- SYDNEY (Reuters) - Millions
of people could become homeless in the Asia-Pacific region by 2070 due
to rising sea levels, with Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, China and Pacific
islands most at risk, says Australia's top scientific body.
-
- A climate change report by the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) found global warming in the
Asia Pacific region could cause sea levels to rise by up to 16 cm (six
inches) by 2030 and up to 50 cm (19 inches) by 2070.
-
- Rising temperatures will also result in increased rainfall
during the summer monsoon season in Asia and could cause more intense tropical
storms, inundating low-lying coastal villages.
-
- "The coastlines of Asia-Pacific nations are generally
highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly sea-level
rise caused by rising global temperatures," said the CSIRO report
released on Monday.
-
- "Vast areas of the Asia-Pacific are low lying, particularly
the small-island states, as well as the large river deltas found in India
and Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and China."
-
- Sea level rise between 30 to 50 cm (11 to 19 inches)
would affect more than 100,000 km (62,140 miles) of coast, particularly
China's Pearl Delta and Bangladesh's delta, said the report. <snip>
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