The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) states unequivocally that the world is warming. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is aff ecting natural and human systems. There is increasing concern about the likely implications of climate change on poverty, economic growth, ecosystem services, livelihood opportunities as well as Overall human development. The poorest populations in developing countries are expected to bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change, with costs in individual sectors (e.g., water or agriculture) expected to exceed billions of dollars in some countries. In this context, the world's attention is shifting towards adapting to the likelihood of a range of climate change-induced eff ects on ecosystems and economic development.