Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2009

Tackling climate change, reducing poverty

January 2009

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

Despite being a wealthy country, in the UK poverty is an ongoing problem. According to Oxfam GB today 1 in 5 people in the UK don't have enough to live on. There were 2.9 million children and 2.5 million pensioners living in poverty in the UK in 2006/2007. Children go to school hungry, or to bed without enough food. Poor communities are in poorer health and have shorter life expectancy.

On the issue of climate change, there is an emerging consensus that we have less than a decade to seriously reduce carbon emissions before potentially irreversible changes to the climate begin to happen. If we fail, we will outstrip our ability to maintain a climate conducive to supporting stable societies - with potentially disastrous effects. A future of uncontrolled climate change will mean heat waves, rises in sea level, flooding, and unpredictable weather that will create upheaval in the UK. It will affect vital systems on which we all depend, such as growing food and energy supplies. It will directly affect human health, housing and livelihoods.