--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Left unchecked, climate change risks not…" description: "\"Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle classes back into poverty, too.\" — Paul Polman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png" --- # Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the… ![“Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle classes back into poverty, too.” quote by Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png) > “Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle classes back into poverty, too.” [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Climate change threatens the poor and can push emerging middle classes back into poverty. **In simple terms:** Climate impacts both poor and middle classes. Key Takeaway Address climate change to protect all economic groups. Themes environment poverty inequality economics Mood urgent concerned Type policy activist When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - community planning - education Key Concepts sustainable development climate justice social equity Questions to Reflect On - How can businesses reduce climate risk for vulnerable groups? - What policies best protect emerging middle classes? A Different Perspective Economic growth alone cannot solve climate issues; systemic change needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Classes Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classes-poverty-4145569/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Making Poorest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-poorest-4145568/) [Middle Classes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-classes/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Risks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risks/) [Unchecked Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchecked-climate-2141291/) ## Related quotes > [Clean air and a healthy climate benefit all of us, but it will take a diverse coalition to step up to the threat posed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/clean-air-and-a-healthy-climate-benefit-all-of-us-but-it-will-take-a/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [Without action to de-carbonize our economies, unchecked climate change threatens to batter lives and economies around the world, hitting the poorest people hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arancha-gonzalez/without-action-to-de-carbonize-our-economies-unchecked-climate-change/) [Arancha Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arancha-gonzalez/) > [Colorado's economy is already being threatened by unchecked climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/colorado-s-economy-is-already-being-threatened-by-unchecked-climate/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [Just as we demand that our governments address risks associated with terrorism or epidemics, we should put concerted pressure on them to act now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-rockstrom/just-as-we-demand-that-our-governments-address-risks-associated-with/) [Johan Rockstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-rockstrom/) > [There is good evidence that the catastrophist framing of climate change is self-defeating because it alienates and polarizes many people. And exaggerating climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/there-is-good-evidence-that-the-catastrophist-framing-of-climate/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Issues of energy, climate change, nuclear arms control and non-proliferation are all big deals. These are problems that we have to get right globally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holdren/issues-of-energy-climate-change-nuclear-arms-control-and-non/) [John Holdren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holdren/) > [Since the day Martin Luther King was killed, the black middle classes have almost quadrupled, but the percentage of black children living on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/since-the-day-martin-luther-king-was-killed-the-black-middle-classes/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [We have broken the shackles of conservative socialism. The growing middle classes want the kind of standard of living you enjoy in the West.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-mallya/we-have-broken-the-shackles-of-conservative-socialism-the-growing/) [Vijay Mallya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-mallya/) > [BRAZILIFICATION:The widening gulf between the rich and the poor and the accompanying disappearance of the middle classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/brazilification-the-widening-gulf-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-and/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [It's not white versus black any more, it's haves versus have-nots. Unless the black middle-classes unite to promote the interests of the black underclass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/it-s-not-white-versus-black-any-more-it-s-haves-versus-have-nots/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The middle class is so funny, it's the class I know best, and it's the class where you find the most pretension, so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-middle-class-is-so-funny-it-s-the-class-i-know-best-and-it-s-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Solidity, caution, integrity, efficiency. Lack of imagination, hypocrisy. Thesequalities characterize the middle classes in every country, but in England they are national characteristics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-morgan-forster/solidity-caution-integrity-efficiency-lack-of-imagination-hypocrisy/) [Edward Morgan Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-morgan-forster/) > [“(Unlike many others around this time, Joyce felt no shame about using the term 'middle class'. In the Chalfen lexicon the middle classes were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/unlike-many-others-around-this-time-joyce-felt-no-shame-about-using/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [“it is always the women who propose to us, and not we who propose to the women. Except, of course, in middle-class life. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/it-is-always-the-women-who-propose-to-us-and-not-we-who-propose-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [If you read the 'Daily Mail,' you would imagine that the British middle classes lead lives of unremitting misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/if-you-read-the-daily-mail-you-would-imagine-that-the-british-middle/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) ## More by Paul Polman > [Renewable energy could reduce emissions but also create jobs and improve public health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/renewable-energy-could-reduce-emissions-but-also-create-jobs-and/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [When women are provided with training and entrepreneurial opportunities in distribution networks, they become role models in their communities, showing it is possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-women-are-provided-with-training-and-entrepreneurial/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [Companies are the first to see the costs of climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/companies-are-the-first-to-see-the-costs-of-climate-change/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I don't subscribe to, 'Here are the top ten tips to successful leadership,' or, 'How to learn leadership in ten minutes.' A leader is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-don-t-subscribe-to-here-are-the-top-ten-tips-to-successful/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I grew up in a small town in the Netherlands which, for years, had been a center of textile production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-the-netherlands-which-for-years-had-been/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I do not work for the shareholder, to be honest. I work for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-do-not-work-for-the-shareholder-to-be-honest-i-work-for-the-customer/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [The moment you discover in life that it's not about yourself, that it is about investing in others, I think you're entering a steadier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/the-moment-you-discover-in-life-that-it-s-not-about-yourself-that-it/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [In certain cases, empowering women starts with making their lives easier and removing unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/in-certain-cases-empowering-women-starts-with-making-their-lives/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [When the climate hurts, people and businesses also feel the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/when-the-climate-hurts-people-and-businesses-also-feel-the-pain/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [As CEO of Unilever, my personal mission is to galvanize our company to be an effective force for good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/as-ceo-of-unilever-my-personal-mission-is-to-galvanize-our-company-to/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [At the end of the day, people will follow you or people will be energised by you if they buy into your vision or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/at-the-end-of-the-day-people-will-follow-you-or-people-will-be/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I discovered a long time ago that if I focus on doing the right thing for the long term to improve the lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-discovered-a-long-time-ago-that-if-i-focus-on-doing-the-right-thing/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [Practically, systemic thinking can be used to identify problems, analyze their boundaries, design strategies and policy interventions, forecast and measure their expected impacts, implement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/practically-systemic-thinking-can-be-used-to-identify-problems/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [I work a lot with blind people in my spare time outside of Unilever, and I count my blessings every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/i-work-a-lot-with-blind-people-in-my-spare-time-outside-of-unilever/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [If we achieve our sustainability targets and no one else follows, we will have failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/if-we-achieve-our-sustainability-targets-and-no-one-else-follows-we/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) [Explore all 123 Paul Polman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle classes back into poverty, too.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Polman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not-only-making-the-poorest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not-only-making-the-poorest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36a/paul-polman-3721_change_left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not_2092911.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle…” — Paul Polman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Polman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Left unchecked, climate change risks not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not-only-making-the-poorest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/left-unchecked-climate-change-risks-not-only-making-the-poorest/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```