Physical and socio-economic trends in climate-related risks and extreme events, and their implications for sustainable development

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as evidenced by increases in global average temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change. These physical trends in the climate are projected to intensify into the future. This paper, prepared in the context of the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, draws on the information provided by the IPCC in outlining the physical and socioeconomic trends in climate-related risks and extreme events for developing countries, particularly for the least developed countries and small island developing States, and the implications for sustainable development. Physical and socio-economic trends are compounding each other to undermine sustainable development and the ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the poorest regions of the world through increased poverty, loss of livelihoods, and compromised health and education.