Global Climate change

In Kenya, Abdulahi, 14, is digging a well with his hands. His family don’t have any water because of the drought – and he can’t just turn on a tap, so he started to dig, with no tools, to see if he will eventually hit water.

Abdulahi knows that climate change is real – because it is already affecting his life.

World leaders are failing to tackle global climate change. This is a major threat to all of us – but particularly to millions of people living in poverty.

The rich countries produce most of the greenhouse gases, yet it is the poorest countries that are being hit the hardest. Climate change disrupts seasonal patterns, which can impact on crops. Increased floods, droughts, cyclones and storms bring severe hunger, poverty and disease meaning more lives are at risk.

Water shortages will leave 3 billion people in the Middle East and India desperate for water. With sea levels predicted to rise 50cm that will leave twice as many people exposed to serious flooding.

And people living in poverty are more vulnerable for a number of reasons. For instance, they’re often forced to live in temporary settlements, on land prone to flooding, storms and landslides.

Global warming can be tackled if world leaders act together, and act soon.

The Robin Hood Tax could raise billions every year to fight climate change, help people adapt to the changing climate and develop green economies.