“Climate change denies people and communities the ability to overcome poverty. If we don’t urgently and adequately confront climate change, we cannot end poverty. Ending extreme poverty starts with addressing climate change, as a key pillar of our moral imperative,” the General Secretary of ACT alliance, John Nduna has said.

Nduna was speaking in New York as world leaders prepare to launch the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Extreme weather events linked to climate change are increasing and will undoubtedly cause more disasters, which in turn lead to impoverishment and undermine poverty reduction,” said Nduna.

The SDGs are the successors of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose 15 years term expires this year. As a set of universal goals, it is hoped that the SDGs will steer the world’s economy and politics into poverty eradication and sustainability.

“Poverty eradication and sustainability are the hallmark of climate justice. If it does not rain in sub-Saharan Africa, people cannot grow their food and sustain their lives and livelihoods. When it floods in Asia, communities lose their human rights and basic needs. When sea level rises in the Pacific, people lose their land and territories,” said Nduna.

ACT Alliance has over the last 5 years engaged in community mobilisation and high level political engagement on climate change since and is involved in both the SGDs and the UN climate negotiations, the two main international processes where climate policy and action is crafted.

ACT Alliance calls for immediate attention towards getting a fair and just climate agreement in Paris in December as a first important step in fulfilling the SDG’s. 

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ACT Alliance is and international humanitarian and development network comprising 145 organisations working in 140 countries. ACT is behind the “Act now for Climate Justice” global campaign, www.actclimate.org

For more information, contact: Isaiah Toroitich, ikt@actalliance.org