The poorest people in the world are the ones who will be affected most by climate change, even though they are the least responsible for the damage that is being done. They will be plunged into deeper poverty and poverty reduction strategies will be severely undermined.
Increased temperatures and changes in precipitation reduces agricultural and natural resources. This lowers industrial output as well as labour productivity and consequently leads to reduced economic growth. Studies have shown that a 2 deg increase in temperature would drastically reduce the area for growing Robusta coffee in Uganda, a major export crop.
There will be an increase in climate related disasters that leads to damage of infrastructure. Consequently, productivity of the livelihood assets of the poor is reduced.
Negative changes to vegetation, water and temperature increases the prevalence of disease and therefore the health of the poor is more vulnerable to afflictions. Increased desertification has already reduced vegetative productivity of more than a quarter of Africa's land by 25% over the last 30 years.
We should all care because the devastating impact on the world's poor will affect us too. By acting now and making small changes in our personal lives supported by big changes made by government we will be doing something to limit the damage, not only for our country but for the poorest countries too.