The disproportionate impact of climate hazards further aggravates existing socioeconomic inequalities and may actually undermine the capacity of people to cope and adapt. Not only is closing the development gaps that leave people vulnerable to climate hazards a goal of sound development policies, but it is also essential to reducing the risk posed by climate change. Investing, for example, in prevention to halt the spread of malaria and other debilitating diseases to improve the quality of life of the most disadvantaged population groups, is both a sound development policy and part and parcel of a sound adaptation policy: healthier and potentially wealthier people will be more resilient to future climate hazards. Disadvantaged groups typically possess few options for diversifying their incomesources, gaining access to insurance and financial marketsand improving their education and health status.