World Bank Report Addresses Climate Change Impact on Low-Income Countries

Source: The post World Bank Report Addresses Climate Change Impact on Low-Income Countries has been created, based on the article “Water at heart of climate solutions: World Bank report outlines policy priorities & steps to address finance gaps” published in “Down to earth ” on 21st December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Environment

Context: The article discusses a World Bank report highlighting how climate change affects people, especially in low-income countries. It emphasizes water’s critical role, the need for investment in water management, and solutions to ensure sustainability and reduce vulnerabilities.

For detailed information on World Bank Report Highlights Poverty and Climate Challenges read this article here

What is the World Bank Group’s 2024 Report About?

1. The World Bank Group’s report, released at COP29 in November 2024, focuses on how individuals play a key role in both being affected by and addressing climate change.
2. It draws insights from 72 Climate Country and Development Reports (CCDRs) that guide countries in combining development with climate action.
3. It highlights people’s central role in addressing climate risks and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

What Are CCDRs?

1. CCDRs, launched in 2022, guide countries in aligning development with climate action.
2. They aim to enhance resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve SDGs.
3. CCDRs bring together governments, private sectors, and citizens to address climate challenges.

How Does Climate Change Affect Low-Income Countries?

Labour Productivity Loss: Rising temperatures reduce productivity, especially in labor-intensive sectors.

Drought Impacts: Droughts harm agriculture, food security, and energy production, leading to malnutrition and migration.In Malawi, droughts could push 14% of people below the poverty line.

Flood Impacts: Floods cause displacement, waterborne diseases, loss of lives, and infrastructure damage. Like, floods in countries like South Africa reduce agricultural production and jobs.

Economic Losses: Climate change causes significant financial losses. For example, Argentina may lose $2.1 billion (0.6% of GDP) due to reduced agricultural output by 2050.

Health Crises: Waterborne diseases are increasing due to climate change. For Example, by 2040–2050, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe will face higher disease rates.

What Solutions Do CCDRs Suggested?

1. Water is crucial for agriculture, food security, human development, and economic growth. Climate change worsens water scarcity and extreme events.
2. Investment in Water Management: Current investments in water are only 0.5% of GDP in most countries. An investment of $1.8 trillion is suggested to yield benefits worth $7.1 trillion by 2030, addressing the finance gap in the water sector.
3. Wastewater Management: Improvement of wastewater treatment plants is necessary to ensure water quality and efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Demand-Side Management: This approach emphasizes sustainable and efficient use of water resources.
5. Performance Monitoring: Installing systems to monitor and enhance the performance of water treatment facilities is recommended to ensure operational efficiency and environmental compliance.

Question for practice:

Examine how the World Bank’s 2024 report highlights the impact of climate change on low-income countries and the solutions suggested to address water management challenges.