Climate change, rights & governance

Climate change and natural disasters pose a significant threat globally, impacting livelihoods and human security, particularly communities that are traditionally underserved and under-represented. As these challenges mount, it is critical to protect and bolster electoral and political rights for all people by building dynamic and adaptive systems of governance. IFES supports key stakeholders to effectively address the effects of climate change on democratic rights and governance. IFES offers unique tools, research, and recommendations for adapting elections and political processes to environmental disasters and climate change, bringing deep expertise in how to support the full and equal participation of marginalized and underserved groups in decision-making. 

 IFES offers the following approaches to climate change, rights, and governance: 

• Developing tools and recommendations for global good practices in preparing election management bodies for responding to environmental disasters and their ensuing disruptions to delivering elections, as well as to identify and minimize negative environmental impacts of electoral processes. 
• Contributing to awareness raising and knowledge development on the electoral rights of climate-displaced persons. 
• Supporting civil society organizations representing marginalized and underserved groups and helping direct their expertise, knowledge, and experience toward climate change and environmental planning as well as protection efforts, particularly so they have a voice in governance in both their current and new communities. 

 Explore our resources linked here to learn more and get involved.