry spells leave seeds unable to germinate. Even fodder for livestock is in short supply, adding to the challenges farmers face.

Rajesh’s story highlights how unpredictable weather is not just impacting crops, but entire farming communities

Agnes Kalemonda, Kenya: Agnes Kalemonda, an AKF Green Champion in Kirinyaga, Kenya, is on the frontlines of the fight against climate change. Prolonged droughts are leaving communities food-insecure, while extended periods of heavy rainfall are damaging crops—creating a precarious balance for farmers.

Through regenerative farming techniques, Agnes helps farmers adapt to these challenges by restoring soil health, improving water management, and building resilience to unpredictable weather patterns.

Anthony Maina, Kenya: Anthony Maina, a farmer from Kirinyaga, Kenya, reflects on how climate change has disrupted farming cycles. Fifteen years ago, the rainy season arrived on time, providing farmers with predictability. Now, rains are delayed – or don’t come at all. This month, rain was expected by the 15th, but it never arrived.

For farmers like Anthony, erratic weather patterns don’t just disrupt planting – they jeopardise livelihoods and incomes, leaving communities uncertain about the future.

Khaled Ismail, Syria: Khaled Ismail, a farmer from Salamieh, Syria, has witnessed the devastating effects of climate change on both the environment and livelihoods. Once rich with wildlife like deer and predatory animals, the pastures near his village have vanished due to severe drought.

Water scarcity has forced many farmers to abandon their fields, dig deeper and drier wells, and migrate to cities in search of work. What was once fertile land is now a harsh reminder of how drought can reshape lives and communities.