Winnipegger honoured as young leader to watch

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This article was published 29/08/2022 (1450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Naomi Johnson has the future of our planet on her mind.

The Winnipegger has been named one of the 30 Young Canadian Impact Leaders to Watch by Future of Good — the only Manitoban to make the list.

Johnson, a senior policy adviser at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, was honoured in the climate and environment category by the organization, which promotes people and ideas that positively shape the world.

Johnson was recognized for leading a countrywide consultation on Canada’s commitment to climate finance and climate change adaptation in the developing world.

This included speaking directly to government officials, as well as mobilizing other organizations to lobby the federal government about the impact of climate change on poor people around the world.

A year later, Canada doubled its commitment to international climate finance from $2.65 billion to $5.3 billion over five years.

Johnson, 36 and a mother of two with a third on the way, has been at the Foodgrains Bank for just over six years.

During her time at the organization, a faith-based partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end hunger, Johnson has travelled to the developing world to meet small-scale farmers and heard stories about how changes in the climate affect their ability to earn a living.

“People talk about how rainfall has become erratic,” she said. “For generations, farmers in the developing world passed down the knowledge of when the rains would come and when to plant, but that doesn’t hold true anymore.”

This has led to droughts in parts of Africa, while other parts of the continent experience disastrous storms and floods from unpredictable weather.

“The changing climate is wreaking havoc on people who are poor,” she said, noting that more than 800 million people are currently facing hunger and 180 million more are at risk due to climate change by 2050.

Johnson praised the Canadian government for increasing its commitment to help people in the developing world deal with climate change, but noted it is still not giving its “fair share” or ensuring funds reach those who need it most.

She also wants to make sure funding for climate change isn’t taken out of the country’s aid budget, which is also below what Canada should be providing as a wealthy nation.

“For people in poverty in the developing world, climate change is a daily reality,” she said.

Noting that more than 3.4 billion people live in rural areas, with most working on small farms to produce food, Johnson said climate change is making it hard for many “to stay on their farms and provide for their families.”

Her message to Canadians concerned about climate change is to pay attention to the issue, to vote for politicians who take it seriously, and to advocate for change.

“You can write a letter to your member of Parliament or the prime minister,” she said. “That’s a huge way to make a difference.”

People can also make lifestyle decisions to reduce their carbon footprint and donate to organizations that are trying to lessen the impact of climate change on poor people in the developing world, she said.

“Praying is also important,” said Johnson, who is Ukrainian Orthodox.

In addition to the climate and environment category, Future of Good recognized leaders in the areas of health and well-being, inclusion, tech for good and youth engagement.

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