Report: climate change should be central to development work

Citation

(2010), "Report: climate change should be central to development work", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 2 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm.2010.41402aab.003

Report: climate change should be central to development work

Article Type: News From: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Volume 2, Issue 1

A new report produced by the UK House of Commons states that climate change threatens to destroy gains made in poverty reduction in many developing countries. In Africa, changing rainfall patterns are already affecting food production and rising temperatures are increasing exposure to malaria. The impacts of these changes are felt most by the poorest people who have done least to cause them. Substantial funding will be needed to help poor countries tackle climate change.

The report states that this funding must be additional to pledges already made for development assistance because developing countries are not responsible for the emissions which have caused climate change and the estimated costs cannot be met from existing development assistance or national budgets. There is a danger that the current economic crisis could derail efforts to tackle climate change and increase the risks it poses for developing countries. On the other hand, it could provide an opportunity to chart a new “greener” growth strategy in developing countries if the right approach is adopted and the necessary funding is forthcoming.

The report also stresses that climate change should be central to the Department for International Development’s work in developing countries. It highlights that limited progress has been made to-date on ensuring that climate change informs all policy decisions (“mainstreaming”). Urgent action is needed on adaptation to avoid consigning developing countries to greater poverty and hardship. The UK must make clear its commitment to this ahead of the Copenhagen summit, and should encourage the multilateral agencies it supports to do the same. The document is available at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmintdev/177/17702.htm