The changing climate is not a new issue, but it is often overlooked by many. From the melting of icebergs to the shift in weather, the adversity of the situation can be observed all over the planet. Taking small steps towards sustainable living might seem insignificant, but every action counts in the effort to address climate change.
According to the World Resources Institute, there has been a steady increase in GHG emissions over the past decade, reaching 59 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) in 2019 — approximately 12% higher than in 2010 and 54% greater than in 1990. The increase in heat-trapping greenhouse gases, produced by cars and industries leads to rising atmospheric heat levels and the unbearable heat we have been experiencing lately. Rising sectors and businesses have been one of the leading causes of enhanced greenhouse gas emissions, as per research by ANDE. Entrepreneurs possess the power to address climate change while also driving the crowd towards sustainability. Encouraging employees and customers to integrate sustainability into their daily routines and addressing the growing threats of climate change are some of how entrepreneurs can bring climate change to the limelight.
A Closer Look at the Relationship
Climate change and entrepreneurs can have a simultaneous impact on each other. Entrepreneurs can affect the climate by harmful gas emissions, increased carbon footprint, and careless use of resources. At the same time, climate change can equally affect entrepreneurs through increased loss of supplies and goods due to extreme weather events, as well as by causing physical and mental harm to employees due to factors like rising heat and hazardous air quality in most places. One of the ways to tackle this complicated and ever-growing issue is by advancing towards sustainable living.
In 2024, more businesses are incorporating sustainability into their operations to address environmental and societal issues, according to the Institute of Sustainability Studies. Leading sustainable trends being adopted globally include embracing the circular economy, delving into digital sustainability, utilizing impact investing and green finance, and addressing scope 3 emissions.
Conventions and Contextualization
When it comes to rural entrepreneurs in Meghalaya, urban trends may not yet be relevant. The challenges in rural areas differ significantly from those in urban areas. Rural areas often lack the technology, knowledge, and financial resources needed to pursue these objectives. For example, a rural entrepreneur from a remote area may not possess the necessary expertise in technology and financial stability to engage in new concepts like digital sustainability and green finance.
From our experience, rural entrepreneurs are constantly in survival mode, struggling to make ends meet. Starting a business is incredibly challenging for them due to limited market access, unreliable power supply, low profits, and inadequate transportation due to poor rural road conditions.
Rural entrepreneurs from remote areas have their own set of challenges. Although the trend is spreading and there is a push to adopt these solutions, profit-wise, doing it alone may not be viable to start and grow a business in these areas. So there is a case of what is right and what needs to be done.
However, for communities like that in Meghalaya, where the dependency on nature and responsibility towards it is engrained in the culture and way of life itself, many entrepreneurs are finding ways to become a part of this ship, although may not be consciously
Stories from Rural Meghalaya
Photograph of Malstone with one of his wood sculptures
Malstone N. Sangma resides in Chidikgre in East Garo Hills and is an entrepreneur under the PRIME- Sauramandala Rural Entrepreneurship Fellowship. He specializes in crafting wooden furniture and sculptures using a sustainable approach to sourcing raw materials from the forest. Malstone meticulously utilizes fallen or discarded tree trunks from the forest, ensuring that no part of the natural gift goes to waste. With the help of his creativity, he transforms these raw materials into a variety of products, including wooden keychains, earrings, tables, and sculptures, based on the size of the sourced materials. This approach not only accomplishes his tasks but also does it in a manner that safeguards the forest and prevents deforestation.
Jwelleries crafted by Kynjailin
A similar story would be of Kynjailin Syiem from Diwon, Ri-bhoi district who specializes in making unique handmade crafts like earring hooks, hair clips, necklace chains, and many other forest-based products curated using traditional techniques. She skillfully utilizes raw materials like fallen seeds, tree bark, sticks, and bamboo pieces, ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources without causing harm to the environment. These eco-friendly practices embraced by rural communities shield the environment around them. While it's a sustainable approach to entrepreneurship, it does have its downsides. Scaling up production becomes challenging, and small entrepreneurs are more susceptible to the damaging effects of climate change. Apart from these issues budding entrepreneurs in Meghalaya also face challenges with market linkages, packaging options, and material sourcing. To tackle these issues, PSREF has developed sustainable solutions such as promoting sustainable energy sources, introducing eco-friendly packaging for products, and linking entrepreneurs to local suppliers that not only cut costs but also empower other local businesses.
Photograph of spices from Midot's store
Midot M Binong from Ri-Bhoi district, who operates a business in spices and herbs, encountered numerous challenges due to the lack of alternative energy sources for drying his spices. The unpredictable climate and frequent disruptions of hydroelectric power in the state posed significant obstacles to his business. PRIME-Sauramandala Rural Entrepreneurship Fellowship with support from SELCO Foundation has resolved this issue by introducing a solar dehydrator. This innovative solution has enabled Midot to dry spices and herbs even with no power supply, which has proven to be highly effective in his business. The installation of solar dehydrators has not only improved the aroma of the spices but also increased consistency and reduced the time consumed in drying the spices.
Conclusion
In remote areas, rural entrepreneurs encounter various obstacles when trying to compete in the global market. As NGOs and designers, we strive to develop sustainable solutions that address their businesses' most urgent needs.
The relationship between entrepreneurs and climate change is not one-directional. One can affect the other in many ways. Some of these effects are felt even at granular levels. In the context of entrepreneurs from rural areas, this relationship is an area of concern and interest to us as an organization. As we take our work forward, there will be more effort, time and resources that will be put forth to understand this relationship better to help us design solutions that are contextual and efficient
But the road towards this goal is not an easy one. Our search for sustainable options and potential partners who are aligned with our vision of supporting entrepreneurs in growing their businesses while also promoting sustainability is ongoing.
Written by Leirik Oinam with the Sauramandala Foundation Team
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