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Poverty and Climate Change: Reducing the Vulnerability of the Poor through Adaptation

Poverty and Climate Change: Reducing the Vulnerability of the Poor through Adaptation (2003)

UNDP has been involved in an interagency effort to explore and summarize the current state of knowledge on adaptation to climate change and the need for its integration into poverty eradication and sustainable development efforts. The 10 agencies involved (UNDP, UNEP, World Bank, ADB, AfDB, GTZ, DFID, OECD, and EC) worked collaboratively on producing the paper entitled, "Poverty and Climate Change: Reducing the Vulnerability of the Poor through Adaptation". After several consultative meetings and review by various professionals in poverty and climate change areas in both developing and developed countries, the document was launched on 10 June 2003 at the 18th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC in Bonn.

Contents

List of Boxes, Figures, Tables, Acronyms and Abbreviations Foreword Acknowledgement Executive Summary Poverty Reduction - the Challenge of the 21st Century Climate Change is Happening and Will Increasingly Affect the Poor Adaptation is Necessary Strengthening Adaptation Efforts Next Steps
Part 1: Climate Change and the Poor
1.1.	Climate Change is a Reality
1.2	Developing Countries Will Be Particularly Affected
1.3	Adaptation is a Necessity
1.4	Existing Vulnerability to Climate Variability
1.5	Already Stressed Coping Capacities
1.6	Climate Change Compounding Existing Risks and Vulnerabilities
1.7	Implications for Poverty Eradication
Part 2: Adaptation Lessons from Past Experience
2.1	Addressing Vulnerability in the Context of Sustainable Livelihoods
2.2	Equitable Growth and Adaptation to Climate Change
2.3	Improving Governance to Mainstream Climate Issues in Poverty Reduction
Part 3: The Way Forward
3.1	Mainstream Adaptation into Sustainable Development
3.2	Continue and Strengthen Assessment and Information Gathering
3.3	Engagement with the UNFCCC Process
3.4	Ensure Synergies with Other Multilateral Environmental Agreements
3.5	External Funding
	Notes
	Glossary
	References