Chris+Knortz+Matrix+2.

Future climate change has the potential to devastate many areas of the world. Currently regions with poverty stricken populations have a larger potential for devastation. Regions of great poverty have an inhibited ability to adapt to large changes, this comes from week infrastructure, poor quality of buildings, week government and economies that are based on natural resource extraction. One example is in Africa (excluding South Africa) where there are only 170,000 Km [|paved roads], less than in all of Poland. This leaves all other roads rough and possibly impassible in wet season causing a great economic drain and vulnerability. Another area of potential disaster is the economic system of many of these nations. People primarily base their income on farming and natural resources extraction. These forms of income can be completely cut off in the case of severe [|drought or flooding], “In 1991 grains productivity in Malawi and Zambia declined by about 50 percent when southern Africa experienced a severe drought”(Grandner). The resulting price increase in commodities can force people further into poverty. There is growing evidence that showing climate change reducing the world’s ability to produce food. Much of these effects are concentrated in Africa which has little infrastructure to irrigate fields during drought. The agricultural production of Africa will be 10-20% less by[| 2050], in many places food 50% of GDP causing a perpetuation of poverty. This reduction of production capability will be cause by desertification from poor farming practices and a lack of proper irrigation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is predicting that by 2100 Africa will see some of the worst increases in the [|occurrence] of natural disasters in the world. This shows almost an increase of 2700% in likelihood of severe drought hitting the region. Climate change that is occurring around the world is known to be a result of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Much of this carbon dioxide has been produced by Europe and the U.S. While these nations account for only a small percent of the total world’s population they produce much of the greenhouse gases. Africa is then forced to support a disproportionate amout of the environmental burden. Africa only accounts for 3% of [|greenhouse gasses] with 11% of the world’s population. People in Africa and South America bear a disproportionate share of the burden of a global economy. They are unable to change the situation because of their lack of political power because of years of destructive policy. Now climate change threatens to destroy much of their reaming means to live. The cycle of unsustainable development has created a potential for a continuous cycle of pervert in many areas of Africa.