World responds to Adaptation Fund photo contest

THE ADAPTATION Fund's (AF's) 2016 Global Photo Contest ended this month with the submission of 127 impactful images that depict the effects of climate change and adaptation solutions from across the world.

Non-governmental organisations; AF-accredited national implementing entities in countries such as South Africa, Costa Rica and India; multilateral implementing entities, other Fund partners, country government programmes like Nepal's Climate Change Support Program and independent photographers were among those to submit photos.

An independent panel of judges separately selected their top three winners and honourable mentions, and the results tallied on a points system to determine the final winning photos.

Criteria was based on relevance to the contest theme; the AF's mission of helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate change; visual impact; originality; and informational/educational value.

"We are thrilled to see so many captivating as well as informative photos that tell the story of climate change and adaptation from the ground level across a diverse range of countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change," said AF Board Chair Naresh Sharma.

"Projects that manage coastal zones from rising seas as well as those that enhance watershed resources through sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction are among key areas served by the Adaptation Fund and pivotal in enhancing community resilience to climate change," he added.

AF manager Marcia Levaggi said: "We'd like to thank everyone who submitted photos. There were so many outstanding photos, and each of you has contributed to helping spread awareness of the importance and urgency of adapting the world's coasts and watersheds to climate change," she added.

The winners were:

• SS 1st Place: "Climate Refugee", by Mohammad Ponir Hossain, a freelance photojournalist for Zuma

Press in the US.

• SS 2nd Place: 'Cuban Coast's Greatest Hope', by Carlos Ernesto Escalona Marti.

• SS 3rd Place: 'Step Pond Excavation: Fetching Water for Storing Water', by Malay Mukherjee.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Eight juried Honorable Mentions were also awarded for photos depicting climate change coastal and inland watershed impacts and a variety of adaptation solutions in countries such as Bangladesh, Jamaica and Nepal.

In a separate Facebook voting process open to the general public, the Adaptation Fund also awarded a 'People's Champion' to the photo, "Power of Unity to Build a Dam" submitted by the Nepalese government's Climate Change Support Programme. The photo drew the most likes (96) of the 127 photos submitted, which all appeared on the AF's photo album. The winning photo shows local communities constructing a dam for an irrigation canal in the Lalpur-1 of Khairichandanpur Village Development Committee within the Bardiya district in mid-western Nepal.

All 11 juried winning photos and the Facebook-voted People's Champion will appear in a dedicated album on the AF's Flickr site and will also be displayed at the Fund's upcoming Global Climate Finance Readiness Seminar at the World Bank in Washington, DC from July 13-15.

The photo contest - launched on April 22 to coincide with Earth Day and the Paris Climate Agreement Signing Ceremony held in New York - was the AF's fourth.