China's poverty target thwarted by climate change challenges

China's 11 major extremely poverty-stricken areas have fallen victim to both a vulnerable ecology and a sensitive climate. [File photo/Xinhua]

China's 11 major extremely poverty-stricken areas have fallen victim to both a vulnerable ecology and a sensitive climate, damping China's efforts to fight against poverty, according to the "Climate Change and Accurate Poverty Alleviation" Report issued by Oxfam Thursday.

The report, as part of Oxfam's low-carbon adaptation and poverty comprehensive development plan, found that poor areas have suffered from more severe vulnerabilities than the national average level and pointed out that China's poverty target has to cope with acute challenges from climate change.

China has pledged to lift 70 million people out of poverty by 2020, but is faced with daunting challenges posed by climate change.

"Climate change has caused intensified and increased droughts, floods and other natural disasters," said Yin Yongyuan, author of the report. "China's 11 major poverty-stricken areas have seen greater vulnerabilities in their ecological systems."

"The poverty efforts should be aligned with climate adaptation, food security, the livelihoods of local people and environmental protection," he said.

As one of the most challenging global issues, climate change has a direct impact on the poor people who depend on the climate for survival.

The UN climate negotiations in Paris in December will be a crucial opportunity for the world to cope with climate change, as rich countries will be urged to keep their financial promises to the poor on global warming.

"Poor people make the least 'contributions' to climate change, but they are hardest hit by the dangers and challenges of climate change," said Wang Binbin, manager of Oxfam's Beijing Office.

For a long time, China's poverty policies have paid little attention to the impact of climate change, and the country has found it difficult to implement a climate change agenda in rural areas.

The report will give a full picture to the government when it formulates poverty policies and provide very detailed solutions regarding how to integrate climate change into poverty-fighting initiatives.

Wang Binbin said, "Oxfam hopes the report can provide scientific evidence to the poverty work of the government and organizations under the backdrop of climate change."