7.4.1 Climate change linkages and impacts

 

 

7.4.1 Climate change linkages and impacts

Impact of climate change on poverty

  • Poor hit earliest and hardest with the least capacity to adapt. Climate change may lead to:
  • Loss of habitats & biodiversity
  • Loss of livelihoods/new opportunities,
  • Increased frequency/ severity of natural disasters, flooding and extreme weather
  • Water scarcity and desertification
  • Conflict, civil unrest and migration
  • Health impacts and food insecurity
  • Complex trade-offs: e.g. biofuels could boost or undermine livelihoods of poor, carbon markets could reduce or entrench poverty


Impact of climate change on globalisation

  • The impacts of carbon trading and the shift towards a low carbon economy especially in energy, transport, foodstuffs, manufacturing, construction and tourism markets
  • Localisation of supply chains and markets due to higher transport costs
  • Increased risk, uncertainty and market volatility, disruption to agriculture and infrastructure
  • Failure to address climate change undermines global economy and support for globalisation process


Impact of climate change on engineerin

  • New markets and opportunities in renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy conservation and waste reduction
  • New research/innovation opportunities
  • Disaster preparedness and relief and post disaster reconstruction
  • Low carbon economy especially in energy, infrastructure and construction markets