Floating Together

In Kashmir, residents often take advantage of the beautiful, serene bodies of water, such as Dal Lake in Srinagar, to hold a floating market (or simply hop on a rowboat to get to their destination). These local fruits and vegetables, sold from small boats without motors, have a lower carbon footprint than other forms of transportation.

However, the ever-increasing amount of waste and shrinking bodies of water have threatened the residents’ livelihoods in recent years. Urban expansion, which brings convenience to modern life, has its price when it is inconsiderate of traditional land use. Many farmers' livelihoods depend on opportunities like the Floating Market.

As we celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives, we aim to highlight community efforts that support traditional small businesses.

This award-winning photograph was shortlisted in the Solutions Category of the COP28 Photography Competition, a collaboration between The Climate Tribe and the Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). The Climate Tribe has partnered with HIPA to leverage the power of photography to inspire global awareness of sustainability and advance climate action.