UN: Local communities should be key in addressing environmental challenges

Local communities must play a key role in resolving environmental conflicts, Antonio Sampayo, Advisor at the UN Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), said at the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, the most effective model is bottom-up, based on self-organization and active participation of local communities in managing environmental challenges. This includes addressing environmental problems at the local level that, in other regions, have become sources of community conflict.

"Economic development, more efficient resource management, and the use of natural resources as sustainable sources of income – through biotechnology, recycling, and ecotourism – can improve community well-being," he said.

As an example, Sampayo cited the Brazilian Amazon, where the government is implementing a large-scale green economy development policy. At the same time, the region faces intensive urbanization, which creates additional challenges.