Abstract
I discuss why integration of global climate change and human development aid pro- grams requires consideration of some understudied uncertainties in making projections of future cli- mate and environmental conditions at local and regional scales, and further, the value-laden policy consequences of dealing with uncertainties for national and international development programs. Additionally, I propose that conflicts between the interests of humans and other species be given greater attention than has been done by those involved in human development aid.
Highlights
The communities of people working on global climate change and human development aid programs have, for the most part, worked separately in trying to achieve their respective goals
The global climate change community has focused on mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and the human development aid community has focused on alleviation of human poverty regardless of the causes (Brown 2010)
To identify some of the ethical dilemmas that confront climate change adaptation and development that stem from projections that 20 to 30% of all species could become extinct from global climate change (IPCC 2007)
Summary
The communities of people working on global climate change and human development aid programs have, for the most part, worked separately in trying to achieve their respective goals. It could be argued that invoking concern about nonhuman species is not necessary in some aspects of climate change science and policy, e.g. atmospheric stabilization values of greenhouse gases can be focused on impacts on humans without invoking concern about non-human species because stabilization values that protect humans will, for the most part, protect nonhuman species as well Beyond this one point, other considerations suggest that if the world does not take urgent action to mitigate global climate change, conflicts between protection of non-human species and achieving the goals of human development aid will increase, both because of increased threats to the ecosystem services provided by the world’s biota, upon which humans depend, and because of intrinsic reasons to preserve species in the light of mass extinctions projected by the IPCC. If projections from the IPCC and other conservation biology organizations are that global climate change might result in the extinction of 20 to 30% of all species, the magnitude of this problem can no longer be avoided by those concerned with global climate change adaptation or human development aid, especially the latter
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
