Increasing temperatures on the Earth’s surface are melting glaciers, ice, and permafrost on vast scales. Ocean temperatures are rising and affecting weather patterns, leading to flooding, sea level rise, heat waves, and droughts, as well increasing the intensity of major storms. For the poor, unpredictable weather and rainfall patterns and rising tides could lead to poor crop yields and devastating floods.
As the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently concluded, climate change is already creating devastating impacts for the world?s poorest and most vulnerable people -- especially those in developing countries -- even though they are the least responsible for causing it. Those impacts will become all the more severe in the coming decades, and will sometimes even reverse the "development process" as a whole. Climate change is already a major driver of impoverishment and conflict around the world, but that fact has not yet been given the urgent attention it demands.
The Climate and Development Network is a forum for international development, faith-based, environmental and other organizations to share information on the impacts of climate change on global poverty.
Letters to the U.S. House and Senate on Adaptation Needs in Developing Countries
In September, 2007, over 30 international development, faith-based, environmental and other organizations signed letters to the Senate and House calling for the U.S. government to provide funding to assist developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In June, 2007, over 30 international development, faith-based, environmental and other organizations signed a letter to President Bush on the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing funding to assist developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change in advance of the 2007 G8 Summit.
In September and October, 2007, InterAction and the Climate and Development Network Coalition hosted a panel series on "The Next Global Crisis: How Climate Change is Affecting International Development & Humanitarian Efforts."
On April 16, 2007, Friends of the Earth, ActionAid International USA, Oxfam America, Center for American Progress, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Oil Change International, Jubilee USA Network and U.S. Climate Action Network organized a Summit on Climate Change and International Development, which highlighted the impacts of climate change on the world's poorest people.
Voices from Communities Affected by Climate Change
Friends of the Earth International
Adaptation: Compensating for Climate Change: Principles and Lessons for Equitable Adaptation Funding
Action Aid USA
Adapting to climate change: What’s needed in poor countries, and who should pay
Oxfam International
International oil subsidies and climate change: Aiding Oil, Harming the Climate
Oil Change International
Oil, debt and climate change: High Oil Prices: Undermining Debt Cancellation and Fueling a New Crisis?
Oil Change International and Jubilee USA Network
Debt and Climate Change
Jubilee Debt Campaign
