Climate Change Could Deepen Poverty in 16 Developing Countries

Interim director of Purdue's Climate Change Research Center Noah Diffenbaugh, co-author of a Purdue study, said that  "Studies have shown global warming will likely increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves, drought and floods in many areas. It is important to understand which socioeconomic groups and countries could see changes in poverty rates in order to make informed policy decisions." With this as a guide, the team used data from the late 20^th century and projections for the late 21^st century to develop a framework that examined extreme climate events, comparable effects to grain production and the impact on the number of impoverished people in the 16 developing countries studied.

"Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia showed the greatest percentage of the population entering poverty in the wake of extreme drought, with an additional 1.4 percent, 1.8 percent and 4.6 percent of their populations being impoverished by future climate extremes, respectively," Thomas Hertel, a co-author of the study said. There will also be large reductions in grains productivity due to extreme climatic events.

This study is an initial quantification of how poverty is tied to climatic fluctuations, and the team is improving the modeling and analysis system to enable more comprehensive assessments of the link between climate volatility and poverty vulnerability.

For more details, see the report at  http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009b/090820DiffenbaughHertel.html