Climate–poverty connections: an evidence-based review of climate solutions that generate human benefit

Abstract

BackgroundAddressing climate change and improving the wellbeing of people facing extreme poverty—two key aspects of planetary health—can and must be complimentary. The objective of this research is to provide decision makers with rigorous and concrete evidence of how climate solutions can also contribute to meeting development and human wellbeing needs in low-income and middle-income countries while improving planetary health. MethodsWe identified 28 solutions (from the 80 climate mitigation solutions that Project Drawdown has previously analysed) with potential to generate human wellbeing co-benefits for rural and under-resourced communities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. We then used Doughnut Economics to develop a rigorous and consistent framework to analyse 12 dimensions of human wellbeing co-benefits generated by the climate solutions. Finally, we synthesised evidence of the human wellbeing co-benefits of the 28 climate solutions. FindingsDrawing on over 450 articles and reports, our landmark analysis shows that climate solutions generate vast direct and indirect co-benefits to human wellbeing, particularly around the domains of income and work, health, food, education, gender equality, and energy. For example, providing clean electricity and adopting clean cooking can address energy poverty and improve networks, health, and gender equality; increase income and work; and boost educational outcomes. In addition, improving agriculture and agroforestry can boost income and food and water security, and provide benefits for education, health, gender equality, and energy. Together, the climate solutions included in the report can prevent or reduce more than 600 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent between 2020 and 2050, while also boosting socioeconomic development. InterpretationPeople facing extreme poverty are often most vulnerable to climate change, although they are the least responsible for it. Investments in low-carbon development pathways that prioritise communities that are first and worst affected by climate change, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are key components of planetary health. In alignment with the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we must coordinate strategies, complement funding, and harmonise policies to simultaneously address climate change, alleviate poverty, and boost human wellbeing while increasing resilience to current and future climate change. Our analysis shows a remarkable opportunity for decision makers, policy makers, and funders focused on climate change to work alongside women, young people, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to implement climate solutions that could make a drastic difference for the wellbeing of both people and the planet. FundingKing Philanthropies (Menlo Park, CA, USA).