Global Poverty and Climate Change. Samantha Davison

Transcription

1 Global Poverty and Climate Change Samantha Davison

2 A Background on Poverty

3 Defining Global Poverty [Poverty] is a situation that places human beings in a state of hunger, sickness and powerlessness. Poverty is living one day at a time, with no access to basic daily needs of food, clean water, education and health care. Poverty is present in all countries, rich and poor; only the proportions differ (Vidyasagar 2006:326). You want to know how I define poverty. How can you ask that question when you yourself can see that I live in poverty? The definition of poverty is already in front of you. Look at me, I stay alone, I do not have enough food, I have no decent clothes or accommodation, I have no clean water to drink nearby. Look at my swollen leg. I cannot get to the clinic as it is far for me to walk. So, what kind of definition of poverty do you expect me to give you, which is better than what you have seen with your naked eyes? (World Health Organization 1999:10).

4

5

6

7 How are the Poor Marginalized by Climate Change?

8 Water

9 Drought: Flooding: 2004: 16% of Sub-Saharan Africa has access to drinking water Climate change is causing rising global temperatures, leading to drought and desertification Melting snow and ice caps in the Himalayan Mountains is causing flooding in southern Asia Destruction of property/cities Lack of resources required for adaptation Longer travels required to have

10 Food

11 Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries and regions is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. The area suitable for agriculture, the length of growing seasons and yield potential, particularly along the margins of semi-arid and arid areas, are expected to decrease. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition across the continent, making a bad situation even worse. In some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50% by (IPCC 2007: 13)

12 Economics

13 Farmers will face losses at their farms, leading to them having less purchasing power Fisheries will be hurt by the changing oceanic acidity and adapting species

14 Education

15 Climate change will lead to an increase in extreme weather, increasing the probability of damaged schools in communities that can t afford to rebuild them Less educated people will lack knowledge necessary to prevent and protect against future impacts of climate change Droughts in Africa will cause an increased need for travel for basic resources, so parents may have to pull kids from school in order to have them help out with household chores, like getting water

16 Literacy Rates by Country

17 Medical/Hygiene

18 As the climate changes and the transmission potential of malaria shifts around the continent, moving in and out of communities across the African continent, these realities that Fiona shares will likely grow worse. How disastrous might the disease become for a community when it begins afflicting those populations not currently prepared to prevent the disease those not accustomed to sleeping under mosquito nets, not able to purchase those nets, and not equipped with hospitals and medical professionals to treat the disease? The IPCC expects that endemic morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal disease primarily associated with floods and droughts are expected to rise in East, South and South-East Asia due to projected changes in the hydrological cycle. (IPCC 2007: 11).

19 Overcrowding

20 The UN Refugee Agency estimates that by 2050, up to 250 million people will be displaced by climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, floods, famine, drought, hurricanes, desertification and the negative impacts on ecosystems. Those who leave their countries in the context of climate change or natural disasters do not qualify for protection under international law. The 1951 Refugee Convention offers protection for those fleeing war and conflict who face persecution along grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

21

22 Violence

23

24 Who is Causing Climate Change?

25

26 Next Steps

27 Wealthier countries must help poorer countries prepare for and rebuild from the devastating effects of climate change: Humanitarian Perspective Burden falls on countries with significantly less impact Economic Perspective - Green Climate Fund Disruption of trade networks Recent failures: Depletions of natural resources Weakening of manufacturing hubs Hurriancine Maria in Puerto Rico Lack of fresh water in Africa Cholera outbreak in Southern Asia

28 Climate Proofing Water Plazas - collect water during heavy rain, and then release this slowly into the local drainage system Rooftop Gardens - absorb water to reduce flooding, take in CO 2 Change in road materials prepared to withstand higher temperatures Water defenses - walls built around areas susceptible to heavy flooding Painting rooftops white Cooling Centers

29

30

31

32 Bibliography Water In Crisis - Spotlight Africa: Rural and Urban Issues. The Water Project, thewaterproject.org/water-crisis/water-incrisis-rural-urban-africa. A Case Study on Climate Change and its Effects on the Global Poor Mastaler, James Stephen, Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 15, (2011), DOI: