Climate change hurts the poor: but not the way you think it does

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Forbes or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The narrative that climate change disproportionately affects the world's poor has been widely accepted; however, the article argues that it's not climate change, but the policies adopted in response to it, that are causing the most harm to the impoverished

🔭 The context: While the West pushes for climate change mitigation, primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the focus on adaptation is lacking
• Adaptation involves measures to reduce the vulnerability of humans to the impacts of climate change, such as improving housing, water supplies, and access to clean energy

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Africa, with its vast population living in poverty and without access to electricity, is at the center of this debate
• The continent is experiencing deforestation as people turn to fuelwood and charcoal for energy
• This not only leads to environmental degradation but also impacts health due to indoor pollution

⏭️ What's next: The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) data reveals that of the $640 billion spent on climate finance in 2020, 92% was directed towards mitigation, with a mere 8% for adaptation
• Furthermore, despite Africa's significant needs, it received only 3% of this global climate finance

💬 One quote: "Africa’s poor will be hardest hit not by ‘climate change’ but by the policies advocated by the West’s climate change establishment. The world’s poor would be better off with less of the philanthropy practiced by the likes of Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg" (Tilak Doshi, economist)

📈 One stat: In 2020, out of the total climate finance, 92% was spent on mitigation, with 91% of that amount (or $536 billion) directed towards solar and wind power

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