Just One Planet: Poverty, Justice and Climate Change - Softcover

* A call to arms to take care of the earth—because we have “just one planet”
* Climate change threatens the survival of cultures, species and whole ecosystems
* Demonstrates that if we fail to take action on climate change, we run the risk of failing on poverty reduction, which means abandoning 40% of humanity to extreme deprivation

The impacts of climate change are being felt all around the world and as they become more damaging and widespread, it is the 2.7 billion people who live on less than $2 a day who will be hit first and hardest. Changes in patterns of rainfall and river flow, more flooding and drought will make the livelihoods of poor people more and more precarious. And as the numbers of people at risk of hunger grow so will the incidence of infectious diseases.

Lament is not good enough--we must take action. Based on analysis of the evidence for climate change and the vulnerability of poor people, Just One Planet makes clear the link between consumer and political choices in the North and impacts in the South. It advocates both mitigation—to reduce the severity of climate change now and in the future—and adaptation—to increase the ability of poor people to survive climate change impacts. And it offers a plan of action: advice on how to mitigate climate change, suggestions for policy changes and examples of projects already in process.

An indispensable reference for NGOs, government policy advisors, researchers, students, and specialists in the areas of development, climate and environmental studies, Just One Planet is also a call to arms for anyone who cares about the only planet we have.

D. Mark Smith was leader of the Livelihoods & Environment Research Group at the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems in Australia and is currently Water Management Adviser at IUCN.