A new report released by the World Bank says that climate change can force 100 million people into poverty as it can lead to lesser crop yields, increase deadly, contagious diseases such as malaria and diarrhea and force people to migrate.
However, poor people will be the hardest hit of these extreme weather forces and lower amounts of rainfall that are both connected to rising global temperatures, according to the World Bank.
The report details how the absence of rapid and inclusive climate smart development along with crucial emissions reductions efforts that can protect the poor, will result to an additional 100 million people who will be in poverty by the year 2030.
The report also warned that whatever action on climate change now between 2030 can do almost nothing to reduce the effects of global warming, in which the report urges to work around with measures to adapt to the worst effects.
These measures will include flood defenses being upgraded and the cultivation of more heat tolerant crops and even providing better health care and social services for the poor. According to senior World Bank Economist, Stephane Hallegatte, there is now a window of opportunity to achieve the required poverty objectives to face the challenges of climate change as nations should make wise policy choices now.
The report is entitled, "Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty", where part of it is based from a 1.4 million survey from 92 countries. Crop losses are estimated to reach five percent by 2030 and 30 percent by 2080 that will span the entire planet, where the report also warned that around 150 million people will be at risk from malaria and diarrhea including malnutrition leading to stunted growth.
Apart from disease and less food to go around, climate change can also force poor people to emigrate that will require new resources and manpower to expand social services.
To date, there are now 702 million people in the world today who are living below the poverty line according World Bank statistics. On a more crucial note, even if the negative effects of global warming are curbed and reduced, the number of poor people will reach 900 million by 2030.
Efforts include the United States and other nations already pledged to scale up climate financing for developing nations that could reach $100 billion every year by 2020, in order to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.