The UNFCCC Climate Photo of this week was taken by Ashley Crowther in India.

The village of Demule in the Spiti Valley, India - Ashley Crowther

Taken in the Spiti Valley, India, one of the most remote regions on the subcontinent, this image shows the village of Demule, which sits at 4600 meters and is surrounded by Himalayan giants of over 6500 meters. The local community, with some assistance from the local NGO ‘Ecosphere’, has implemented solar panels and a handful of batteries on each house giving much-needed light at night. It is an alternative to commercial hydropower, which only comes, if they are lucky, once a week for two hours.

The community has also started building “solar passive” homes, incorporating greenhouse technology into housing design, which captures valuable heat inside homes. This captured heat and design, according to the local NGO, has reduced imported firewood usage by 60%. Collectively this reduces deforestation and the amount of black soot emitted, which settles on nearby glaciers and accelerates melting.

Ashley, the photographer, is an Australian born traveler with a notable family history of wanderers. Over the past eight years, he has traveled extensively through Asia and the Pacific, from Afghanistan to Kiribati. During this time, Ashley has also completed a Master’s degree in environmental education for sustainability.