The urgency of climate action has never been more evident, yet many of our climate conversations remain detached from the people most affected. Conferences in air-conditioned halls, jargon-filled reports, and online discussions are important, but they often miss the grassroots voices holding real solutions.
To make climate action genuinely inclusive and effective, we must take these conversations where they matter most—under the trees, in the heart of our communities.
In many African cultures, the shade of a tree is more than just a place of respite from the sun; it is a symbol of communal wisdom, dialogue, and decision-making. Elders gather under trees to deliberate on community matters, youth seek counsel, and women organise for change.
Deeply embedded in our social fabric, these natural spaces offer the ideal setting for meaningful climate conversations.
We can break down complex issues into relatable narratives by bringing climate dialogues to these informal settings. Pastoralists in Northern Kenya may not be connected with “carbon sequestration,” but they deeply understand how disappearing pasturelands threaten their way of life.
A fisherman in Lamu may not use the term “marine biodiversity loss,” but they witness firsthand how declining fish stocks impact their livelihood. Effective climate communication should meet people where they are—both physically and linguistically.
International climate summits and policy discussions often emphasise large-scale solutions—carbon markets, green energy transitions, and net-zero commitments. While these are crucial, they can feel disconnected from the realities of smallholder farmers, indigenous communities, and local conservation groups. True climate resilience starts with listening.
Under a tree, community members can share indigenous knowledge on water conservation, land restoration, and sustainable agriculture—wisdom that has sustained ecosystems for centuries. Scientists, policymakers, and conservationists must not just speak, but they need to listen, learning how climate solutions can be tailored to local contexts.
Hosting climate conversations at the grassroots level is not just symbolic; it is a strategic approach to ensuring action. When people see their knowledge valued and their voices heard, they are more likely to take ownership of climate solutions.
Imagine a discussion under a mango tree leading to a community-wide initiative to restore degraded land. Picture a fisherman’s group in Lamu mobilising to protect mangroves after a dialogue under the trees that shield their shores from erosion.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, alongside government agencies like the Kenya Forestry Service, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, and conservation organisations, must rethink their approach. Instead of waiting for communities to come to them, they should go where the knowledge lives and where the impacts are felt most.
If we genuinely want climate action to be inclusive and impactful, we must go beyond boardrooms and PowerPoint presentations. We need to sit under the trees, listen to those who live the realities of climate change, and co-create solutions rooted in science and local wisdom.
The most effective climate conversations are not those with the loudest voices but those that resonate where they matter most. And often, that place is under the trees.
The writer is a communications specialist and Yale University School of Environment postgraduate student. Email: [email protected]
