climatevoice:

The report, Beyond Aid, outlines the dangers of raiding aid budgets to pay for necessary adaptation efforts, estimating that at least 75 million fewer children would be likely to attend school and 8.6 million fewer people could have access to HIV/AIDS treatment if aid is diverted. Without at least $50 billion a year in addition to the 0.7% of national income rich countries have already pledged as aid, recent progress toward the Millennium Development Goals could stall and then go into reverse.

“Despite having contributed little to the climate crisis, most poor families around the world are just one climate related disaster away from total ruin,” said Offenheiser. “Without adequate support to adapt to the changing climate, the effect is a downward spiral into deeper poverty and increased vulnerability. This could mean millions going without food, pulling their children out of school or selling off cattle or other assets critical to their livelihoods to pay for mounting debt caused by failed crops or lost homes. Such dramatic human consequences will also threaten to undermine global stability and security.”

There have been great strides toward the Millennium Development Goals since their inception in 2000. In just seven years, 90% of children in poor countries have been enrolled in school. Between 1999 and 2005 there was a 24% drop in the number of people living in extreme poverty. But despite these gains, poor countries are struggling to meet the MDGS and many goals still fall short of the mark. Diverting aid for climate adaptation would strain an already overstretched system.