The devastating impact of changing climate is already apparent in many parts of the developing world, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that 150,000 people already die each year as a result of climate change, tell Tearfund.
Tearfund, one of the UK's leading Christian relief and development agencies, which is committed to addressing the causes of poverty in many of the poorest countries around the world, offered some examples of the devastating impact that climate change is having across the globe:
* In Honduras, Osvaldo Munguia, from Tearfund partner agency Mopawi, states: “Climate change is having a very severe impact on us. The rains are decreasing so the dry seasons are longer, meaning that when planting their crops, people in rural areas are very unsure when to start and harvests are lost to drought or floods.”
* In Ethiopia Tadesse Dadi, Tearfund Programme Support Advisor, says: “A drought is currently affecting some 11 million people across the Horn of Africa, mainly due to four years of failed rains. We are helping people to adapt so they can continue with the way they have been doing things in the past. When the climate changes they don't have enough resources to fall back on.”
* In Bangladesh, Tearfund partner Heed reports: “Waterlogging of seawater in coastal areas in the west due to higher tides is causing loss of crop land. Crop failures and loss of capital investment not only increases food insecurity, but also loss of household assets.
