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Chapter Seven Regional Studies on Climate Change Response

Section II Developing Countries’ Challenges and Strate-
gies in Addressing Climate Change

I. Special Climate Challenges Facing Developing Countries

Developing countries generally face acute contradictions between economic develop-
ment and emission reduction. Most developing countries are in the stage of rapid industrial-
ization and urbanization, with economic growth driving massive demand for energy. Taking
some Southeast Asian countries as examples, to promote economic development, they vigor-
ously develop manufacturing industries where energy-intensive sectors like steel, chemicals,
and power generation have become crucial pillars of economic growth. However, the rapid
expansion of these industries is accompanied by substantial energy consumption and green-
house gas emissions. Meanwhile, developing countries maintain relatively singular energy
structures with high reliance on fossil fuels like coal and oil. In some African nations, over
90% of energy supply comes from fossil fuels, while clean energy accounts for an extremely
low proportion. This not only makesemission reduction tasksarduous but also keeps energy
costs persistently high, further constraining economic development. From the perspective
of international industrial chain division, developing countries mostly occupy the lower end
of the value chain, focusing on low value-added products with thin profit margins, lacking
sufficient funds to invest in energy conservation and emission reductionEmission reduction
technologiesin R&D and equipment upgrades. For example, the textile industry in some
developing countries, although being labor-intensive and providing substantial employment
opportunities, faces outdated equipment, obsolete technologies, and low energy utilization
efficiency. Under the pressure of global climate governance, these industries confront signif-
icant challenges in emission reduction transformation, yet struggle to achieve rapid shifts in
economic development models and industrial upgrading.
Insufficient adaptive capacity is another prominent issue faced by developing countries.
Regarding infrastructure construction, many developing countries suffer from significant
deficiencies. In some South Asian countries, water conservancy facilities are aging and in-
adequate, failing to effectively allocate water resources when confronting extreme precip-
itation or droughts caused by climate change. During flood disasters, the lack of sufficient
flood control dikes and drainage systems leads to widespread flooding that submerges vast
agricultural lands and urban areas, resulting in substantial economic losses. During droughts,
insufficient irrigation facilities cannot meet crop growth demands, causing reduced agricul-
tural output. In terms of public health systems, developing countries have weak capacities to
address climate change-related health issues. As climate warms, the transmission ranges of
tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are expanding. However, limited medical
resources, backward healthcare infrastructure, and shortages of specialized medical person-
nel and advanced detection/treatment equipment make it difficult to effectively control the

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