Poverty and Climate Change

Irina Lysenko,
Partnership & Communications Group, UN Volunteers, Bonn, Germany

Scientists tell us that climate change is already a reality. Growing temperatures lead to the shift of climate zones and rising sea levels increase the frequency of storms, floods and droughts. One can easily understand that a changing climate will mostly affect the poor. In developing countries, livelihoods are highly dependent on natural and agricultural resources, and people have a limited capacity to adapt to new climate conditions. Growing crops on arid soil or building a house on flooded grounds is the very concrete future which awaits many people around the world.

What can we do?

We can help to mitigate the effects of climate change by promoting car pooling or taking a bus or a bike to school or work. Reducing the energy and water consumption from time to time will save a lot of resources. Cleaning up the environment locally can also be an issue: people are reluctant to pick up other people’s trash but will lend a hand if they see everybody pitching in. If you reside in a developing country, you could support a local community in adapting to climate change. For this, run a survey to find out who is at risk from changing climate and associated natural disasters. Check with local experts what the environmental problems faced by the community are, enquire about people already involved, possible sponsors and partners: activists, civil society organizations, the Ministry of Environment, etc. Start campaigning! You can join the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV).

UNV contributes to peace and development through volunteerism. On International Volunteer Day 2007, Ban Ki-moon said: “We need people everywhere to volunteer for this challenge and to help communities mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.” In support of this statement by the UN Secretary-General, out of 8,000 UNV volunteer assignments per year about 40% are devoted to the improvement of the environment. UNV recruits skilled people to take part in development projects all over the world. In Jakarta, Indonesia, where 63% of the population lives below the poverty line, some project examples include training in agricultural techniques and how to make better use of the natural resources in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Nicaragua the connection between poverty and the loss of biodiversity is obvious: the small manufacturers occupying rural communities in protected areas. Through this, beneficiaries gradually realize the importance of taking care of the environment.

Besides, thousands of people contribute to development with the UNV Online Volunteering service. In 2008 about 2,800 professionals, students, expatriates, retirees and people with disabilities volunteered initiatives. Thousands more have registered and would like to contribute in the future. They bring expertise in many fields, from graphic designing and marketing to training, project designing and management.
On 5 December 2009 UNV will celebrate International Volunteer Day (IVD) with the theme: 'Volunteering for our Planet'. UNV encourages each of us to do our part in combating climate change. To learn more , visit:

www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org

Useful links
Volunteering for our Planet: www.VolunteeringForOurPlanet.org
Volunteer ideas online: http://www.onlinevolunteering.org
International Volunteer Day: www.worldvolunteerweb.org/int-l-volunteer-day.html
International Year of Volunteers: http://bit.ly/Fuvq9
United Nations Volunteers: www.unvolunteers.org; http://www.unv.org
Seal the Deal: www.sealthedeal2009.org
CoolPlanet (UNRIC, Europe): www.coolplanet2009.org
UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen: http://en.cop15.dk