Diaspora 4 Climate Action (D4C): Leveraging the Potential of Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change through Diaspora Engagement in Moldova, Bangladesh, Ghana and Jamaica

Elements of Innovation

• Diaspora Engagement
• Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
• Awareness Raising and Communication

What is the project about?

With climate change impacting the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, urgent collective action is a necessity. Diaspora groups are powerhouses of innovation in their countries of residence and origin and have an untapped potential in accelerating actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

This initiative capitalizes on the dynamic link between diaspora communities and their home countries to enhance responses to climate change. It strategically focuses on priority sectors in four countries: Moldova, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Jamaica. These countries are all significantly affected by the negative impacts of climate change, and the challenges they face require immediate action from a variety of stakeholders. All four countries have significant diaspora populations in the United Kingdom who are engaged as key stakeholders in the project. At its core, the project forges collaborative partnerships with home country governments and diaspora organizations to devise tailored initiatives, innovative tools, and refined coordination mechanisms to trigger impactful climate action.

How is the project innovative?

The D4C project marks a step towards addressing climate change by actively involving diaspora populations. The project's innovation is embedded in its understanding of the influential role that diaspora communities can play in shaping national climate actions and policies. It acknowledges the knowledge, skills, and global connections of diaspora groups that are crucial to accelerate climate action in their countries of origins and on a larger scale.

The D4C initiative seeks to leverage the invaluable contributions that diasporas can offer in advancing comprehensive climate plans and actions through meaningful partnerships with governments, civil society, and other stakeholders. Beyond its immediate impact, the project's accomplishment lies in its potential to trigger a shift in global approaches to climate challenges. Through active engagement with diaspora communities, D4C emerges as an example of a more inclusive and effective approach to global climate action. It offers a potential roadmap for harmonized collaboration between states and their diaspora populations, underscoring the importance of united global climate efforts and coordinated action in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our era.