​Reacting to today’s UN intergovernmental panel on climate change report Dr Tom Mitchell, Overseas Development Institute head of programme for climate and environment, and a co-ordinating lead author on previous IPCC panel reports, said:

“One billion people who live below the poverty line  are the ones who are set to suffer most from climate change.

“Rich countries are busy building flood defences in their own backyard – they must not forget their duty to support the world’s poorest. 

“The international funding to help the developing world adapt to climate change is a fraction of what is needed. This needs to change, if whole communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia are not to be wiped out.”