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.
Earlier today, I linked to this great piece by Elisa Lai on climate change and its impact on women. Now DipNote has a post-- that went up a couple days ago, I confess-- from Jared Banks. He reflects on a recent trip to Senegal and what he observed in the ... More
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Over at ThePeopleSpeak.org, Elisa Lai makes a really excellent argument that climate change disproportionately affects women. It's a very clear and compelling point, and one that I frankly don't see a ton of.Worth a read when you have a minute:In most developing countries and most ... More
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Africa will lose out if money pledged by rich countries at the Copenhagen climate change meeting last December does not come in addition to their existing aid promises. This is the stark message in a research paper from leading development think tank the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), commissioned by ONE ... More
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In a speech last week to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI criticized world leaders for failing to reach a climate change agreement at Copenhagen. He said failure to act could put the future of some nations—particularly in Africa—at stake:I share the growing ... More
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As world leaders fly home from the climate change summit, the agreement reached in Copenhagen could add up to nothing unless the funding offered is not double counted from existing aid promises.Late last night an agreement was brokered by the US, China, South Africa, India and Brazil. This included ... More
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Yesterday I had the honour of speaking to Senegalese singer and guitarist Baaba Maal after he had performed at a special event here in Copenhagen.Watch the video:Baaba Maal, one of Africa’s most famous musicians, is attending the Copenhagen summit as the climate change ambassador for Africa Talks ... More
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Warm words alone won't fight poverty or climate change. While the hosts can be commended for trying, the G20 collectively have failed to ensure that the resources to help the poorest countries adapt to climate change would be additional to existing development assistance. MORE
Finance Ministers from G20 countries meeting in Scotland this weekend are being urged to keep the world's poorest high on their agenda as they discuss how to help developing countries adapt to the disastrous impacts of climate change - and contribute to stemming its rise. MORE