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Climate change costs lives
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Jane Filemu, a 9-year-old Samoan girl, stands in knee-deep water to hang the final T-shirt in Oxfam's 350 Islands for Change action, then turns and recites a poem, telling the crowd that everybody has the power to make a difference. View more images. |
Climate change is already having a devastating impact on people’s lives, and poor communities in developing countries are being hit first and worst.
- In December 2009, world leaders were at the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, negotiating a climate deal that would seal our future, for better or worse. Find out what happened in Copenhagen.
Extreme weather events and fluctuating seasons are destroying homes, crops and water sources – pushing people backwards as they strive for progress.
Our Pacific neighbours living in some of the world’s lowest-lying countries are particularly vulnerable. Rising sea levels, king tides and storm surges are threatening to make their homelands uninhabitable.
Unlucky? Try unfair.
The 50 poorest countries contribute less than one per cent of the pollution that is heating up the planet.
We must take urgent action now to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, provide the money and technology for poor people to prepare for future climate changes, and ensure a FAB international climate deal – one that is fair, ambitious and binding.
- Sign our climate change petition.
- Already signed the petition? Find out what other actions you can take.
Why is Oxfam calling for urgent action on climate change?
| Our Pacific neighbours are on the front line of climate change. Click to watch this video and find out more. |
Because it’s about people.
Climate change is one of the greatest injustices of our time – the first hit and worst affected are the people who have done the least to cause the problem, and are least equipped to deal with it.
What is Oxfam doing?
Oxfam is working to help poor communities adapt to climate change through new technologies, diversifying livelihoods and disaster risk reduction.
We are also advocating for a fair, ambitious and binding global climate deal to limit global warming to less than 2oC. This includes:
- A global climate change petition calling for the New Zealand Government and leaders from other developing countries to take strong action on climate change.
- Taking a leadership role at the UN meetings on climate change by calling for emission reduction targets of 40 per cent by 2020
- Committing to an environmental management plan to reduce our own emissions and impact on the environment.
Find out more about climate change
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