Report warns of 75 million climate refugees in Asia Pacific

by Rich Bowden - Jul 27 2009, 05:24

A joint Australian study has predicted that up to 75 million in the Asia Pacific region will be made climate refugees in the next 40 years.

The report, a joint project between aid organisation Oxfam Australia and think tank The Australia Institute, warns opinion leaders that climate change is already being felt in the region, with the people of the low-lying Carteret Islands already being forced by rising sea levels to migrate to nearby countries.

Released to coincide with the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in the Queensland city of Cairns next week, the report contends that climate change is already a major issue for countries in the region.

Speaking to Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, the Australia Institute's executive director, Richard Denniss said the Australian government must exhibit leadership in this field.

"Some areas, some low-lying atolls, are already becoming impossible to inhabit and we do need to assist these people. We need to be talking to their governments about how we can help them move within their countries," Dr Denniss said.

"But in time, we do need to discuss the very real possibility of some of these people having to move."

Oxfam Australia's executive director, Andrew Hewett said changes brought about by climate change were already occurring in the Pacific.

"They're facing increasing food and water shortages, they're losing land, they're being forced from their homes, they're dealing with rising cases of malaria and they're facing much more intense weather patterns," Mr Hewett said.

The report called for more funding to be allocated to adaptation to warmer conditions.

"Prevention is better than cure on this and step one is to demand tougher targets of ourselves and of other developed countries," Dr Denniss says.

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