The biggest misery will be heaped on more than 50 of the world's poorest countries, but the United States will pay the highest economic bill, it said.
"In less than 20 years, almost all countries in the world will realise high vulnerability to climate impact as the planet heats up," the report warned.
The study, compiled by a humanitarian research organisation and climate-vulnerable countries, assessed how 184 nations will be affected in four areas: health, weather disasters, the loss of human habitat through desertification and rising seas, and economic stress.
Those facing "acute" exposure are 54 poor or very poor countries, including India. They will suffer disproportionately to others, although they are least to blame for the man-made greenhouse gases that drive climate change, it said.
"Without corrective actions" a press release accompanying the study said, the world is "headed for nearly one million deaths every single year by 2030."
More than half of the 157 billion dollars in economic losses will take place in industrialised countries, led by the United States, Japan and Germany. Read the full report here.
Source: by Richard Ingham, Physorg.com.
