Press Release
27 November 2007
Climate Change an Issue of Justice, Douglas Alexander says
UK Development Minister welcomes UN Human Development Report
Welcoming the release of a new report by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), Douglas Alexander said:
“This report highlights the scale and urgency of the problem. The effects of climate change will hit the world’s poorest hardest. If we don’t tackle climate change now, we will struggle to help the world’s poor build a better life for themselves and their children.
Climate change is an issue of justice. It is the world’s poorest who will suffer the most yet they’re least responsible for it. The rise in the number of intense weather events, leading to floods and droughts, forced migration and increasing conflicts could thrust even more people into poverty meanwhile those responsible will continue to thrive."
Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for International Development, went on to say:
“The solutions exist. We must work to prevent dangerous climate change and we must help poor countries in particular to prepare for the impacts.
The world’s leaders must unite at the climate change summit in Bali this December to start the process of designing a future climate change treaty. Without collective and robust action by the international community the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved.
This process must take place through the UN as it is vital developing countries are part of the deal for it to succeed. Agreement on an emissions goal is key because it will ultimately save people in poverty from the worst impacts of climate change. Progress on carbon markets is also key because it can generate flows of cash to developing countries to help them tackling climate change. And action to help poor countries adapt to climate change is already urgent.
Developing countries must also play their part. They must show a willingness to develop low-carbon, economic growth. And we need to help them to do this.
It can be done but we must start ‘doing’ now.”
Related Links
Notes for Editors
1. The Human Development Report findings show that the world’s poorest will suffer the most from climate change because they depend heavily on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture for income and trade. Unpredictable rains and increasing droughts will mean they’re more likely to suffer from worse harvests. And rising sea waters will flood homes and people’s land and may lead to migration.
2. Developing countries are least able to deal with climate variability - they don't always have the insurance, the reliable water supplies or the infrastructure to cope.
3. The Human Development Report is
available from the UNDP. Visit
www.undp.org
For further information, contact Heather Pillans on 020 7023 1752 or 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
