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Rural areas still account for almost half the world’s population, and about 70% of the developing world’s poor people. {9.1.1}. There is a lack of clear definition of what constitutes rural areas, and definitions that do exist depend on definitions of the urban. {9.1.2}. Across the world, the importance of peri-urban areas and new forms of rural-urban interactions are increasing (limited evidence, high agreement). {9.1.3} Rural areas, viewed as a dynamic, spatial category, remain important for assessing the impacts of climate change and the prospects for adaptation. {9.1.1}