Research News

Only a few degrees of increased temperature separate us from dangerous climate change. The consequences of this will be devastating, especially in poor countries where poverty will increase and development will go into reverse. Global challenges like poverty and climate change can be seen as great dividers – exposing the differences between people who can afford to cope and people who cannot. But equally, they can bring distant communities together, united against a common threat. Although it is the world’s poorest countries that face the greatest challenge, we live in an increasingly globalised world; tackling poverty and climate change is a priority for us all.

Climate change poses a universal threat to development and people’s livelihoods, all over the world, and the new booklet from DFID, Degrees of separation, shows just how close the links are between climate change and poverty.

The connectivity we share in this globalized world also means that if we can alter our own behaviours, we can reduce the impacts of climate change and in doing so, help poor countries to develop. Degrees of separation explains how DFID and others are working to ensure that development becomes a big part of the solution to these major global problems.

Action to address climate change involves preparing for the inevitable effects that are already too late to prevent, and preventing the worst extremes of it happening. Poor people must be able to predict, prepare for and protect themselves against impacts which are already being felt worldwide, and in the long term we can all work on prevention.

Preventing further climate change is vital to securing long-term growth for developing countries. Achieving it depends on action from people, organisations and governments all over the world, to reduce global levels of carbon emissions. Because people in rich countries emit the most carbon, they must lead the way in securing a global agreement to tackle climate change. Developing in a climate-smart way means reducing dependency on fossil fuels and their contributions to climate change. Climate-smart development will help developing countries sustain their growth and secure a route out of poverty.

More Information:

• Degrees of Separation. Climate Change: Shared Challenges, Shared Opportunities
• To get hold of a hardcopy, contact the DFID Public Enquiry Point by e-mail to enquiry@dfid.gov.uk or call 0845 300 4100