UN report warns of climate change impact on the poor

WaterAid welcomes the publication of this year's Human Development Report, Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, with its strong focus on the risks that climate change presents for the world's poorest.

There is an inverse relationship between responsibility for climate change and the vulnerability of those it will and is already affecting; the poorest of the poor.

Water stress and insecurity are a key area of impact, by 2080 an additional 1.8 billion people are likely to be living in water scarce environments as a result of climate change. Governments must act to ensure that increasingly scarce water resources are managed in an equitable and sustainable manner.

Oliver Cumming, WaterAid Policy Officer, Environment, says:

"It is morally incumbent on the international community to mobilise the necessary resources to enable developing countries to meet their adaptation challenges and make every effort to lessen the divide between rich and poor.

"If international commitments to alleviate poverty are to be honoured then funding for climate change adaptation must be 'new and additional' and must not displace already inadequate international development aid budgets."

For more information please contact: Charlotte Godber on 020 7793 4909 or charlottegodber@wateraid.org .

Notes to Editor

• WaterAid enables the world's poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. These basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods and form the first, essential step in overcoming poverty.
• 1.1 billion people or roughly one sixth of the world's population do not have access to safe water, and 2.6 billion people or two fifths of the world's population do not have access to adequate sanitation
• 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day (WHO)
• WaterAid projects providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene education cost just £15 per head.