Agency calls for new millennium development goal on climate change

-18/10/06

Climate c


Agency calls for new millennium development goal on climate change

-18/10/06

Climate change is one of the biggest dangers facing the worldís poor today and must be given equal prominence alongside other anti poverty measures taken by governments and civil society groups, says Christian Aid.

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s World Poverty Day (17th October), Christian Aid said it was now vital to introduce a new United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) requiring governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as an indispensable part of the fight against poverty.

ìWe must recognize that changes in the climate are already undermining any hope of meeting the existing eight Millennium Development Goals on poverty. It is impossible to target poverty without targeting climate change and therefore illogical not to have a stand-alone goal calling on the major polluters to cut emissions. It is high time that a climate change Millennium Development Goal now takes its rightful place alongside the existing eight other anti-poverty pledges,î said Andrew Pendleton, Christian Aidís senior climate change analyst.

ìIf the first aim of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve poverty by 2015, we cannot ignore climate change which is wrecking poor peoplesí lives on a daily basis,í said Mr Pendleton.

In a recent report, Christian Aid revealed that by the end of the century climate change could be responsible for the death of more than 182 million poor people in sub Saharan Africa from increased disease alone.

ìWe must use this World Poverty Day to highlight all the injustices perpetrated on the worldís poorest people. To enshrine a clear commitment by the rich countries to drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions would make a significant start,î Mr Pendleton added.

World Poverty Day, otherwise known as the International Day to Eradicate Poverty, takes place annually on 17th October. It was launched by the United Nations in 1993.

Christian Aid is a member of Stop Climate Chaos, an unprecedented and growing coalition on climate change, bringing together environment and development organisations, unions, faith, community and womenís groups. Other members include Friends of the Earth, RSPB, Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Tearfund, the Womenís Institute and UNISON.

The current eight Millennium Development Goals are:

1)Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty

2)Achieve universal primary education

3)Promote gender equality and empower women

4)Reduce child mortality

5)Improve maternal health

6)Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7)Ensure environmental sustainability

8)Develop a global partnership for development


Agency calls for new millennium development goal on climate change

-18/10/06

Climate change is one of the biggest dangers facing the worldís poor today and must be given equal prominence alongside other anti poverty measures taken by governments and civil society groups, says Christian Aid.

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s World Poverty Day (17th October), Christian Aid said it was now vital to introduce a new United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) requiring governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as an indispensable part of the fight against poverty.

ìWe must recognize that changes in the climate are already undermining any hope of meeting the existing eight Millennium Development Goals on poverty. It is impossible to target poverty without targeting climate change and therefore illogical not to have a stand-alone goal calling on the major polluters to cut emissions. It is high time that a climate change Millennium Development Goal now takes its rightful place alongside the existing eight other anti-poverty pledges,î said Andrew Pendleton, Christian Aidís senior climate change analyst.

ìIf the first aim of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve poverty by 2015, we cannot ignore climate change which is wrecking poor peoplesí lives on a daily basis,í said Mr Pendleton.

In a recent report, Christian Aid revealed that by the end of the century climate change could be responsible for the death of more than 182 million poor people in sub Saharan Africa from increased disease alone.

ìWe must use this World Poverty Day to highlight all the injustices perpetrated on the worldís poorest people. To enshrine a clear commitment by the rich countries to drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions would make a significant start,î Mr Pendleton added.

World Poverty Day, otherwise known as the International Day to Eradicate Poverty, takes place annually on 17th October. It was launched by the United Nations in 1993.

Christian Aid is a member of Stop Climate Chaos, an unprecedented and growing coalition on climate change, bringing together environment and development organisations, unions, faith, community and womenís groups. Other members include Friends of the Earth, RSPB, Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Tearfund, the Womenís Institute and UNISON.

The current eight Millennium Development Goals are:

1)Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty

2)Achieve universal primary education

3)Promote gender equality and empower women

4)Reduce child mortality

5)Improve maternal health

6)Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7)Ensure environmental sustainability

8)Develop a global partnership for development