From taxpayer-backed flood defenses in Miami to shelters keeping Bangladeshis safe from storms, investing to protect against the growing effects of climate change pays, a global commission said Tuesday, warning failure to do so will hike inequality.
As the planet heats up, governments and businesses must radically rethink how they make decisions in key economic areas such as agriculture and infrastructure, said a flagship report aimed at pushing adaptation measures up the political agenda.
"If we do not act now, climate change will supercharge the global gap between the haves and the have-nots," said Ban Ki-moon, who co-chairs the Global Commission on Adaptation with billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva.