Intersecting realities: Four approaches to making locally led adaptation more inclusive

24 May 2024

The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect the least prepared and most disadvantaged people. Intersecting characteristics such as disability, gender, age, poverty and geographical location can create and reinforce power, privilege, disadvantage and discrimination.

Yet, on the frontline of the climate crisis, local communities and marginalized groups often lead change and develop innovations and solutions to increase their resilience. Locally led adaptation initiatives must recognize these intersectional power imbalances to be truly empowering. 

What does locally led adaptation look like when intersectionality is intentionally considered as part of an intervention? Here are four insights on this issue that emerged from a peer-learning session hosted by IDRC