A recent FAO report has unveiled the troubling reality that climate change-induced extreme weather events are deepening poverty and income inequality, especially in rural areas. Floods and heat stress, exacerbated by climate change, have widened the income gap between rural impoverished and non-impoverished households by up to $21 billion annually.
For impoverished rural households, every day of extreme heat brings a 2.4% decrease in incomes and a 1.1% decline in crop value, further widening the income disparity. Moreover, climate-induced poverty extends beyond immediate income losses, as households resort to maladaptive coping strategies such as reducing income sources and liquidating assets, which increase vulnerability to future climate-related challenges. That these extreme weather events disproportionately affect impoverished rural communities, resulting in substantial income reductions and exacerbating global income inequality, should prompt serious measures and long-term mitigation strategies. This requires comprehensive action. In Pakistan, promoting drought-resistant crop varieties and investing in water management infrastructure along with sustainable agricultural practices are essential. Globally, concerted efforts to reduce GHG emissions are crucial to prevent further exacerbation of extreme weather events and their devastating impacts. Alarmingly, female-headed households bear a disproportionate burden of climate-induced poverty, experiencing even greater income losses than male-headed households. Heat stress widens the income gap between rural female-headed and male-headed households by $37 billion annually, while floods exacerbate this gap by $16 billion across low- and middle-income countries. For this, gender-sensitive approaches to climate adaptation and poverty alleviation are urgently needed.
As we confront the existential threat of climate change, prioritising the protection and empowerment of vulnerable communities is paramount. Climate justice demands addressing systemic inequalities to ensure equitable opportunities for all.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2024.
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