Climate Change and It’s Effects on

Poverty

Climate Change and It’s Effects on

PovertyBy: Ana Uribe, Cecile

Gernez, Katharina Frisch, Samantha Torrano, and

Stephanie Courter

By: Ana Uribe, Cecile Gernez, Katharina Frisch,

Samantha Torrano, and Stephanie Courter

Climate Change Deepens PovertyClimate Change Deepens Poverty◊ Drought, floods, and

other extremes of weather can seriously disrupt growth and poverty reduction processes in many developing countries.

◊ Desertization- the rapid depletion of plant life and the loss of topsoil at desert boundaries and in semiarid regions, usually caused by a combination of drought and the overexploitation of grasses and other vegetation by people.

◊ Drought, floods, and other extremes of weather can seriously disrupt growth and poverty reduction processes in many developing countries.

◊ Desertization- the rapid depletion of plant life and the loss of topsoil at desert boundaries and in semiarid regions, usually caused by a combination of drought and the overexploitation of grasses and other vegetation by people.

• Global average temperatures are likely to rise by between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 1.7 degrees by the 2050s. With this increase in temperatures many regions will face drought and won’t be able to produce enough food to survive.

•Along with the increase in temperatures in some regions of the world, in others there will be an increase in rainfall, causing massive flooding. The flooding

Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development Goals◊ There are 8 goals to be achieved by the UN by the

year 2015. The first one is affected the most by climate change.

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Climate change effects the eradication or elimination of poverty and hunger because of how the food of a certain region is made. For example if the people depend on growing things from the ground, and desertization sets in, they will no longer be able to produce food for themselves. The land will become too dry to produce any sort of crop.

◊ There are 8 goals to be achieved by the UN by the year 2015. The first one is affected the most by climate change.

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Climate change effects the eradication or elimination of poverty and hunger because of how the food of a certain region is made. For example if the people depend on growing things from the ground, and desertization sets in, they will no longer be able to produce food for themselves. The land will become too dry to produce any sort of crop.

Vulnerability of the Poor and Climate Change

Vulnerability of the Poor and Climate Change◊ Climate Changes also cause changes in natural

resources, reducing people’s resilience which affects sectors of employment and food security.

◊ The main groups that are vulnerable are women, children, and elderly.

◊ When people are either too hot or too cold, they are more susceptible to serious diseases. • When there is an extreme heat wave, it only takes 4 days for crops to die. If and when they die, they will be dead for the whole entire season.

• When it is extremely cold, the crops may sustain permanent damages as a result of frost bite. Once frost bite has set in they are no longer going to continue growing (die).

◊ Climate Changes also cause changes in natural resources, reducing people’s resilience which affects sectors of employment and food security.

◊ The main groups that are vulnerable are women, children, and elderly.

◊ When people are either too hot or too cold, they are more susceptible to serious diseases. • When there is an extreme heat wave, it only takes 4 days for crops to die. If and when they die, they will be dead for the whole entire season.

• When it is extremely cold, the crops may sustain permanent damages as a result of frost bite. Once frost bite has set in they are no longer going to continue growing (die).

◊ Even if the people of a region are used to the climate in which they live, severe changes in the climate will cause the household to go into shock- Loss of necessary items to survive and will take high amounts of effort to gain what little they had back.

◊ Climate variability describes seasonal changes, inter-annual ( changes that occur within the same year) variability and the likely frequency of weather-related extreme events. For example, flooding from constant rain and an extreme heat wave.

◊ Even if the people of a region are used to the climate in which they live, severe changes in the climate will cause the household to go into shock- Loss of necessary items to survive and will take high amounts of effort to gain what little they had back.

◊ Climate variability describes seasonal changes, inter-annual ( changes that occur within the same year) variability and the likely frequency of weather-related extreme events. For example, flooding from constant rain and an extreme heat wave.

The Impact of climate change on the health of the poorThe Impact of climate change on the health of the poorMalnutrition◊ Climate change will worsen health through:

increased vulnerability to poor health due to reduced food security and water security.

◊ Malnutrition is a global health problem and affects approximately 790 million people.

Water Safety◊ Currently 1 billion people do not have access to

safe water, and suffer from water-borne diseases. ◊ Floods can result in health problems due to increases in

infectious diseases, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases-lead to exposure pf dangerous chemicals or pathogens related from storage sites and waste disposal sites.

◊ Currently 40% of the worlds population is at risk from malaria. By the year 2080, this percentage will have increased to 80%

Malnutrition◊ Climate change will worsen health through:

increased vulnerability to poor health due to reduced food security and water security.

◊ Malnutrition is a global health problem and affects approximately 790 million people.

Water Safety◊ Currently 1 billion people do not have access to

safe water, and suffer from water-borne diseases. ◊ Floods can result in health problems due to increases in

infectious diseases, respiratory and diarrhoeal diseases-lead to exposure pf dangerous chemicals or pathogens related from storage sites and waste disposal sites.

◊ Currently 40% of the worlds population is at risk from malaria. By the year 2080, this percentage will have increased to 80%

bibliographybibliography

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◊ "Climate Change Deepens Poverty." DFID. 2003. 9 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ Page-Not-Found?aspxerrorpath=/templates/pages/T03-content-corporate.aspx>.

◊ Vulnerability of the Poor and Climate Change. 2003. 9 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ Page-Not-Found?aspxerrorpath=/templates/pages/T03-content-corporate.aspx>.

◊ "The Impact of climate change on the health of the poor." DFID. 2003. 9 Feb. 2009 <htt://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/60/27/2502872.pdf>

◊ "Climate Change Deepens Poverty." DFID. 2003. 9 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ Page-Not-Found?aspxerrorpath=/templates/pages/T03-content-corporate.aspx>.

◊ Vulnerability of the Poor and Climate Change. 2003. 9 Feb. 2009 <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ Page-Not-Found?aspxerrorpath=/templates/pages/T03-content-corporate.aspx>.