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| Billions face climate change risk | Billions face climate change risk |
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| Billions of people face shortages of food and water and increased risk of flooding, experts at a major climate change conference have warned. | Billions of people face shortages of food and water and increased risk of flooding, experts at a major climate change conference have warned. |
| The bleak conclusion came ahead of the publication of a key report by hundreds of international environmental experts. | The bleak conclusion came ahead of the publication of a key report by hundreds of international environmental experts. |
| Agreement on the final wording of the report was reached after a marathon debate through the night in Brussels. | Agreement on the final wording of the report was reached after a marathon debate through the night in Brussels. |
| People living in poverty would be worst affected by the effects of climate change, the gathered experts said. | People living in poverty would be worst affected by the effects of climate change, the gathered experts said. |
| "It's the poorest of the poor in the world, and this includes poor people even in prosperous societies, who are going to be the worst hit," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). | "It's the poorest of the poor in the world, and this includes poor people even in prosperous societies, who are going to be the worst hit," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). |
| Mr Pachauri said those people were also the least equipped to deal with the effects of such changes. | Mr Pachauri said those people were also the least equipped to deal with the effects of such changes. |
| Objections | Objections |
| Outlining the report's findings, Dr Martin Parry, co-chairman of IPCC Working Group II, said evidence showed climate change was having a direct effect on animals, plants and water. | Outlining the report's findings, Dr Martin Parry, co-chairman of IPCC Working Group II, said evidence showed climate change was having a direct effect on animals, plants and water. |
| "For the first time, we are no longer arm-waving with models; this is empirical data, we can actually measure it," he told a news conference. | "For the first time, we are no longer arm-waving with models; this is empirical data, we can actually measure it," he told a news conference. |
| Dr Parry outlined the four areas of the world now thought to be the most vulnerable to climate change: | Dr Parry outlined the four areas of the world now thought to be the most vulnerable to climate change: |
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| In Europe, scientists had previously warned about the long term dangers of the collapse of the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that makes its way from the Caribbean towards Europe's west coast. | |
| A huge injection of freshwater from the melting of Greenland's icecap could interfere with the current, causing Europe's temperatures to plunge, they said. | A huge injection of freshwater from the melting of Greenland's icecap could interfere with the current, causing Europe's temperatures to plunge, they said. |
| But recent observations suggest that if it does happen, it will not be any time soon. | But recent observations suggest that if it does happen, it will not be any time soon. |
| "It is very unlikely that the Gulf Stream will shut down during this century," said Dr Parry. "Even if it does, Europe will still become warmer." | "It is very unlikely that the Gulf Stream will shut down during this century," said Dr Parry. "Even if it does, Europe will still become warmer." |
| Year of reports | Year of reports |
| Scientists and politicians have welcomed the report. | Scientists and politicians have welcomed the report. |
| "This further underlines both how urgent it is to reach global agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and how important it is for us all to adapt to the climate change that is already under way," European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told the Reuters news agency. | "This further underlines both how urgent it is to reach global agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and how important it is for us all to adapt to the climate change that is already under way," European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas told the Reuters news agency. |
| READ THE IPCC FINDINGS Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability [547KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| "This is another wake up call for governments, industry and individuals. We now have a clearer indication of the potential impact of global warming, some of which is already inevitable," said Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society. | "This is another wake up call for governments, industry and individuals. We now have a clearer indication of the potential impact of global warming, some of which is already inevitable," said Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society. |
| "The challenge is now to support those people living in the most vulnerable areas so that they are able to adapt and improve their ways of life." | "The challenge is now to support those people living in the most vulnerable areas so that they are able to adapt and improve their ways of life." |
| The wording of the summary of the report, which will be sent to world leaders in time for a G8 summit of industrialised nations in June, was finally decided after scientists and government officials from more than 100 countries worked through the night. | The wording of the summary of the report, which will be sent to world leaders in time for a G8 summit of industrialised nations in June, was finally decided after scientists and government officials from more than 100 countries worked through the night. |
| Several delegations, including the US, Saudi Arabia, China and India, had asked for the final version to reflect less certainty than the draft. | Several delegations, including the US, Saudi Arabia, China and India, had asked for the final version to reflect less certainty than the draft. |
| It is the second in a series of IPCC reports coming out this year, together making up its fourth global climate assessment. | It is the second in a series of IPCC reports coming out this year, together making up its fourth global climate assessment. |
| The first element, on the science of climate change, released in February, concluded it is at least 90% likely that human activities are principally responsible for the warming observed since 1950. | The first element, on the science of climate change, released in February, concluded it is at least 90% likely that human activities are principally responsible for the warming observed since 1950. |
| The third part, due in May, will focus on ways of curbing the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations and temperature. | The third part, due in May, will focus on ways of curbing the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations and temperature. |
| A fourth report in November will sum up all the findings. | A fourth report in November will sum up all the findings. |