Climate change hits fight against global poverty

I WELCOME your recent editorial on energy efficiency highlighting Ireland’s role in contributing to global warming and stressing the vital part every Irish person must play in reducing further damage to the earth’s environment (Irish Examiner, May 30).

Climate change unites us all — each and every one of us will suffer if we allow runaway increases in our emissions to further damage an already ailing atmosphere.

Christian Aid’s most recent report, The Climate of Poverty: Facts, Fears and Hope, explores clearly and starkly the devastating impact that human-induced climate change will have on many of the world’s poorest people.

The report reveals that climate change is now threatening development goals for billions around the globe — with a clear danger that recent gains in reducing poverty will be thrown into reverse in coming decades.

The facts in the report are harsh. What lies in store for poor people is even harsher — a staggering 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of diseases directly attributable to climate change by the end of this century. Many millions more throughout the world face death and devastation due to climate-induced floods, famine, drought and conflict.

Christian Aid is calling on the Irish Government to institute a strict ‘carbon budget’ which will reduce emissions, year on year, by two-thirds of 1990 levels by 2050.

The realities of this report provide an inescapable moral imperative for those of us in the developed world, particularly our governments, but also each of us as individuals, to respond with urgent and determined action. It is time we shared the welfare of the planet for the good of us all.

Niamh Nic Cárthaigh

Communications & Media Officer

Christian Aid

17 Clanwilliam Terrace

Dublin 2