The Guardian.
Climate change
is already contributing to the deaths of nearly 400,000 people a year
and costing the world more than $1.2 trillion, wiping 1.6% annually from
global GDP, according to a new study.
The impacts are
being felt most keenly in developing countries, according to the
research, 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 4.5m people a year, the report found.
The
331-page study, entitled Climate Vulnerability Monitor: A Guide to the
Cold Calculus of A Hot Planet and published on Wednesday, was carried
out by the DARA group, a non-governmental organisation based in Europe, and the 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% of global GDP, with the world's
least developed countries forecast to bear the brunt, suffering losses
of up to 11% of their GDP.
