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NOVEMBER 2012 PROJECT Stakeholders’ testimonials IMPACTS PROJECT IMPACTS Stakeholders’ testimonials Remote in the west Himalayan range, the valleys of To take optimum benefit of solar radiation and retain these desert areas lye at more than 3,000masl. They heat, the consortium of NGOs has developed low-en- are characterized by temperatures that can easily ergy consumption houses and buildings. Families can drop below –20°C during harsh and long winter, a build such passive solar rooms with local materials short frost-free period, meagre annual rainfall (10- and techniques, at affordable cost, saving up to 60% 100mm) and scarce vegetation. Villages are isolated in fuel and reducing pressure on the environment. both geographically and economically. Shortage of lo- cal fuel and high price of imported fossil fuels result in Awareness and adaptation to climate change energy vulnerability. Since thermal efficiency of most Over the last few years, impacts of climate change of the buildings is poor, indoor temperature often falls have been increasingly visible in Ladakh and Lahaul below -10°C in winter. Living conditions are all the & Spiti. Rainfall and snowfall patterns have been more difficult as combustion in traditional stoves pro- changing; small glaciers and permanent snow fields duce lots of unhealthy smoke. Besides, the impacts of are melting affecting water runoff in the rivers and global climate change have been increasingly percep- streams, and rise in temperature and humidity induc- tible in the region over the last 10 years. ing favourable conditions for the invasion of insects and pest aggression. The consortium’s approach was This region benefits from an exceptional sunshine of to assess the impacts specific to the project region, around 300 days per year, exploitable for the dissem- as it had never been done in the past. An impor- ination of renewable energy technologies. tant activity of community awareness has been per- formed. Later on, adaptive strategies were explored GERES is a French NGO that has been working in In- and tested such as artificial glaciers. dia since 1986, aiming at supporting local NGOs and institutions to promote income generation activities Economic activities and local industry and ecofriendly technologies by using renewable en- The consortium also encourages traditional income ergies and energetic services. GERES along with five generation activities, such as wool transformation, partner NGOs (Ecosphere, LEDEG, LEHO, LNP and in solar community building which enable artisans to SECMOL) formed a consortium to implement a proj- increase their production and generate additional in- ect from 2009 till end 2012. They aimed at reducing come. 420 women from SHG and 33 individual arti- the pressure on rural mountain communities in secur- sans were supported by the project so as to improve ing their winter heating needs as well as the pres- their handicraft production, skills and income. sure on the fragile ecosystem from the unsustainable harvesting of scant natural resources. The approach Capacity Building and Governance consisted of improving livelihoods of rural populations Besides the consortium of NGOs, the project also living in these remote villages of the trans-Himalayas set up grassroots-level networks composed of local by improving unhealthy winter conditions, supporting representatives (village heads, councillors, etc.) and the development of income generation in the newly policy-level networks involving policy makers from improved habitat, alleviating energy vulnerability and District Authorities. The objective was to ensure wide setting up a sustainable network for dissemination of dissemination of the LEC technologies and sustain- energy efficient housing technology. ability of the Consortium’s initiative. For the same purpose, particular efforts were made to strengthen the capacities of the civil society. OUR FIELDS OF ACTION Household energy Since most buildings are thermally poorly efficient, Several stakeholders have been interviewed to ex- room temperature often falls below 0°C in the early press their feedback regarding the project in which winter morning, which – when combined with smoke they have taken part. Their testimonials gathered in from dung combustion in traditional stoves - results the present document illustrate the impacts of the in unhealthy winter living conditions. Consortium’s initiative. Abbreviations used in this document: Local words: LEC: Low-Energy Consumption Goba: village headman. LNP: Leh Nutrition Project Panchayat: village level government body. LEHO: Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation Thap: traditional stove. LEDeG: Ladakh Ecological Development Group Bukhari: traditional space heater. SECMOL: Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh Yakzes: a wild plant that grows in the mountains. CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education Shingtsak: decoratively carved wooden lintel over doors and windows SHG: Self Help Group in traditional Ladakhi architecture. “If we don’t do anything then I don’t know what Ladakh will be like in the future. ” TASHI LAMO ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE Age: 17 years old Village: Phyang very concerned because I School: Druk Padma Karpo. Shey think this is a big issue and Situation: student in 10th standard class shouldn’t be taken lightly. Number of siblings: two sisters At school I discuss the is- sue with my schoolmates I am a 10th grade student and I first heard about but I wish we could find a climate change at school. Last year we did a project way to discuss it with other called ‘Glacier melting in Ladakh’ in which students schools, only by telling one and teachers participated as a team. First we read another the information about the greenhouse effect and later we made ex- can be spread across the periments and field observations. Climate change is population. The best thing often mentioned during morning assembly and we we can do right now is to commemorate world environment day. campaign on ‘environment awareness’, especially in rural areas because the vast majority is unaware of LNP came to our school and gave us a very good cli- the situation. mate change awareness presentation through post- ers and movies. They showed us where the polluted I have discussed the issue with my family. I prefer to areas are located and clearly explained how they got discuss it with elders because they have a better idea polluted. I learnt several things: that now more than of what’s happening and have witnessed changes in ever is important to use natural resources like the the weather. My grandfather told me there is no doubt sun, water and wind; to take measures in our daily that glaciers are retreating and that not long ago the life to reduce CO2 emissions; to plant as many trees snow fallen in December used to melt only in April or as possible and not to use polluting materials. May, in time for the agricultural season, but now is melting in February. Other people told me there is now I liked the posters but I liked the movie the most a worm called ‘codling moth’ in Nubra which is very because the subject is difficult to understand just by harmful for agriculture, and they believe its appear- reading a book or by being told by someone. A movie ance is due to the warmer climate. Many have noticed is entertaining and makes it easy to understand. a decrease in the amount of drinking water; streams polluted and drying up and that the water level of Tso- Climate change is a lasting change in the weather and kar, Pangong and Tsomoriri lakes is lowering. the main cause is CO2 emissions. The entire world is feeling the effects of climate change and Ladakh I would like to learn more about climate change. It will is no exception. Nowadays everyone in Leh wants to be good to have a specific course about its impacts, have a car, at times it looks like a competition. They mitigation and adaptations. The more I know the bet- don’t think or they don’t care about the effects of too ter I’ll be prepared to contribute to save the environ- many cars in such a small place. We should use public ment. I have already joined several school programs transportation or, if the distance is short, walk or ride such as wild life protection and bird watching. a bicycle; I often do that. However, we are just ordinary citizens, the number Not all is bad, some changes are happening, CFL of people we can reach is limited. The Government bulbs are becoming popular; lots of trees had been has the means to approach the rural areas and make planted; a huge hydro power plant is being built at awareness campaigns on a large scale as well as tak- Alchi and solar panels are now a common sight. All ing measures to mitigate climate change impacts. this is good for us and the environment. Dramas are very popular in Ladakh. Government of- ficials should make street plays to convey the mes- It is now in our hands, the sage. People get bored with lectures whereas with a young generation, to take drama they remain interested. measures and to make people aware. If we don’t I don’t know much about the projects local NGOs are do anything then I don’t implementing in Ladakh but I was impressed with know what Ladakh will be LNP presentation. like in the future. I am GERES | November 2012 | PROJECT IMPACTS | 3/12 “As teachers the biggest problem we face is the lack of accurate information. ” TSEWANG DOLMA ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE Age: 26 years old Village: Mulbekh We have taken also some measures to mitigate cli- School: Mahabodi Residential School. Choglamsar Experience as teacher: 1 and a half years mate change. We use only CFL bulbs and advice the Situation: School’s Principal students to do the same at their homes.

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