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Millions of 'climate change migrants' will overwhelm Europe, says report UK Daily Mail | March 10, 2008 Britain should brace itself for a new wave of mass migration caused by global warming, a report warns today. A landmark document by two senior European Union officials says climate change will drive millions of "environmental migrants" towards the EU. The report also warns of a potentially dangerous scramble between Russia and the West for the mineral deposits of the Arctic made accessible by the melting of the polar ice cap. It says millions of people in poorer countries will be displaced by the consequences of global warming - famines, rising sea levels, loss of arable land and fresh water, and dangerous weather conditions. (Article continues below)
Within a decade "there will be millions of environmental migrants," says the report by Javier Solana, the EU's chief foreign policy co-ordinator, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for external affairs. "The core challenge is that climate change threatens to overburden states and regions which are already fragile and conflict-prone. The risks include political and security risks that directly affect European interests," concludes the document to be discussed at a special EU summit on Thursday. The report says "significant potential conflicts" are likely as a result of "intensified competition" over energy resources. Of particular concern is a "potential crisis" with Russia over rights to oil and gas deposits in the Arctic region. "If global warming were to allow this to become a viable source of energy, a serious conflict could emerge between Russia and Norway," the report says. A combination of farmland being turned to desert, shrinking coastlines and harder to obtain fresh water will result in a "vicious circle of degradation" with "migration and conflicts over territory" threatening global stability, the document adds. "The multinational system is at risk if the international community fails to address the threats. Climate change impacts will fuel the politics of resentment between those most responsible for climate change and those most affected by it," the report says. CLICK ON THE BANNER TO BUY TERRORSTORM IN |
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