Context:
The 2025 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, titled Overlapping Hardships and Climate Hazards, highlights the intersection of climate change and global poverty. The report overlays climate-hazard data with multidimensional poverty indicators—including health, education, and living standards—for the first time.
Key Findings:
- Scale of Exposure:
- 8 out of 10 people living in multidimensional poverty (~887 million people) are directly exposed to climate hazards such as extreme heat, floods, drought, or air pollution.
- Among those in acute multidimensional poverty, 651 million face two or more climate hazards, and 309 million experience three or four hazards simultaneously.
- Most Prevalent Hazards Globally:
- High heat: 608 million poor people affected
- Air pollution: 577 million
- Floods: 465 million
- Droughts: 207 million
- Regional Impact:
- South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are most severely affected.
- In South Asia, 99.1% of poor people are exposed to at least one climate hazard, and 91.6% face two or more—the highest globally.
- India and Bangladesh have reduced multidimensional poverty, but climate shocks threaten these gains.
- Climate-Poverty Convergence:
- Poor populations have limited assets and low access to social protection, amplifying their vulnerability to climate hazards.
- Extreme climate events exacerbate daily challenges, deepening disadvantage.
- Temperature projections indicate that countries with higher multidimensional poverty will see the greatest rise in temperature by the century’s end.
- Policy Implications:
- Developed countries are urged to increase financial contributions for adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable developing economies.
- Coordinated climate-action strategies at regional and national levels are critical.
- Findings are expected to inform the COP30 agenda in Brazil (Nov 10–21, 2025).
Definitions / Key Terms:
- Multidimensional Poverty: Poverty measured across multiple deprivations, including health, education, and living standards, beyond income alone.
- Climate Hazards: Environmental events like heatwaves, floods, droughts, and air pollution that affect human well-being.
- Overlapping Hardships: Simultaneous exposure to multiple climate hazards, compounding vulnerability.
