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Billion people face global flooding risk by 2060, charity warns | Billion people face global flooding risk by 2060, charity warns |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A British aid charity is warning that by 2060 more than a billion people worldwide will live in cities at risk of catastrophic flooding as a result of climate change. | A British aid charity is warning that by 2060 more than a billion people worldwide will live in cities at risk of catastrophic flooding as a result of climate change. |
A study by Christian Aid says the US, China and India are among the countries most threatened. | A study by Christian Aid says the US, China and India are among the countries most threatened. |
It says the Indian cities of Kolkata and Mumbai will be most at risk. | It says the Indian cities of Kolkata and Mumbai will be most at risk. |
The eight most vulnerable cities on the list are all in Asia, followed by Miami in the US. | The eight most vulnerable cities on the list are all in Asia, followed by Miami in the US. |
The report urges governments to take action to reduce global warming and invest in disaster reduction programmes. | The report urges governments to take action to reduce global warming and invest in disaster reduction programmes. |
Sea-level rise factors unravelled | |
The village buried in sand | |
Rising seas swallow Pacific islands | |
Dr Alison Doig, the report's author, told the BBC World Service that people living in large coastal cities were particularly at risk. | Dr Alison Doig, the report's author, told the BBC World Service that people living in large coastal cities were particularly at risk. |
"I think it's cities like Kolkata, Dakar, the big mega-cities of the south and the emerging economies where the people are most vulnerable to exposure to sea-level rises and to higher rain events," she said. | "I think it's cities like Kolkata, Dakar, the big mega-cities of the south and the emerging economies where the people are most vulnerable to exposure to sea-level rises and to higher rain events," she said. |
"Flooding in these cities can cause massive damage, but can also threaten life." | "Flooding in these cities can cause massive damage, but can also threaten life." |
Dr Doig warned that Florida was likely to suffer extensive flooding. | Dr Doig warned that Florida was likely to suffer extensive flooding. |
"The whole of Florida is totally vulnerable," she said. | "The whole of Florida is totally vulnerable," she said. |
"It is so low-lying, it is virtually swampland reclaimed. So significant climate change... raising water half to a full metre this century, will take out an awful lot of Florida and a significant amount of Miami." | "It is so low-lying, it is virtually swampland reclaimed. So significant climate change... raising water half to a full metre this century, will take out an awful lot of Florida and a significant amount of Miami." |
The study says that the priority should be to rapidly reduce carbon emissions and limit temperature increase by switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy. | The study says that the priority should be to rapidly reduce carbon emissions and limit temperature increase by switching from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy. |
It says vulnerable communities must be helped by better protecting homes and livelihoods. | It says vulnerable communities must be helped by better protecting homes and livelihoods. |
The study also calls for international systems to help communities recover from devastating storms and floods. | The study also calls for international systems to help communities recover from devastating storms and floods. |
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