Social Impacts of Climate Change in Bolivia: A Municipal Level Analysis of the Effects of Recent Climate Change on Life Expectancy, Consumption, Poverty and Inequality

28 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Lykke Andersen

Lykke Andersen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Dorte Verner

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region

Date Written: October 1, 2009

Abstract

This paper analyzes the direct evidence of climate change in Bolivia during the past 60 years, and estimates how these changes have affected life expectancy and consumption levels for each of the 311 municipalities in Bolivia. Contrary to the predictions of most general circulation models, the evidence shows a consistent cooling trend of about 0.2°C per decade over all highland areas, slight and scattered evidence of warming in the lowlands, and no systematic changes in precipitation. The estimations indicate that the 1°C cooling experienced in the already cold highlands over the past five decades likely has reduced consumption possibilities by about 2-3 percent in these areas. Since the much richer population in the lowlands have benefitted slightly from recent climate change, the simulations suggest that recent climate change has contributed to an increase in inequality and poverty in Bolivia. Poor and indigenous peoples in the highlands are among the most severely affected populations. No statistically significant effect on life expectancy was found.

Keywords: Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases, Science of Climate Change, Climate Change Economics, Global Environment Facility, Population Policies

Suggested Citation

Andersen, Lykke and Verner, Dorte, Social Impacts of Climate Change in Bolivia: A Municipal Level Analysis of the Effects of Recent Climate Change on Life Expectancy, Consumption, Poverty and Inequality (October 1, 2009). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5092, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1494830

Lykke Andersen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Dorte Verner

World Bank - Latin America and Caribbean Region ( email )

1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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