Poverty and climate change must be tackled together12 January 2009
The UK Roundtable on Climate Change and Poverty has published its first report.
This demands that climate change and poverty be tackled together.
There is an urgent need for this issue to be addressed - the UK has 1 in 5 people living in poverty.
Poorest most affected
The Roundtable is a new coalition of the UK's leading environmental and social justice organisations, including Friends of the Earth.
Their report shows that the poorest will be most affected by the impacts of climate change. This is because they have:
- Poorer quality housing
- Worse health
- Less access to insurance
- Less money to adapt to price rises
Impacts on everyday living in the UK
Energy
Volatile fuel prices driven by oil depletion will affect people on low incomes most severely:
- An estimated 4.4 million people live in fuel poverty
- More than 10% of their income goes on domestic fuel.
Food
Our food system is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
This means that rises in fuel costs have also increased food prices, with those on low incomes suffering most.
Health
Climate change will increase the frequency of heatwaves and serious floods. These lead to a growth in health problems such as:
- Skin cancer and cataracts
- Respiratory allergies and infectious diseases
- Anxiety and depression
Those on low incomes will be most vulnerable to health threats, as they have less access to healthcare and live in less healthy conditions.
UK Government must take action
It is clear that the poorest will suffer most from the effects of climate change.
But the Government can take action to tackle fuel poverty.
This could also create thousands of new jobs and green business opportunities.
Ministers must invest in a comprehensive package of measures. This should include cutting fuel bills by insulating homes and developing an efficient and affordable system of public transport. We can create a cleaner, safer and fairer future for us all.
Claire Wilton, Environmental Justice Campaigner, Friends of the Earth
Right to a healthy environment
Friends of the Earth are campaigning for the UK government to adopt the right to live in a healthy environment.
This would give more protection to those living in poverty and facing the impacts of climate change.
Around 100 other countries already have the constitutional right to live in a healthy environment.
Read more
You can read a full copy of the report, and also our press release.
