Hunger warning over climate change

Melting Arctic sea ice, bleached coral reefs and multiple dangers to human security from heatwaves, flooding and increasing food scarcity in a warming world have been highlighted by a new scientific report.

Drawn up by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the report – released this morning in Yokohama, Japan – warns that millions of people will go hungry due to the adverse impacts of global warming on agriculture.

If global average surface temperatures continue rising, it predicts food production worldwide will fall by 2 per cent per decade even as the demand for food from a growing population rises by 14 per cent per decade.

'Unequivocal'
The report – compiled by 310 specialist authors from 73 countries – draws on a growing volume of scientific research on climate change, which an earlier volume – released last September – said was "unequivocal" and caused by us.

Dealing with climate risks, vulnerabilities and adaptation, the latest report says it will become harder for people to make a living and this will lead to mass migrations from poorer countries of “climate refugees” seeking a better life elsewhere.

The findings will put additional pressure on world leaders to reach an international agreement next year at a UN climate conference in Paris.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon is convening a pre-conference summit of world leaders in New York in September.