IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: CASE OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Author: Dr. Reji D. Nair

ABSTRACT

Climate change has emerged as one of the biggest threats facing the world in this millennium. Climate change is a global phenomenon, but developing countries are likely to be the real victims. Due to geographical disadvantages and low income, it will make the poor more difficult to adapt to climate change. Present paper is an enquiry to the impact of climate change on development momentum in developing countries. Secondary data collected from the publications of UN and its subsidiaries, World Bank, and other international organisations are used in the paper for analysis. The gravity of global warming with its impact, frequency and associated risk are increasing at an alarming rate in recent times. Paper used global multi-dimensional poverty index of UNDP to define Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and assess the extent of deprivations in different dimensions and country groups, with special emphasis on South Asian countries. Impacts of climate change such as migration, economic loss, conflicts, and adaptation planning are discussed in detail in the paper. Importance of climate financing is also reviewed with updates from COP 28 in Dubai. Paper concludes with a note that climate change challenges not only affect the development momentum in the least developed countries (LDCs) but also dilute the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other sustainable development indicators.

Keywords: Climate Change, Global Warming, Least Developed Countries, Multi-Dimensional Poverty, Environmental refugees and conflicts, Climate Financing, COP 28.

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