• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Poverty eradication needs to be climate-focused, says World Bank [video]

Lucy Goodchild van Hilten by Lucy Goodchild van Hilten
16 August 2017
in Science, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
168 4
A A
0
Home Other News & Features Science
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

World leaders have their work cut out for them at the climate negotiations this month if they want to save 100 million people from plunging back into poverty. A new report from the World Bank suggests that the poorest and most vulnerable people are at highest risk of the effects of climate change, and suggests development needs to take climate change into account to protect them.

The report, Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty, links climate change mitigation and poverty eradication. It talks about “shocks” that affect the world’s poorest people – such as natural disasters that lead to soaring food prices and epidemics – and suggests development must be climate-focused to limit them.

Poverty has fallen dramatically over the last few decades, from 36% of the world’s people living in poverty in 1991 to 10% today. But according to the report, the increasing risks climate change brings could slow down or even reverse this progress. The report says:

Climate-related shocks also affect those who are not poor but remain vulnerable and can drag them into poverty – for example, when a flood destroys a microenterprise, a drought decimates a herd, or contaminated water makes a child sick.

The good news is that if we focus our efforts on speeding up development and integrating it with climate change mitigation, the impact of climate-related shocks on poverty could be mostly avoided. John Roome, Senior Director for Climate Change at the World Bank Group, explained:

We have the ability to end extreme poverty even in the face of climate change, but to succeed, climate considerations will need to be integrated into development work. And we will need to act fast, because as climate impacts increase, so will the difficulty and cost of eradicating poverty.

The report combines the results of household surveys from 90 countries with information on the impact climate change has on floods, food prices, diseases and other factors influencing poverty. It sets out scenarios we may see between now and 2030, and puts forward suggestions for reducing the impact of climate change on poverty.

The biggest impact is likely to be felt in the agricultural sector, with damaged and failing crops leading to hikes in food prices – a big problem in countries like sub-Saharan Africa, where around 60% of household income is already spent on food.

Development should include targeted measures, like growing climate-resistant crops, developing flood protection systems and putting early warning systems in place, says the report.

It also calls on policy makers to ensure that emissions policies “protect the poor,” saying:

Mitigation need not threaten short-term progress on poverty reduction provided policies are well designed and international support is available.

World leaders will meet in Paris at the end of the month, to set climate targets at the COP21 negotiations. While the pressure is on to toughen the targets, the World Bank report makes it clear that they also need to be approached with development in mind.

Today’s biggest challenges can no longer be approached as individual problems; to tackle poverty and climate change, policy and development must address them together. If not, 100 million people could be at risk of falling back into poverty.

Featured image: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Flickr

 

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Victory for Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar’s elections, but discrimination continues

Next Post

This billionaire’s $48m gift (for a 7 year old) shows where all the money’s going

Next Post
This billionaire’s $48m gift (for a 7 year old) shows where all the money’s going

This billionaire’s $48m gift (for a 7 year old) shows where all the money's going

Judge shames rape victim: ‘why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?’

Judge shames rape victim: ‘why couldn't you just keep your knees together?’

What you need to know about the sinister motives of the G20 host

What you need to know about the sinister motives of the G20 host

Palestinians boycott Boris Johnson over ‘inaccurate, misinformed, disrespectful’ remarks

Palestinians boycott Boris Johnson over ‘inaccurate, misinformed, disrespectful’ remarks

This ‘Christmas List’ for super rich kids sums up everything wrong with the world (IMAGES)

This 'Christmas List' for super rich kids sums up everything wrong with the world (IMAGES)

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub