Climate Change: The Greatest Challenge for the Future and a Major Cross-Sectoral Area of Intervention

Abstract

Abstract This article is an overview of the ways in which climate change intersects and cuts across issues dealt with by the Rio+20 Conference and threatens to reverse gains made towards the Millennium Development Goals. The objective is to examine how climate change can impact communities in a complex and multi-faceted way. It gives a brief introduction to the unfccc negotiations and the Rio Conference; and looks in particular at the impact of climate change on desertification; food security, agriculture and trade; migration; and water management in developing countries. It is a glimpse into the unceasing struggle between the delicate balance of truly sustainable development, the protection of the environment, and the ever-growing threat of climate change. The way forward in dealing with the effects of climate change must be a cross-sectoral approach, one that is integrated into the post-2015 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, and with particular emphasis on the impact of climate change on poor and vulnerable countries.