Least developed countries

The fifty poorest countries play a negligible role in global warming but will be hit hardest and soonest by climate change, threatening fragile economic and social gains. Two thirds of the world’s poorest citizens live in dry lands, and about half in farm households that are dependent on rain-fed agricultural production. Environmental shifts are already compromising water sources, causing renewed outbreaks of cholera and malaria in some areas, while rice and other crops are at risk from drought in others.

The adaptive capacity of LDCs is hampered by economic vulnerability, manifested in low incomes, underdeveloped economies, limited infrastructure, and widespread poverty. Climate change will make it even more difficult for these countries to reach the internationally agreed developments goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, by 2015.

DESA supports the Commission on Sustainable Development, and other deliberative and expert bodies, to ensure that the needs of LDCs are fully considered in international and regional development policy. At its 2008 and 2009 sessions, the Commission will consider in particular the issues of land management, agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification, and Africa.

 

Dialogue, research, analysis

May 2008
Land management, agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification, and Africa, 16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
October 2007
The relationship between rainfall and human density and its implications for future water stress in sub-Saharan Africa
March 2007
Developing index-based insurance for agriculture in developing countries
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Least developed country designation, Committee for Development Policy
 

Case studies


 

Partnerships


  • International Solar Energy Society
    Lead Partner:
    International Solar Energy Society  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    ISES has been serving the needs of the renewable energy community since its founding in 1954. A UN-accredited NGO present in more than 50 countries, the Society supports its members in the advancement of renewable energy technology, implementation and education all over the world. Its goals include: * Towards a Sustainable World:Encouraging the use of Renewable Energy everywhere, through appr...
  • Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI)
    Lead Partner:
    Earth Charter Youth Initiative, Earth Charter International  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    Vision From Earth Charter International Council, October 2006: “We envision the Earth Charter becoming the most widely shared ethical framework for sustainable living and exercising a growing influence on human affairs. We envision recognition and endorsement of the Earth Charter by an ever-increasing number of national and international institutions, including UN agencies, leading to the e...
  • Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP)
    Lead Partner:
    Government of Japan - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. - Government of United States of America - U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency (USEPA) - CLASP Secretariat - UNDP-GEF - United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) - United Nations Foundation (UNF)  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    Energy efficiency standards and labels (S&L) for appliances, equipment and lighting are the most cost-effective means to help countries limit energy demand while stimulating economic growth. The overall result of S&L is to reduce required investments in power plants and reduce fuel consumption for their operation with powerful economic gains (e.g., freeing up capital for investments in non-energy...
  • Mediaterre - Global information system on sustainable development
    Lead Partner:
    International Center of Resources and Innovation for the Sustainable Development-CIRIDD (former Association Agora 21) - Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (IEPF - Institut de la Francophonie Numérique - Unité Jeunesse)  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    The aim of the project is to create an information and discussion platform for sustainable development that is accessible to the various groups concerned (States and public administrations, local governments and international bodies, associations, the economic sector, scientists and the academic community, and ordinary citizens) by facilitating exchanges and integration of the available data on a ...
  • Partnership for Water Education & Research (PoWER)
    Lead Partner:
    UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    The mission of the Partnership for Water Education and Research (PoWER) is to combine the strengths of all partners and enhance the capacity of each partner in order jointly to: - Deliver capable professionals in the water and environment sectors. - Find innovative solutions for water and environmental challenges. - Build up the capacity of institutions and communities with respect to better ...
  • Enhanced Application of Climate Prediction in Pacific Island Countries Project
    Lead Partner:
    Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)  
    Geographical Scope:
    Sub-regional South Pacific 
    Summary:
    This partnership developed from the SPREP Pacific Meteorological Services Needs Analysis Project. project aims to strengthen the capacity of Pacific island countries in climate prediction. It includes Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Is, Kiribati and Niue. The project aims to upgrade the National Meteorological Services of participating island countries to enable them to provide...
  • South Pacific Vulnerability and Adaptation Initiative
    Lead Partner:
    Government of Australia - Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)  
    Geographical Scope:
    Sub-regional Pacific 
    Summary:
    The aim of this initiative is to enable Pacific Island countries to adapt to the future impact of climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise. Consistent with the objectives of the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change, Climate Variability and Sea Level Rise, the initiative aims to strengthen regional collaboration between relevant multilateral and regional technical ag...
  • Enhancement of regional strategy on climate change through the Asia-Pacific Network on Climate Change (AP-Net)
    Lead Partner:
    Government of Japan - Ministry of Environment  
    Geographical Scope:
    Regional  
    Summary:
    Greenhouse gases emissions from the Asia-Pacific region are increasing while climate change can have serious impact on some countries in the region. In order to implement the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, which is a first step for addressing climate change, the region requires fruitful policy dialogues among countries. Further, it needs to develop and implement a regional strategy addressing cli...
  • International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
    Lead Partner:
    International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) - International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    The main objective of ICRAN is to halt and reverse the decline in health of the world 's coral reefs. ICRAN is an innovative and dynamic global partnership of many of the world's leading coral reef science and conservation organizations. The partnership draws on its partners' investments in reef monitoring and management to create strategically linked actions across local, national and global scal...
  • My Community, Our Earth (MyCOE) - Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development
    Lead Partner:
    Association of American Geographers  
    Geographical Scope:
    Global 
    Summary:
    The general goal of My Community, Our Earth -- Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development is to build geographically literate generations able to use this knowledge in their everyday lives to bring about true sustainable development. In particular, the Program seeks to provide students and international leaders with the opportunity to discover and address real issues in their communities and...