FACTBOX-Impacts for Asia of climate change

Sun Apr 1, 2007 1:34pm BST
 
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(Reuters) - Following are impacts of global warming for Asia outlined in a draft U.N. climate report due to be released in Brussels on April 6.

The draft, to be discussed by scientists and government experts in the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is looking at the regional effects of warming:

ASIA

-- Projected increases in temperatures and changes in precipitation "will increase the risk of hunger in Asia, especially in developing countries".

-- If current warming rates are maintained, Himalayan glaciers could shrink to 100,000 square kilometres (38,610 sq. mile) by the 2030s from 500,000 square kilometres (193,100 sq. mile) now. That would disrupt river flows and bring more rock avalanches.

-- Around 30 percent of Asian coral reefs are expected to be lost in the next 30 years due to climate change and other factors.

-- Between 120 million and 1.2 billion people are likely to experience more water shortages by the 2020s.

-- A 1 metre (40 inch) rise in sea level -- far above the 18-59 centimetre gain projected for 2100 -- would lead to widespread flooding in deltas such as the Mekong and Red Rivers.

-- Flooding with a 1 metre rise in sea level could affect 3-5.5 million people in the delta, and 4 million in the Red River delta.  Continued...

 
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