World Bank Climate Report – Oxfam comment

Published: 19th June 2013

Welcoming the publication of the World Bank report, Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts and the case for resilience, which explores the likely impacts of 2 degrees and 4 degrees warming on communities across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, Oxfam spokesperson Sasanka Thilakasiri said: 

“The World Bank says that climate change is a real and present danger that, if left unchecked, will undermine food security in the world’s hungriest regions within just 20 years.

“If we can stop global temperatures from rising above 2 degrees we can avoid the worst consequences of climate change but millions of the world’s poorest people, from the slums of Dakar to the plains of Kenya, will still be left in desperate need of assistance. Governments must keep their promise to provide $100 billion per year to help the world’s poorest countries reduce their emissions and adapt to a changing climate.

“We can still ensure the Bank’s prognosis of a 4 degree world plagued by hunger does not become a reality. Governments can keep emissions in check, help poor farmers develop climate resilient agriculture, and protect poor consumers from price hikes - but only if they act now.

“The World Bank must go beyond ringing the alarm bell. It must ensure its own lending meets the needs of the people who are most vulnerable to climate change.”

Contact information

For more information contact:

  • Anna Ratcliff: anna.ratcliff@oxfaminternational.org or +44 7796 993 288

Spokespeople are available in Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia and South East Asia, and around the globe: 

Sub Saharan Africa

  • Mithika Mwenda, Secretary General of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance based in Kenya: +254-20-8075808, +254-724403555 or mwemithika@yahoo.com 
  • Mohamet Lamine Ndiaye, Pan African Economic Justice Campaign Lead for Oxfam based in Senegal: MLNdiaye@oxfam.org.uk or +221 775298806 (can give interviews in French and English)
  • Eric Hazard, GROW campaign manager for Oxfam in West Africa based in Senegal: +221 33 859 37 00 or ehazard@oxfam.org.uk (can give interviews in French and English)

South East Asia

  • Riza Bernabe, Economic Justice Policy and Research Coordinator based in the Philippines: mbernabe@oxfam.org.uk or +63 9228077356
  • Norly Grace Mercado, East Asia GROW Campaign Coordinator based in Philippines: +63-917-5406764

South Asia 

  • Anna Wrochna, South Asia Grow Campaign Lead: +880-2-8813607-9, +880 2 8824440, Anna.Wrochna@oxfamnovib.nl or skype: wrochnanna

Global

  • Tim Gore: Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research at Oxfam: +1 917 455 7212 or tim.gore@oxfaminternational.org
  • Sasanka Thilakasiri, Policy Advisor, International Financial Institutions and Economic Justice: +1-202- 496-1176 and +1-240-543-2520

Related links

GROW campaign

Issues: Climate change