Climate change to hit urban areas

Could cause migration

David Crossley, Jan 03, 12.

A report from the United Kingdom’s Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Change indicated that global warming has significantly increased the number of people at risk from flooding globally, according to a story at CNN.com:

The report, “Climate: Observations, projections and impacts,” examined how climate change will modify the weather in 24 countries around the world.

While findings vary from region to region, it forecasts an overall increase in this century of coastal and river floods, extreme weather events, and a global temperature rise of between 3-5C, if emissions are left unchecked.

According to climate change experts, cities from New York in the US to Dhaka in Bangladesh are likely to be heavily affected.

Simon Reddy, executive director of the C40 Cities network, which promotes sustainable development among local city authorities around the world, says this could be a catalyst for migration into urban areas.

“If the forecast temperature rise is accurate, then entire countries could be irrevocably damaged in certain parts of the world—and their inhabitants will have to find somewhere else to live,” he said. MORE