Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Developing World: Global Responses
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Jamey Essex
Proposal
Anthropogenic climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity today. It is a geographically uneven phenomenon that disproportionately affects developing countries, despite the fact that they have historically done the least to contribute to the pervasive increase in global emissions. Climate change and development are irrevocably linked, as climate change exacerbates preexisting structures of poverty and instability through the perpetuation of disease, natural disasters, and political conflict. Though the severity of the climate crisis will be felt first by developing countries, they are the least able to cope with its consequences because many lack adequate economic and institutional capacity to do so. Therefore, developed countries have a moral responsibility to financially assist developing countries in reducing their vulnerability to climate change through both adaptive and mitigative measures. To understand how global cooperation is taking place and how responsibility for combatting the climate crisis is distributed throughout the international community, I will examine climate policy at international, national, and local levels in order to understand different scales of action and identify potential gaps.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Developing World: Global Responses
Anthropogenic climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity today. It is a geographically uneven phenomenon that disproportionately affects developing countries, despite the fact that they have historically done the least to contribute to the pervasive increase in global emissions. Climate change and development are irrevocably linked, as climate change exacerbates preexisting structures of poverty and instability through the perpetuation of disease, natural disasters, and political conflict. Though the severity of the climate crisis will be felt first by developing countries, they are the least able to cope with its consequences because many lack adequate economic and institutional capacity to do so. Therefore, developed countries have a moral responsibility to financially assist developing countries in reducing their vulnerability to climate change through both adaptive and mitigative measures. To understand how global cooperation is taking place and how responsibility for combatting the climate crisis is distributed throughout the international community, I will examine climate policy at international, national, and local levels in order to understand different scales of action and identify potential gaps.