CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY DYNAMICS IN MOZAMBIQUE

1CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY DYNAMICS IN MOZAMBIQUEMárcio Danilo Joaquim de Morais¹AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between climate change and poverty dynamics in Mozambique, focusing on the mechanisms through which climate shocks affect household livelihoods, consumption, health and access to essential services. It is a documentary study with an analytical and interpretative approach, supported by secondary quantitative data, scientific literature, institutional reports and empirical studies on poverty, climate variability and household welfare. The evidence reviewed indicates that Mozambique faces a combination of rising temperatures, rainfall variability and recurrent extreme events, while a significant share of households remains dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods and has limited access to productive assets, irrigation, basic services and social protection. Studies on rural vulnerability and household consumption show that drought and extreme rainfall can undermine essential expenditure and deepen pre-existing inequalities. Research in Quelimane also identifies associations between temperature, precipitation and malaria seasonality, highlighting a relevant public-health pathway. The article argues that climate change does not independently explain poverty trends; rather, it interacts with structural inequalities, economic shocks, institutional constraints and unequal adaptive capacity. Sustainable poverty reduction therefore requires climate adaptation to be integrated into agricultural policy, social protection, public health, resilient infrastructure and territorial planning.Keywords: Climate change; poverty; climate variability; socio-economic vulnerability; Mozambique; sustainable development.