The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as evidenced by increases in global average temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change. These physical trends in the climate are projected to intensify into the future. This paper, prepared in the context of the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to
climate change, draws on the information provided by the IPCC in outlining the physical and socioeconomic trends in climate-related risks and extreme events for developing countries, particularly for the least developed countries and small island developing States, and the implications for sustainable development. Physical and socio-economic trends are compounding each other to undermine sustainable development and the ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in the poorest regions of the world through increased poverty, loss of livelihoods, and compromised health and education. Parties may use the information contained in this technical paper as they consider implementing
adaptation action under the Convention, including in the work under the Nairobi work programme, particularly on its work area on climate-related risks and extreme events, and in the work of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention on enhanced action on adaptation. The information could also be considered by Parties and organizations in their actions to enhance resilience to the impacts of the adverse effects of climate change