Climate Change & Poverty: Understanding the Global Nexus

The UNDP–Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) 2025 Report warns that nearly 900 million people (79% of the world’s poor) are directly exposed to climate hazards, deepening the global poverty–climate nexus.

Key Insights from the Report

Global Poverty Level: 1.1 billion people (18% of 6.3 billion across 109 countries) live in acute multidimensional poverty (MPI) measured by health, education, and living standards.
Children Most Affected: 50% of the poor are minors, making climate shocks intergenerational.
Regional Hotspots: South Asia & Sub-Saharan Africa are most vulnerable. 99.1% of South Asia’s poor face at least one hazard.

Climate Change Effects

Agriculture Threats: Climate change reduces crop productivity. E.g., 68% of India’s cultivable land is drought-prone, risking rural livelihoods.
Health Risks: Rising temperatures cause heat illnesses and vector-borne diseases. E.g., 37% of heat-related deaths are climate-linked, with a 70% rise among 65+ (WHO).
Water Scarcity: Altered rainfall & groundwater depletion threaten urban & rural water supplies in India.
Economic Losses: Extreme events like floods and heatwaves caused 41 additional dangerous heat days globally in 2024, impacting agriculture and productivity (IPCC).

Link Between Poverty & Climate Risk

Inequality: Top 10% emitters cause ~50% of global emissions, the bottom 50% bear 75% of losses.
Gap: <10% of global climate finance reaches communities most affected (UNEP Adaptation Gap Report).
Poverty Risk: Rising temperature extremes may push 130 million people back into poverty by 2030 (WB).
Health Threats: Climate change increases heat-related deaths, vector-borne diseases, and malnutrition globally (WHO).

Government Initiatives to Tackle Climate Change Effects in India

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Implements 8 missions on solar energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture.
National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC): Funds state-level projects to enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Provides crop insurance to ~50 million farmers against climate-related risks.
National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM): Promotes electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Current Affairs

Way Forward

Integrated Policies: Link National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) for climate change with poverty alleviation schemes. E.g., Bangladesh’s Climate-Smart Village Programme.
Climate Finance Justice: Operationalise Loss & Damage Fund (COP28).
Nature-based Livelihoods: Invest in mangrove, wetland, and forest restoration to create local green jobs. E.g., India’s Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats (MISHTI).
Social Protection Expansion: Integrate anticipatory cash transfers and food support. E.g., India’s PM Garib Kalyan Yojana aided 800 million people during extreme events.

Tackling climate-induced poverty demands urgent, inclusive strategies linking finance, nature, and social protection. As Ban Ki-moon said, “Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth, these are one and the same fight.”

Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: Climate-Induced Displacement

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 385

Q. “Climate change threatens human development and livelihoods simultaneously.” Analyse the nature and extent of these impacts and propose innovative strategies for resilience and sustainability (150 Words) (10 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write A contextual introduction by mentioning the current facts.
Body: Analyse the nature and extent of climate change impacts on human development and livelihoods, and propose innovative strategies for resilience and sustainability.
Conclusion: Emphasis on an integrative approach to protect livelihood and human development.