India global warming hot-spot: UN study
Press Trust of India, Aug 23, 2008
New York, Aug 23 (PTI) A UN study, that examined possible consequences of global warming in the next 20 to 30 years, has identified India as one of the "hot-spots", particularly vulnerable to increase in extreme drought, floods and cyclones in the coming decades.
Commissioned by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the CARE International, the study found that India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia are the global warming hot-spot nations that are already facing considerable political, social, demographic, economic and security obstacles.
"Climate change will greatly complicate and could undermine efforts to manage these challenges," Climate Change Coordinator for CARE International Charles Ehrhart, one of the authors of the report, said.
The impact of a natural disaster is determined by several factors, such as access to proper equipment and information, as well as the ability to exert political influence, he noted.
"The striking lack of these explains why poor people, especially those in marginalized social groups like pastorates in Africa, women and children, constitute the vast majority of disaster victims." The report asked governments to take urgent action to ensure that weather-related hazards, which are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change, do not lead to a corresponding rise in disasters. PTI
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