Sunday, August 24, 2008

Joint Study Indentifies Humanitarian Hotspots and Warns of Dire Consequences Unless World Leaders Act Now to Counter Climate Change

Climate Change: Joint Study Indentifies Humanitarian Hotspots and Warns of Dire Consequences Unless World Leaders Act Now

GENEVA & NAIROBI (August 22, 2008) - India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia are among the pivotal states identified as climate change "hotspots" – countries particularly vulnerable to the increase in extreme drought, flooding, and cyclones expected in the coming decades – according to a new report commissioned by humanitarian relief agency CARE International and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Leaders and communities in these pivotal states and in other states at risk in the Sahel, Horn of Africa and southeast Asia are already facing enormous political, social, demographic, economic and security challenges. Climate change will greatly complicate and could undermine efforts to manage these challenges," said Dr. Charles Ehrhart, climate change coordinator for CARE International and one of the report's authors. More >>>