Climate change is in the news regularly. If not every day, certainly it seems like every week there is something. It has been talked about for a long time, with a lot of back and forth both about how real it is, causes the extent of possible impacts.

For those of us living in countries like New Zealand it can seem a bit distant. The discussion is all about effects by 2050 and beyond. It can be hard to connect events like increasing frequency of flooding or droughts in rural areas with “global warming”, even though these are a part of  the predicted effects.

For many of the developing countries the effects of climate change are already very real and present. A recent joint report by Oxfam Australia and New Zealand includes a wide variety of case studies from the Pacific region. Called The Future is Here: climate change in the Pacific the report shows how changing weather patterns, rising sea levels and changes to the growth of coral reefs are all very significant for the Pacific island nations.

What are the key climate change issues as they relate to the developing countries? The following are some of the terms used in climate change discussions, and how they relate to the developing countries.

ISSUE 1: Emissions Reduction

The key area for climate change is of course the need to reduce carbon emissions. High emission countries must set higher medium and long-term emissions reduction targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These are mostly the wealthy developed countries, but include also the rapidly industrialising nations like China and India. In fact globalisation has moved many of the high pollution industries to these countries, who because of lower regulatory requirements are often less carbon efficient. The wealthy nations appear to be lowering their emissions, but as the ultimate consumers of the goods produced they need to still be held responsible for the emissions of countries like China.

Of course the poorer nations ask why, on their road to growth, they should not be allowed the same emissions as the wealthy nations? Should they be kept poor just so that they don’t add to global pollution at the same rate?

Regardless of global warming, a reduction in carbon emissions and improved carbon efficiency makes sound economic sense. High pollution levels are not economically efficient and also contribute to significant health issues which are a cost on any economy.

ISSUE 2: Low Carbon Technology

The goal of emissions reduction is to see the use of low carbon technology. The aim of development programmes must be to focus on supporting developing countries to follow low-carbon pathways without having to go through the high pollution phases that the rest of the world has followed. This includes increased research and support for renewable energy sources, and issues like deforestation/reforestation. Instead of cutting down vast areas of virgin forest, there are opportunities for the creation of forest carbon sinks that will benefit the whole world. The development challenge here is to see this happening without causing economic disadvantage to already poor people.

ISSUE 3: Adaptation

No matter how well we achieve the emissions reduction targets, and how efficient the new low carbon technology, we cannot avoid the climate change effects of global warming. As illustrated in the case studies of the Oxfam report, these changes are already happening. The issue is to help people to adapt to the changes. This will require new and additional money for adaptation focused projects. Resources should be directed towards local communities and draw on local knowledge in developing responses to climate change. Adaptation strategies have to focus first on ensuring that people can have the livelihoods, food and water security that they need for survival.

ISSUE 4: Climate Displacement

Some places are going to become uninhabitable. Even in New Zealand repeated floods in some areas have raised questions about whether some townships shouldn’t be relocated. The Oxfam report looks at some of the Pacific Islands that are barely more than atolls. Rising sea levels, and the increased incidence of cyclones threaten the viability of these islands, and of other low lying areas like Bangladesh. Townships in New Zealand can be relocated within the country, and the same will be true for many other countries. However some countries will have no scope for internal resettlement. Less affected countries must prepare to receive and absorb people displaced by climate change. Immigration policies will need to prepare for such environment refugees.

• Find an introduction to the issue here
• or a detailed discussion here
• Here is a link to a list of countries threatened by rising sea levels, with articles about the issues for each

ISSUE 5: Health

A warmer environment has already facilitated the spread of the malarial and dengue fever carrying mosquitoes. Increased poverty associated with the effects of climate change will increase the impact of health problems associated with malnutrition. Whether it is the loss of crops through drought in some areas or cyclone and floods in other areas, or the environment refugees forced right off their land, it is the poorest people who will be hit the hardest. Development language talks of the need to “climate proof” communities, or to develop “community resilience”. This can be done by helping with changing crops for varieties better suited to the changed conditions, and by building improved facilities that will be able to cope with the changed environment.

ISSUE 6: Human Rights

Fundamentally development is about each person’s rights to the essentials of life: security, food, water, health, shelter, and the right to equal treatment regardless of gender, culture or ethnicity. Climate change threatens to undermine all these basic rights.  Protection of these essentials must be at the core of policy decisions on climate change.

• Pacific Church Leaders Meeting Statement on Resettlement as a direct consequence of climate induced calamities - April 2009

WHAT CAN I DO?

The Christian World Service (CWS) website has a good section on climate change issues. This includes a pdf format background paper that is downloadable. There are also links to theological discussion papers, resources for worship services, and practical ideas for action, either as individuals or as church groups.

• CWS Website Climate Change Section
• Faith materials on climate change
• Resources Section