Keep climate change from impoverishing millions
Updated: 2015-11-24 08:01
By Stephane Hallegatte(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
President Xi Jinping said China firmly supports France in hosting the upcoming climate change summit, when he met with visiting French President Francois Hollande in Beijing on Nov 2. Wu Zhiyi / China Daily |
The eyes of the world are now on Paris, where later this month heads of state and government will gather to open negotiations on a new global agreement on climate change. At this critical moment, one essential point must not be lost: climate change represents a clear, near-term threat to the world's efforts to end poverty.
A new World Bank Group report lays out the facts. Unless we take the right steps now, the impacts of climate change could push more than 100 million people into poverty over the next 15 years.
But as the report also shows, we have the power to prevent this. It will require making sure that poverty reduction and development take into account the changing climate while fighting climate change in a way that protects the poor.
Compared to those who are better off, poor people are both more exposed to the effects of climate change and less able to recover when hit by climate shocks. Making matters worse, people in poor countries also lack the support systems they need to cope with such shocks and bounce back. In low-income countries, poor people have little access to health insurance and pay more than 50 percent of their health costs out of pocket. Less than 10 percent are covered by social safety nets.
Climate shocks have long-lasting effects on human potential, and contribute to intergenerational poverty. For instance, in Mexico, once children from poor families are taken out of school, even if for a temporary shock such as a flood, they are 30 percent less likely to continue their education compared with other children.
But development policies, rightly planned and executed, can go a long way toward protecting people's incomes, assets and livelihoods, and making them more resilient. In many cases, this simply means using the tools already at hand. For example, after Typhoon Yolanda, the Philippines was able to use an existing conditional cash transfer system to quickly provide support to hard-hit households. Aid from emergency relief organizations was also channeled through the same program.
Related Stories
Act to avert climate change and save nearly 700,000 lives in China every year 2015-11-21 17:38
Global climate change summit going ahead, French PM says 2015-11-16 07:44
Li urges joint effort on climate change 2015-11-04 07:46
Green industry vital to combat climate change, agree China, France 2015-11-03 21:14
China-Europe talks intensify as climate change meeting nears 2015-11-03 08:16
Xi urges joint efforts on climate change 2015-11-03 08:15
Today's Top News
Inspectors to cover all of military
Britons embrace 'Super Thursday' elections
Campaign spreads Chinese cooking in the UK
Trump to aim all guns at Hillary Clinton
Labour set to take London after bitter campaign
Labour candidate favourite for London mayor
Fossil footprints bring dinosaurs to life
Buffett optimistic on China's economic transition
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Sinopec opens new industrial platform |
Data point to Chinese economy shrugging off sluggishness and stabilizing |
China leads way on US adoptions |
Season of the locust eaters |
Humble bicyclist becomes Beijing nighthawk |
Chinese must adapt to UK 'study shock' |