Objective

Climate Witness is WWF's initiative to document the direct experiences of people who are witnessing the impacts of climate change on their local environment.

By demonstrating that climate change is already affecting the lives of a growing number of people today, we can bring a 'real-life' perspective to what many view as a somewhat ambiguous and distant threat. This will help us to promote effective solutions to climate change.

We want to hear from people from around the world who have taken an interest and observed changes in their local climate and the effects on their community. Please contact WWF if you are interested in submitting your Climate Witness story.

Science based

In its Fourth Assessment report, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that climate change is already affecting a growing number of countries and regions around the world, including some habitats of endangered species and major urban areas.

Climate Witness aims to document the stories of the people living in these areas. This will help us to understand better how the reality on the ground is in line with scientific model projections.

WWF works with scientists around the world who provide scientific background information to the climate witness testimonies.

The India Climate Witness Programme
The over-arching goal of the India Climate Witness programme is to raise awareness about climate change, by involving Indian communities most impacted in broadcasting the impacts they’ve witnessed, in order to inspire increased action and proactive solutions. Through the India Climate Witness programme, we will engage Indian citizens from all backgrounds who have witnessed the impacts of climate change, record and share their observations and engage them in climate solutions. By learning about the impacts of climate change, communities will be able to identify how climate change is or will be affecting their lives, livelihoods, and cultures; learn how to adapt to climate change; and promote actions to address the causes and consequences of climate change. Most importantly, when linked to proactive solutions, Climate Witness will inspire hope that there are indeed answers for the climate change challenge.
At present the India Climate Witness programme covers two regions – Sundarbans and Ladakh.

Ladakh
The Climate Witness programme in Ladakh is part of the WWF’s Regional Programme on Climate Change and Freshwater under the CCIFEH project. As part of the Climate Witness programme in Ladakh, a massive awareness campaign has been launched. The local communities have been asked to come forward and share their observations related to climate change in Ladakh, in order to validate scientific data for the same. The major focus is to work with local communities and to find out their perception on climate change in Ladakh. These stories from the communities will be compiled and will be shared with policy makers and planners.

The overall goal of the project is to build a movement of people to save the unique environment of Ladakh from climate change. The awareness level of the people will be raised to the extent that they can initiate policy advocacy on climate change.