In 2004, I was conducting field research in a village in Mao County, Sichuan. A local resident remarked, “Sichuan pepper trees are moving up the mountains.” He meant that these trees once thrived in the river valleys, but conditions have changed. They now grow better halfway up the slopes, and even the mountain summits, which were once unsuitable for them, can now yield a harvest. This is the very “warming” that everyone talks about, and it struck me deeply at the time. — Du Ling, Shuguang Community Development Capacity-Building Centre, Chengdu
Growing Apples Like Grapes
The northwestern region used to face drought nine years out of ten. These days, however, there is a noticeable and sustained increase in rainfall. The most significant impact of climate change on rural communities is extreme weather. During a recent visit to a village, we spotted rows of trellises in an orchard from a distance and assumed it was a vineyard. Only on drawing nearer did we realise it was an apple orchard. We later discovered that this was a new apple variety promoted by the government, cultivated using a dwarf, high-density planting method. Because the trees are compact, produce a high yield per plant, and carry a heavy fruit load, the orchard requires a trellis system. This structure not only supports the trees but also anchors the drip irrigation lines and hail protection nets. Should severe drought or hail occur, farmers can minimise their losses. — Hu Xiaojun, One Mountain One River Environmental and Social Development Centre, Gansu
What Kind of Energy Resilience Do Rural Areas Need?
Last year, Ruicheng in Shanxi Province was hit by an unusually severe cold spell. High-voltage power lines running from the plains into the mountains froze over, triggering widespread blackouts. For a whole week, there was no heating and no running water. The entire village relied on just four solar panels to charge their mobile phones. Southern Shanxi never had a tradition of stockpiling coal. Furthermore, due to severe air pollution in previous years, coal-burning stoves had been banned. Since the transition from coal to electricity, the region has become far too dependent on the power grid. — Du Jie, Jinqing Sustainable Development Public Welfare Service CentreFrom energy to infrastructure, from production to daily life, and from livelihoods to health, the grave challenges posed by climate change are increasingly apparent across rural China. The government has already introduced a range of policies to bolster rural resilience to climate change. Yet, these initiatives tend to prioritise technology transfer and infrastructure development, leaving a gap in systematic support for smallholder farmers—who account for over 98% of agricultural operators—and for villages that are growing increasingly hollowed out. Furthermore, adaptation strategies reliant on external resources and driven by administrative bodies often constrain farmers’ capacity and scope for autonomous action. Against this backdrop, the role of social organisations in helping rural communities tackle climate change has become all the more critical. Through localised research, frontline intervention, and community mobilisation, they can fill the gaps left by top-down policies, while also offering invaluable grassroots insights into how such policies might be better implemented on the ground.
●Following a climate risk assessment in Xianniangxi Village, located in the northern mountains of Conghua District, Guangzhou, the Shengeng Social Work Service Centre found that as villagers scaled back rice cultivation, many irrigation ditches had fallen into disrepair. This neglect had led to water shortages, eutrophication, and heightened risks of flooding. In October this year, the centre mobilised local residents to carry out small-scale disaster management by dredging and repairing these channels. The work not only mitigated climate-related hazards but also rekindled a collective sense of memory and attachment to their village. Photo: Feng LianAlthough social organisations have begun to engage with climate issues over the past two decades, those operating in rural areas that proactively integrate climate change response into their strategies and project designs remain a minority. On the other hand, these organisations possess extensive experience in developing rural industries and supporting vulnerable groups. They maintain close ties with grassroots communities, and their past work inherently contains rich, practical local wisdom for addressing climate change. In the face of the current climate crisis, there is an urgent need to consolidate and disseminate truly valuable lessons. Equally important is mobilising every community member and all available resources through context-specific and community-tailored approaches—precisely the strength of local social organisations. With this in mind, and with the support of Oxfam(Hong Kong) Beijing Office, Foodthink has launched the survey “Action Paths for Rural Social Organisations in China Addressing Climate Change”. This research aims to summarise and explore the achievements, challenges, and needs of rural social organisations working on climate change. It seeks to provide evidence-based and practical references and recommendations for social organisations, funders, government departments, communities, academics, and other stakeholders engaged in climate action, thereby helping rural social organisations enhance their climate change response efforts.
– Survey Participants –
The term “rural social organisations” in this survey refers to institutions and groups delivering social services and public welfare work in rural areas, including but not limited to: ◉ Traditional rural development and poverty alleviation organisations; ◉ Social organisations conducting environmental protection work in rural areas;
◉ Social work agencies serving vulnerable groups in rural areas;
◉ Volunteer organisations involved in rural disaster relief;
◉ Student organisations conducting targeted field research or work in rural areas;
◉ Grassroots volunteer organisations spontaneously established in villages;
◉ Rural educational support organisations;
◉ Research and advocacy organisations focusing on rural agriculture and farmers.
Specific areas of work include, but are not limited to, agriculture, energy and infrastructure, vulnerable populations, disaster prevention and mitigation, environmental protection, and cultural and educational initiatives.
Organisational forms are not restricted. Eligible entities include formally registered social organisations and foundations; enterprises and cooperatives registered for commercial purposes but genuinely delivering public welfare services in rural areas; as well as unregistered community self-organisations or volunteer groups that already have relatively stable teams.
– Research Outputs –
The information you provide will support our completion of the “Action Paths for Rural Social Organisations in China Addressing Climate Change” study. Based on survey responses, the project team will also invite industry experts and social organisations to conduct regional seminars and peer-learning sessions to share research findings and practical experiences. Foodthink will also use this survey as an opportunity to delve into the challenges faced by social organisations and the rural communities they serve, as well as the achievements they have made, and will publish these insights through our official accounts and media channels.
– Completing the Survey –
You are warmly invited to complete the “Action Paths for Rural Social Organisations in China Addressing Climate Change” survey. Please scan the QR code below or click “here” to access the form, which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Following submission, we will also invite a selection of organisations for in-depth interviews.
The survey deadline is 31 December 2024
For any questions, suggestions, or other feedback regarding this survey
please feel free to contact the lead coordinator for this survey
