Climate and Poverty

The poor are most affected by climate change.

Poverty increases vulnerability and exposure to climate risks, especially for women and children. Poverty reduces people‘s adaptive capacity and climate resilience especially when facing new challenges.

This can be due, for example, to limited financial capacity and education, as well as low housing quality and high population density in vulnerable communities. While most at risk, the poor are the least responsible for anthropogenic climate change.

Climate change has the potential to reverse progress made towards achieving SDG 1 aiming to end poverty in all its forms.

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To advance Climate Science Literacy across Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations in Asia-Pacific has developed a series of posters, social media graphics, and videos. The United Agencies that have jointly developed the climate science literacy materials include UNESCO, ILO, IOM, UNDP, UNDRR, UNEP, UN ESCAP, UNFCCC, UNICEF, and UNOSSC.