Shockwaves: managing the impact of climate change on poverty

This report provides new quantification of how climate change will affect poor people and poverty through agricultural impacts (chapter 2), natural disasters (chapter 3), and health shocks (chapter 4).

In each of these chapters, it also identifies opportunities for better policies or specific interventions that can reduce these impacts, sometimes even below their current levels in spite of climate change. Chapter 5 builds on these sectoral solutions by exploring cross-cutting options to enhance resilience (like financial inclusion and social safety nets).

It also identifies options to adapt to a context of changing climate with more frequent and intense shocks and changing environmental conditions, like permanently reduced rainfall. And it stresses the need for a governance system that gives a voice to poor people. This report suggests that developing coun - tries have a window of opportunity to build resilience and reduce short-term climate change impacts on poverty through develop - ment policies that are inclusive and climate informed.

[Adapted from author conclusions]