Climate change
People have always had to adapt to variable climate patterns, but climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather.
This will stretch people’s ability to adapt to its limit, especially the poorest who will be most vulnerable to climate change but have done least to cause it.
Millions risk being pushed deeper into poverty, for example by losing homes and crops in floods and droughts or through conflict over lack of water or other resources. Click on the links on the right for case studies from around the world.
We work with local organisations overseas who help vulnerable communities cope with the impact of increased floods, droughts and extreme weather. Our disaster risk reduction work enables people adapt to a changing climate and to prepare for disasters before they happen.
But a global problem like this needs a global solution.
In order to avoid catastrophic climate change, we are also lobbying developed country governments to tackle the root causes of the problem by cutting carbon emissions and by providing additional money to help poor countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and pursue clean, green development in the future.
Find out more and join our campaign for climate justice
 | A new life for São Paulo’s poorest families Over the last 4 years, CAFOD’s Urban Programme in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city has helped over 8,730 poor families escape the poverty trap and find new life and dignity. |
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What kind of future would you like to see? Business as usual – or a greener, fairer world? If you care about poverty, water and climate change, then pay attention this summer when world leaders meet at the Rio+20 summit. |
