Climate Change and Poverty

When you think of climate change, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Most people come up with weather, glaciers melting, or hot weather. These generalizations are only parts of climate change. While people across the globe have their own opinions on the effects of climate change, there is one issue that many tend to overlook: poverty. While much of the debate around climate change has centered on the aggregate effects of climate change and its solutions, the government and scientists should focus more attention on how climate change policies affect smaller groups, especially the global poor.

Throughout the world, poverty is the highest in areas where climate is the most drastic. These areas include parts of Asia and Africa. The climates in these areas are usually hot and dry, making it difficult for families to produce resources such as food and water. The map below shows the worldpoverty percentages.

Nearly 800 million people in the world are chronically undernourished and poor. For example, sub-Saharan Africa, one of the regions said to be most vulnerable to climate change, poverty rates reach a staggering 60 percent of the entire population (Fischer, Shah, and van Velthuizen). The countries that suffer the most from poverty tend be closer to the equator, where temperatures are the highest. These countries struggle, partly due to the fact that most of them are developing countries and have little to no stability.

As climate changes, we will begin to see it affect poverty in different ways. Food availability will be the biggest concern. There is a bit of uncertainty about whether or not modern agriculture practices and products can adapt to changes in climate. Hybrid corn and soybean seed, produced by Monsanto and Syngenta, already struggle today when there is an excessive amount of water or when there is little water. The agriculture industry struggles to produce enough food to feed the world and if the industry was unable to adapt to changes in climate, we would see a drastic rise in food prices, due to supply and demand. Households of the lower class already spend more of their income on food than any other social class and this trend would continue if food prices rose (Hertel).

According to an article published by Purdue University, a year 2030 climate change model predicts that grain and vegetable prices could rise 10-60%, causing food product prices to skyrocket. Simple vegetables and fruits, such as the ones pictured below, will become even harder for the poor to buy, causing the poverty rate to increase. Without regulation of food prices, food products will continue to become more expensive throughout this time period.

With these future struggles ahead of us, there needs to be solutions being made now. The government needs to be proactive about making policies that will ration food if supply gets low, that will hold prices food below a certain level. If countries across the world would work together and come up with global policies, we would be much more prepared for climate change's’ effects on people. The United States, for example, has made no progress on these policies. According to the New England Aquarium, the United States government only has policies that focus on preventing climate change, such as The American Clean Air and Security Act, which calls for an 83% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 ("Endangered Species and Habitats"). This is a solid policy, but it still does not enact a plan of action for when climate change starts affecting agriculture.

Along with the creation of policies, research also must be done to not only help find solutions, but predict future climatic shifts. Crop scientists around the world are testing and developing crops that can withstand extreme weather, as well as keep up with the growing population. Monsanto, for example, is focusing their research on maximizing yield potential and increasing drought tolerance (DroughtGard® Hybrids) in crops ("The 2015 Pipeline Update"). These 2 areas of research are key to being prepared for climate change affects. Maximizing yield potentials in crops will prepare the world with a stronger supply of crops. Increasing drought tolerance in crops will allow farmers to continue to grow crops in areas where the climate changed.

As we draw closer to experiencing the effects of climate change, it is important for us to remember that it is more than just a scientific issue. Climate change is a scientific, political, and social issue. Based on the poor’s level of low income and sustainability throughout the world, it will be hard for them to survive the effects of climate change. It is up to us to stand up for them and make sure new policies are being created and research is being done to protect the lower class.













Work Cited

Fischer G., Shah M., van Velthuizen H. Climate Change and Agricultural Vulnerability. Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; 2002.




Hertel, Thomas W. "Climate Change, Agriculture, and Poverty." Oxford Journals. N.p., 1 May 2010. Web




Nature. "Preparing Farms for The Future." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, 21 July 2015. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.




"Endangered Species and Habitats." New England Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.




"The 2015 Pipeline Update." Monsanto. Monsanto Company, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2015.