How can we tackle climate change and extreme poverty?

The author asserts that current greenhouse gas emission trends put the world on a path toward a 4°C temperature rise by the end of the century, which would be disastrous for global development. The text highlights a critical nexus where climate change disproportionately impacts the world's poorest regions, potentially reversing decades of development progress. To avoid this, the author calls for the international community to commit to a 2°C limit, implement broad-based carbon pricing, and ensure developed nations fulfill the $100 billion annual pledge to the Green Climate Fund to support mitigation and adaptation in resource-poor countries.

• Current emission trends are projected to lead to a 4°C temperature increase by the end of the century, significantly exceeding the politically agreed limit of 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
• There is a critical link between climate protection and development; failure to stabilize the climate could reverse development progress and threaten the well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly in the poorest regions which lack the capacity to adapt.
• While the post-2020 climate action plans from the US and China are a positive step, they are insufficient because their combined emissions—representing over 40% of the global share—will continue to rise, with per capita emissions expected to reach 12 tons by the end of the next decade.
• Closing the gap between ambition and action requires a dual approach: the implementation of broad-based carbon pricing to contain emissions and the provision of substantial financial and technological assistance to resource-poor countries.
• Developed nations have a major responsibility to fulfill the pledge of providing $100 billion in annual resources to the Green Climate Fund, aligned with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

APA

Klingenfeld, D. D. (2015). How can we tackle climate change and extreme poverty? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/how-can-we-tackle-climate-change-and-extreme-poverty/

Chicago

Klingenfeld, Dr. Daniel. How can we tackle climate change and extreme poverty? World Economic Forum, 2015. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/how-can-we-tackle-climate-change-and-extreme-poverty/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Klingenfeld |first1=Dr. Daniel |title=How can we tackle climate change and extreme poverty? |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=22 January 2015 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/how-can-we-tackle-climate-change-and-extreme-poverty/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{klingenfeld2015how, author = {Klingenfeld, Dr. Daniel}, title = {{How can we tackle climate change and extreme poverty?}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2015}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/how-can-we-tackle-climate-change-and-extreme-poverty/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }