Here's something I found that's encouraging. It's an example of how communities are creating solutions for themselves. Here, an engineer up in the high deserts of the Himalayas has developed a clever way to create man-made "glaciers." These ice mountains sustain the community, giving them access to water during the hot months:
Engineer Creates Green Oasis By Growing Glaciers In The Desert
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/engineer-creates-green-oasis-growing-glaciers-desert/
I love this story, proof that kindness and paying it forward can make a difference:
Talk about a blue print for generosity - here is a temple in India that serves 40,000 free meals (good quality vegetarian meals) a day, 365 days a year, to the public. And they power their gigantic operation with solar. It's all paid for by devotees of the temple.
I looked them up and saw that they also claim to have set up a health care program that served 40,000 people in 2013 and now is expanding.