Shock Waves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty

This Rockefeller-Lancet Commission report argues that the continuing degradation of natural systems threatens to reverse a century of health gains. By almost any measure, human health is better now than at any time in history. Life expectancy has soared from 47 years in 1950–1955, to 69 years in 2005–2010, and death rates in children younger than 5 years of age have decreased substantially, from 214 per thousand live births in 1950–1955, to 59 in 2005–2010.…

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations organization focused primarily on sexual and reproductive health. The overall mission of UNFPA is to deliver a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, every woman has a safe childbirth, and every young person has the ability to reach their potential. The organization focuses on supporting women in a variety of ways, from promoting reliable access to contraceptive methods to promoting the health of pregnant…

This evidence report from the Institute of Development Studies examines the development implications of rising urbanization. The report dispels the common but oversimplified idea that cities sacrifice global development goals—namely, to reduce inequalities, create secure and inclusive societies, and increase sustainability—for the sake of economic growth. Instead, it explores how urbanization and cities can contribute to those goals and how, through good practices and trends, social, environmental, and economic progress can be managed with minimal…