In fact, this view is outlined in some detail in the United Nations Development Programme's ‘2011 Human Development Report', which was launched in the lead-up to South Africa hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP 17), in Durban.
It states that, by 2050, the average human development index could be between 12% and 15% lower than the current baseline in sub-Saharan Africa than would be the case if efforts were made to deal with global warming's impact on food production and if inroads could be made to reduce pollution.
“Environmental deterioration could under- mine decades of effort to expand water, sanitation and electricity access to the world's poorest communities. These absolute deprivations, important in themselves, are major violations of human rights," the authors of the independent report state.
One such impact points to maize and wheat production in Southern Africa falling sharply by 2030.
It is against the backdrop of this potential threat that world leaders head for Durban, South Africa, for the latest round of climate change talks.
The COP 17 negotiations will start on November 28 and will, no doubt, also be strongly informed by the prevailing political, economic and social challenges and not only the scientific evidence that points to the far-reaching consequences for climate. Read the full report here.
Source: by Brindaveni Naidoo, Engineering News.
