The World Bank estimates that up to 1.9% of the world population is most vulnerable and at risk of falling into extreme poverty due to the effects of climate change: most of them are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
The least developed countries (LDCs) are a group of 47 low-income countries highly vulnerable to a changing climate, as well as other economic and environmental shocks, while being minimal contributors to climate change.
Food prices and access to clean water are the most important factor impacting sub-Saharan Africa; while health effects, natural disasters and food prices are more likely in the South Asian context.
To date only 18% of climate finance reaches LDCs, with only 10% reaching the local level
Startle supports new and emerging models for Adaptation funding aimed at engaging the private sector, finance institutions and nationals and local communities in vulnerable countries and communities where Adaptation is needed most.
There is a huge injustice here: LDCs are especially vulnerable even though they are responsible for less than 1% of mankind’s historical greenhouse gas emissions.
Vulnerability is “the propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected”, including susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt. This is especially true for many poor people in developing countries.
Vulnerability to climate change is determined by three factors:
- Exposure to hazards (such as reduced rainfall);
- Sensitivity to those hazards (such as an economy dominated by rain-fed agriculture);
- Capacity to adapt to those hazards (for example, whether farmers have the money or skills to grow more drought-resistant crops).
Adaptation measures can help reduce vulnerability – for example by lowering sensitivity or building adaptive capacity – as well as allowing populations to benefit from opportunities of climatic changes, such as growing new crops in areas that were previously unsuitable.
Care must be taken when defining a community’s level of vulnerability to avoid bias. Outcome vulnerability (considering quantitative measures) and contextual vulnerability (considering qualitative measures) are two dimensions that must be considered to gain a holistic understanding and picture of a community’s vulnerable state.
One measure of vulnerability is the Climate Risk Index (CRI) by Germanwatch, which indicates a level of exposure and vulnerability to extreme events, highlighting the country’s greatest in need of preparedness and adaption to address increasingly frequent and/or more severe events in the future.
