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Scientific evidence shows that climate change is likely to challenge the realization of sustainable development including the Millennium Development Goals. In particular, climate change is projected to reduce the livelihood assets of vulnerable people, especially those that are dependent on biodiversity and ecosystem services such as access to food, water and shelter. Climate change is also expected to have a negative impact on traditional coping mechanisms and food security5 thereby increasing the vulnerability of the world’s poor to famine and perturbations such as drought, flood and disease. Finally, the impacts of climate change on natural resources and labour productivity are likely to reduce economic growth, exacerbating poverty through reduced income opportunities.

The term given to the variety of life on Earth, provides, through its expression as ecosystems, goods and services that sustain our lives. Human pressures on ecosystems are causing changes and losses at rates not seen historically. People are changing ecosystems more rapidly and more extensively than over any other period in human history. Climate change adds yet another pressure on natural ecosystems.