Climate Change and Development

The nexus between climate change and development has become much clearer among policy makers, world leaders, and most importantly, those that will be hit first and worst, the world's poor.  This was evidenced legislatively last year in the bipartisan Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act where five percent of the climate financing was directed towards populations to adapt to, endure, or avoid negative global climate change impacts.  Though Congress is considering new legislation this year, it should recommit to that goal and provide five percent once again for the world's poorest.    

The impacts of climate change will be felt disproportionally by the world's poorest due to geography and lack of development.  For example, on the African continent, there have already been severe floods in Zambia and Mozambique, a shift in rain patterns in Uganda, and huge areas of land are experiencing longer and more intensive periods of drought across the continent.  These are just the first signs on climate change.  Estimates indicate by 2020 some regions in Africa could see crop yields from rain-fed agriculture fall by up to 50 percent and 75 - 250 million people additionally could be affected by lack of water.  In order not only to minimize the number of individuals further impoverished by these changes but also to preserve the gains made in the past several years, African societies along with other developing countries will need significant resources to adapt to these challenges.

From resource scarcity such as the lack of water, to increased spread of disease such as malaria from more active mosquito populations, to the mass migration of people from coastlands and other areas affected, to intensifying conflict as seen in the Darfur region of Sudan, the effects of climate change on the world's poorest has the potential to be a threat multiplier for instability.  

Funds generated from climate financing would be used to lessen and potentially prevent the negative impacts of climate change on the world's poorest.  The World Bank estimates for this purpose range from a global need of $9 - 41 billion; the UNFCCC range is $28 - 67 billion.  Climate financing would allow for seawalls, levees, dams, beach nourishment and other necessary infrastructure to prevent against devastating floods and droughts.  Adaptation efforts would enable climate resilient agriculture practices including a diversification of crops and advanced soil management.  And, it would invest in people to provide increased early warning against disaster, and the safe movement of people.  These are just some of the effective measures that can be taken to help those most vulnerable.