Indigenous Affairs 1-2/08: Many Strong Voices - Climate Change and Equity in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was unequivocal in its 4th assessment report last year: unless there are deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions, there will be dramatic effects on water, ecosystems, food supplies, coastal areas and human health. The number of unpredictable extreme weather events will continue to increase. These effects will not be evenly distributed. There is no equity in climate change impacts. They adversely affect the regions that have produced the fewest emissions; usually these regions are least able to deal with this unprecedented change and are thus the most vulnerable. It is therefore imperative that there should be equity in how the world responds.