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Press Release
18 September 2007
Africa ‘most affected’ by climate change
Trade and Development Minister welcomes IPCC report findings
For the first time, UN scientists have named Africa as one of the world’s
regions worst affected by climate change, in a report released on Tuesday 18
September by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
Trade and Development Minister, Gareth Thomas, today welcomed the report and
said:
“This shows more clearly than ever the need to focus more effort on preventing dangerous climate change and enabling poor countries, and in particular Africa, to prepare for the impacts”.
More money to tackle climate change
In Africa, vulnerable countries could be hit by water shortages, loss of
homes and farming land, due to sea level rise or drought, and decreases in crop
yields.
Speaking to the Royal Geographical Society conference of climate experts in
London to mark the launch of this research, Gareth Thomas said:
“Today, Africa stands at the crossroads. The impacts of climate change are ever
more certain. And without decisive and collective action to prevent and prepare
for these impacts, Africa faces an uncertain and potentially bleak future.
That’s why we are spending more money than ever to lift people out of the
poverty which makes them vulnerable to climate change - including £75 million to
help countries cope with climate change. And earlier this year Gordon Brown
announced an £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund - part of which will
be available to help countries prepare.”
A development challenge
He added:
“Climate change is inherently a development challenge – failing to tackle it
will lead to floods, droughts and natural disasters which can destroy poor
people’s lives as well as their livelihoods”.
“If we want to achieve the aspirations of the Make Poverty History campaign or
the targets of the Millennium Development Goals, we - governments, citizens and
developing countries themselves - must rise to the challenge”.
The research names the regions likely to be hardest hit, which include Africa,
parts of Asia, small islands and the Arctic.
Notes for editors
1. The IPCC report and press release is available from the
IPCC
website.
2. The UK is spending more money than ever to lift people out of poverty and make them less vulnerable to climate change, for example by investing in safer, flood resistant housing for thousands of people in Bangladesh. The UK has pledged at least £75 million to support adaptation directly.
3. This year the Chancellor announced an £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund, to support development and poverty reduction by helping developing countries respond to climate change through adapting and promoting clean energy.
4. Royal Geographical Society Press Officer: Jonathan Breckon +44 (0)20
75913008 or visit
www.rgs.org.
For further information, contact Heather Pillans on 020 7023 1752 or 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.
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