Health and economic fallout from climate change is already here, study says
Millions are dying annually, economies are ailing and developing countries are suffering the most
Climate change is already contributing to the deaths of nearly 400,000 people a year and costing the world more than US$1.2 trillion (HK$9.3 trillion), wiping 1.6 per cent annually from global GDP, according to a new study.
The effects are being felt most keenly, according to the research, in developing countries, where damage to agricultural production from extreme weather linked to climate change is contributing to deaths from malnutrition, poverty and their associated diseases.
Air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels is also separately contributing to the deaths of at least 4.5 million people a year, the report found.
The 331-page study, published last week and entitled "Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the Cold Calculus of A Hot Planet", was carried out by the DARA group, a non-governmental body from Europe, and the global Climate Vulnerable Forum.
It was written by more than 50 scientists, economists and policy experts, and commissioned by 20 governments.
By 2030, the researchers estimate, the cost of climate change and air pollution combined will rise to 3.2 per cent of global GDP, with the world's least developed countries forecast to bear the brunt, suffering losses of up to 11 per cent of their GDP.
Sheikh Hasina, prime minister of Bangladesh, said: "A one degree Celsius rise in temperature [temperatures have already risen by 0.7 of a degree globally since the end of the 19th century] is associated with 10 per cent productivity loss in farming.