Clearing the Air abstract: Tollestrup

Environment

Tuesday, 06 July 2010 12:00

Climate Change and the Poor
Stephen Tollestrup

Stephen Tollestrup is the Executive Director of TEAR Fund NZ, and the Director of the international WEA Peace and Reconciliation Initiative.

Abstract

As western and developed nations consider the possible impact of climate change on their economies and mobilise resources and strategies to limit their effects, the reality will be that the poor in the developing world will be placed most at risk and pay the highest price in terms of health, hunger, under-employment, migration, conflict and limited local and regional economic growth. The challenge of climate change in the developing world will undermine regional and global instability and left unaddressed have further serious and exacerbating consequences for developed nations as well.

While climate science has almost exclusively focused on scientific and empirical research with debates centred on data integrity and analysis, the presenter urges that the anecdotal evidence and narrative voice of the poor also be respected, considered and taken seriously. Examples of this more indigenous and local perspective is to be presented.

However it also presents a unique opportunity for a greater collaborative effort between northern and southern economies to mitigate the impact of climate change and further strengthen the foundations for just, sustainable and equitable future partnerships. TEAR Fund suggests that these opportunities among others include commitment to and recognition of the synergy between Kyoto and the Millennium Development Goals( MDG's ), encourage the development sustainable industries, support for food security and environmental protection programmes in developing nations most affected, support for local environmental initiatives, strengthening the capacity of national meteorological systems, cancelling of debt for redistribution into programmes that address the impact of climate change and enhance local sustainability.

Strategically, the local and national church in the developing world can be an invaluable asset as a network for advocacy, education and mobilisation as well as a partner with progressive churches in the developed world, in this case New Zealand.