Climate change could impact the poor much more than previously thought

A new study has found that while the economies of rich countries continue to grow well in a warmer world, the economic growth of poor countries is significantly impaired, reports The Guardian. According to the article, this study by Frances Moore and Delavane Diaz of Stanford University is the first to incorporate empirical estimates of climate change impacts on economic growth in models.

The article, in describing the findings, says that while poorer countries may have the resources to adapt to climate change as they become wealthier in the future, as long as their economic growth is affected by global warming due to the fact that they’re located in hotter parts of the planet, their economies will struggle in a hotter future world. "If there is no adaptation, then the social cost of carbon is substantially larger. So its not an either / or choice between adaptation and mitigation policy."