Project Jatropha Information

Project Jatropha is dedicated to the empowerment of rural youth and women through Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP). Greenhouse gas emissions are local, but their effects are global. There are one hundred and ninety-six countries and over seven billion people on this pale blue dot. The boundaries between nations are fixed, but the air that we breathe is shared. We all suffer together, no matter who contributes how much to the greenhouse gas emissions burden. 2014, 2015, and 2016 have had the highest average earth surface temperatures since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. Arctic sea ice levels are continuing their downward trend, and more extreme weather patterns, such as heat waves, droughts, and downpours, are being observed across the globe. The trend over the past thirty years and the science show that anthropogenic climate change is real, and it is happening right now. There are several potential tipping points that if passed, will lead to runaway climate change that will have disastrous consequences. But no one is sure of their exact location: for all we know, the points have been passed already or might be just ahead. Halting anthropogenic climate change and tackling its impacts are difficult tasks. If we do not change the way we live, if we do not start decreasing emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels, the point of no return will stare at us in the not too distant future. The United States of America is looked upon as a world leader, but if we do not lead by example, we are destined to be followers. In developing nations, environmental protection, sustainability, preventive health care, and the alleviation of poverty are much more closely related than what is seen in prosperous nations. During a time when there are major differences between developed and developing nations as how to mitigate climate change, Project Jatropha aims to demonstrate the commitment of the sustainability enthusiasts in developed countries to environmental and other closely related issues that impact the developing nations. Our mission encompasses the themes of environmental protection, sustainability, preventive health care and the alleviation of poverty, which we see as the many threads to weave the fabric of a new society of the future.