Adapting to climate change, as well as limiting it, is critical for developing countries
Source: Huffington Post
The US presidential election aside, the build-up to the latest round of climate talks now under way in Morocco was dominated by two events: the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, and the release of the UN’s Emissions Gap report.
The first was a moment to cheer the international community for recognizing the gravity of climate change and the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The second was a stark reminder that the action pledged so far is not nearly enough.
Both were important and deservedly drew global attention to the need to mitigate climate change. But they shouldn’t obscure another very pressing need: helping developing countries adapt to the impacts from climate change that we cannot prevent.
Developing nations carry little responsibility for the vast amounts of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. Yet they are forecast to bear the brunt of changing weather patterns and rising sea levels, and they lack the resources to cope. Indeed, many communities are already facing impacts, from more-frequent droughts in East Africa to increased coastal flooding in low-lying Bangladesh.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barney-dickson/mind-the-other-gap-adapti_b_12977732.html?irGreen
