Climate change effects on poor

It is common knowledge that climate change effects the poor more, here is some information from paper out lining why.

London School of Economics Consultancy Project for the Overseas Development Institute

Poverty and Climate Change

https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/3449.pdf

The Summary

There is likely to be a 1-3.5 degrees Celsius temperature increase in the next 100 years. This temperature change is bound to exaggerate weather. Countries which are undeveloped or developing will be less likely to cope with these new weather extremities compared to those who are developed and have more wealth.


Natural Disasters and Sea level rise

Sea level rise will obviously effect everyone living near coasts to some extent but the extreme weather and the rising sea level that exacerbates this will be felt by those with less security in there houses and with less food and medicine security. Poorer communities with structurally deficient housing and no secure food sources will naturally be hit harder than area with tougher structures. This is why flooding is so often felt harder by poorer part of the world.

A 700mm sea level rise could see the people at risk to flooding go from 46 to 70 million annually. So it is worth noting that what may seem like a small change can lead to huge consequences in weather.

Half of the world fertile land is in coastal areas and much of the population is too. Flooding will spread disease and ruin crops and fertile land without mentioning the physical damage and deaths caused by storms and flooding. Areas without sufficient wealth and infrastructure to recuperate will be susceptible to famine, sickness and even more dire poverty - (the poor get poorer)

What is Vulnerability?

Vulnerability is the measure of an individual or group to anticipate and respond appropriately to an extreme weather event or natural disaster without limitation of resources. Countries with fewer resources are the ones that are the most likely to be vulnerable. Resources generally manifest themselves in robust services, structures and warning systems for these natural hazards. But also are an important part of the recovery after an event, insurance, money for repairs, food and medical help.
  

Food Security
Changes in weather patterns have the potential to change conditions for agriculture; seasons, rainfall and the overall fertility of the soil. Industrialized forms of agriculture in developed countries have the ability to recover and adapt much faster. Where as undeveloped countries often rely on local agriculture that don't have the resources to adapt to the new climate, this impacts food security for a large number of people and increasing food prices.

Water 
Water is already a major problem in many developed countries.
Places that are dry or draught stricken are even more likely to suffer even less rainfall and desertification (the transformation into desert).

Disease
Although it can be argued that there may be some health benefits to increased temperature the increase in vulnerability to "vector borne diseases" as insects thrive in warmer climates. Malaria and dengue are the most common and likely to increase deaths with higher temperatures.

TBC ....




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