Report: Climate Changes to Impact Food and Water Supplies Globally, Affecting Millions

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Associated Press

Report: Climate Changes to Impact Food and Water Supplies Globally, Affecting Millions

04-10-2007 3:37 PM
By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY (Associated Press) -- Rising global temperatures could melt Latin America's glaciers within 15 years, cause food shortages affecting 130 million people across Asia by 2050 and wipe out Africa's wheat crop, according to a U.N. report released Tuesday.

The report, written and reviewed by hundreds of scientists, outlined dramatic effects of climate change including rising sea levels, the disappearance of species and intensifying natural disasters. It said 30 percent of the world's coastlines could be lost by 2080.

Scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change outlined details of the report in news conferences around the world Tuesday, four days after they released a written summary of their findings. The report is the second of three being issued this year; the first dealt with the physical science of climate change and the third will deal with responses to it.

In Mexico City, scientists predicted that global warming could cost the Brazilian rain forest up to 30 percent of its species and turn large swaths into savannah. They said ocean levels are projected to rise 4.3 feet by 2080 and flood low-lying cities including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.


A couple look at a car that was washed away in flood waters in Sant Antoni de Calonge, Spain, in this Oct. 14, 2005 file photo. Climate change in Europe's Mediterranean region will sap electric power generation, reverse long-standing tourism trends, raise sea levels in coastal regions and leave millions of people with water shortages, scientists said Tuesday, April 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Read more: http://omaha.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8ODVBK00&_action=validatearticle

[RedEarth]

1. Sounds like it's time to crank up production of big SUV's and big pickups

[Quantess]

8. Hell yeah.

Let's do cookies across pristine wilderness in our Hummers!

[kestrel91316]

2. "...Impact Food and Water Supplies Globally..." Well DUH.

Did somebody REALLY think up to this point that it couldn't or wouldn't??????

[BayCityProgressive]

3. yet our government continues to do nothing

I have bought the new light bulbs, drive a fuel efficient vehicle, and recycle. I wish the government would step up to the plate and do it's part.

[WindRavenX]

4. Potentially, global warming could displace hundreds of millions

And who knows how many will be affected by drought or flood? :(

The next 50 years are going to be very rough and filled with death.

I'm only 22 and I fear for what I will see in my lifetime.

[ohio2007]

5. I've heard of peak oil and I'm convinced this planet also has peak population

[WindRavenX]

6. there's no doubt that we'd already passed the carrying capacity of this planet

Read "The Tragedies of the Commons"--there simply isn't a way, even with improved technology, to support more and more people who want to live a life similar to the US and other western and developed countries.

[bemildred]

7. Billions. All of us, really. nt