The COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, finished last week after grappling with the challenge of delivering an ambitious outcome on climate finance.
At the heart of the debate was the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance, intended to replace the longstanding US$100 billion annual commitment made in 2009 by rich nations to assist developing countries in climate adaptation and mitigation.
The new plan sets a $300 billion annual target by 2035, falling short of the $1.3 trillion that experts say is needed to meet climate finance demands of vulnerable nations.
Worldwide communities at the frontline have already grappled with climate change’s severe impacts – and had limited resources and support.
To spotlight these communities, we bring you a short documentary showing what climate impact looks like in northeastern Thailand, an area commonly known as Isaan.
Once known for its thriving agriculture, Isaan is now battling desertification as a result of shifting rain patterns linked to global warming, combined with poor land management practices and the overuse of chemical fertilizers.
Local experts describe this troubling weather pattern as “concentrated but intermittent rainfall” during the rainy season.
Instead of consistent rainfall throughout the season, the region now experiences short bursts of heavy rain followed by prolonged dry spells. This pattern not only floods fields, but also kills crops during the dry intervals.
According to Thailand’s Meteorological Department, rainfall in several Isaan provinces increased between 2012 and 2022 compared with the 1981 to 2010 average. However, this rain is concentrated in July and September, while June – the start of the rainy season, or monsoon – often remains dry.
Farmers who plant early in anticipation of seasonal rains now find their crops dying midway through the season due to this erratic weather.
Sparse rain also limits the dissolution of nutrients in the soil, while floods wash away topsoil, further degrading the already fragile land. This results in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils, and that translates to lower yields, economic hardship for farmers and a struggle to sustain livelihoods.
As of 2018, Thailand reported that 21% of its land, approximately 69 million rai, or 11 million hectares, was classified as degraded.
Despite these challenges, farmers have been finding ways to adapt. Some have turned to organic fertilizers to restore soil health, while others have dug ponds to store water for use during droughts. But these efforts remain insufficient without additional support.
Greater funding, technical know-how and policy reforms are essential to scaling up communities’ climate-adaptive measures.
This documentary sends a strong message: frontline communities cannot wait.
The delay in establishing a clear, ambitious NCQG at COP29 risked leaving vulnerable regions like Isaan behind. Under-funding also leaves this and many other regions in serious trouble.
This story of local communities is a reminder that policy delays or a lack of funds leads to a human cost – and that cost is rising by the day.
Watch the documentary
This documentary was produced with support from the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network for the “Ground Truths”.
