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How does climate change exacerbate poverty and environmental degradation?

Zara Surgeoner

Hey my friend!

Thanks for asking about how climate change can make poverty and environmental degradation worse. It's a really important issue and one that we all need to understand better to help tackle it.

So, let's start by looking at poverty. When we talk about poverty, we're often thinking about things like access to clean water, food, healthcare, and education. Climate change can make it much harder for people to access these things.

For example, as temperatures rise, it can make it harder to grow crops. This can mean that farmers struggle to make a living, and that food prices rise. This can then make it harder for people on low incomes to afford enough food to eat. Similarly, when droughts occur, it can lead to a lack of water for drinking and for crops - leading to more poverty for those affected.

Climate change can also exacerbate other issues that contribute to poverty. For example, extreme weather events like floods and storms can destroy homes and businesses. This means that people have to spend money they don't have to rebuild, or are left homeless and unemployed. This can create a vicious cycle of poverty that's hard to escape from.

Environmental degradation also plays a big role in how climate change affects poverty. When we talk about environmental degradation, we're thinking of things like the loss of biodiversity, pollution, and deforestation. These things not only damage the natural world, but can also make it harder for people to make a living.

For example, when forests are cut down, it often means that people who rely on those forests for things like timber, food, and medicine are left with no source of income. This can lead to more poverty and hardship. Similarly, pollution from factories and cars can make people sick, which can lead to more missed work and higher healthcare costs - again making it harder for people to escape poverty.

So, as you can see, climate change can have a really negative impact on poverty and environmental degradation. It's up to all of us to take action to reduce our carbon footprints and help build a more sustainable future for everyone.