For over 50 years, World Vision has been conducting development work requiring mindful use of land and natural resources. But over the last decade, as the effects of climate change have become better understood, our work has had to shift and adapt and fundamentally, increase - to ensure we are prepared for more.

World Vision's development work all over the world means that we are often at the front line of climate change effects. Poor communities are often those who suffer the most from these changes, because they are the least equipped to cope. 

From 2007 to 2009, World Vision conducted a number of targeted activities through Twice As Green, a program Australians supported generously and enthusiastically. The Twice As Green activities included tree planting and natural revegetation to restore land and help improve incomes.

Twice As Green has implemented a number of highly successful programs around the world. Yet, as our assurance in this area grows, so does our recognition of how much more still needs to be done.

Revegetation programs are reaping benefits for many communities, and the success of these show us how we can do more. But simultaneously, while World Vision is doing this work, we are also being called on to attend to other problems affecting the land and people’s livelihoods: natural disasters.

It is essential that World Vision work with communities to help them prepare for natural disasters - as more is understood about the effects of climate change, the more acceptance there is that the incidence of natural disasters is likely to increase.

For this compelling reason that World Vision introduced the One Earth program, as successor to Twice As Green. One Earth continued much of the work already underway thanks to Twice As Green supporters - both tree planting and land revegetation are crucial environmental actions - also be focusing on:

• Clean technologies for cooking, lighting, heating and building, and
• Preparing for extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods

If you’d like to read some Twice As Green success stories, please download the final issue of the supporter newsletter.

This was originally published on the 14th of September 2009.