Namibia taught me what climate justice truly looks like: not just recognizing the unequal burdens faced by the most vulnerable, but standing with them.
By Nicholas Russon (RPCV Namibia 2015–2017)
Coming from Michigan and the Great Lakes, it’s easy to take water for granted—to lose sight of how our existence hinges on this essential resource.
In 2015, I was sent to serve in Namibia, a dry land deep in the grip of a five-year drought. Cows, with no grass to graze, scavenged cardboard and plastic from the trash. As the animals perished, so did the livelihoods of the families who relied on them.
At night, I’d look out over the valley holding Opuwo. The surrounding land lay dark, but the town shone—a small beacon of life in the desert. When the weight of climate hardship bore down, it wasn’t isolation or self-interest that emerged—it was solidarity. Friends, family, and neighbors came together. They set up longer tables instead of building higher walls.
Namibia taught me what climate justice truly looks like: not just recognizing the unequal burdens faced by the most vulnerable, but standing with them. It taught me that the future will not be shaped by individual resilience alone, but by collective action.
As nations face the escalating pressures of climate change, our shared humanity must guide us. Climate justice is not charity—it’s solidarity across borders. If a community facing drought and scarcity can come together and persevere, imagine what’s possible when countries of abundance choose to stand not apart, but alongside those on the frontlines.
Rapid Response from the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for Environmental Action
Environmental friends,
The updates and impacts of the loss of federal resources continue to unfold. During Earth Month, we are promoting action to restore and protect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You may be interested in this article published by Yale Climate Connections.
But first—so we don’t forget—follow this link to a quick, click-to-send action supporting the agency.
Opuwo, Namibia