Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Earth Science News .




CLIMATE SCIENCE
Pacific region faces economic risk from climate change: ADB
by Staff Writers
Manila, Philippines (UPI) Nov 26, 2013


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

The Pacific region could experience economic losses of as much as 12.7 percent of annual gross domestic product by 2100 as a result of climate change, an Asian Development Bank report warns.

The ADB report -- "Economics of Climate Change in the Pacific" -- focuses on 14 developing Pacific nations: the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The bank says most of the countries will see average annual temperatures rise by 3.24 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050.

"If the world were to stay on the current fossil-fuel intensive growth model -- the business-as-usual scenario -- total climate change cost in the Pacific is estimated to reach 12.7 percent of annual gross domestic product equivalent by 2100," the ADB report, released Tuesday, states.

Of the 14 nations studied, Papua New Guinea, or PNG, would suffer the worst economically, with climate change triggering a loss of as much as 15.2 percent of its GDP by 2100. The bank predicts Timor-Leste's GDP to drop by up to 10 percent, followed by Vanuatu at 6.2 percent, Solomon Islands at 4.7 percent, Fiji at 4.0 percent and Samoa at 3.8 percent.

In the meantime, the report says, the region will need $447 million every year until 2050 to prepare for worst-case scenarios caused by climate change.

"It is critical that countries contributing to the problem of climate change step up to assist Pacific friends and neighbors in the fight to protect their countries against natural disasters, crop losses, and forced migration," said Xianbin Yao, Director General of ADB's Pacific Department, in a release. "Our findings show that if not adequately addressed, climate change could overturn the region's development achievements."

The study includes assessments of potential impacts on agriculture, fisheries and tourism.

For example, sweet potato crops in Papua New Guinea and the Solomons could fall by 50 percent by 2050. The study predicts catches of skipjack tuna for the western Pacific will decline by an average of more than 20 percent, and for PNG by as much as 30 percent.

Total international tourist arrivals in the region more than doubled from a half million visitors to approximately 1.3 million between 1990 and 2011, but the study estimates the impact of climate change would reduce tourism revenues by 27 to 34 percent by the end of the century.

"By making climate change adaptation truly integral to their policy-making and decision-making

processes, the Pacific island-nations could plan against the adverse impacts of climate change and

continue their efforts to achieve poverty eradication and sustainable development for the region," the report says.

.


Related Links
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CLIMATE SCIENCE
Even if emissions stop, carbon dioxide could warm Earth for centuries
Princeton NJ (SPX) Nov 26, 2013
Even if carbon dioxide emissions came to a sudden halt, the carbon dioxide already in Earth's atmosphere could continue to warm our planet for hundreds of years, according to Princeton University-led research published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The study suggests that it might take a lot less carbon than previously thought to reach the global temperature scientists deem unsafe. ... read more


CLIMATE SCIENCE
Overseas Philippine workers a typhoon lifeline

Mental trauma haunts Philippines typhoon survivors

Informal supply chains help feed typhoon survivors

Manila says typhoon shows need for US-Philippine military accord

CLIMATE SCIENCE
What might recyclable satellites look like?

Overcoming Brittleness: New Insights into Bulk Metallic Glass

SlipChip Counts Molecules with Chemistry and a Cell Phone

NASA Instrument Determines Hazards of Deep-Space Radiation

CLIMATE SCIENCE
EU threatens six countries with illegal fishing sanctions

Large study shows pollution impact on coral reefs -- and offers solution

Rice scientists ID new catalyst for cleanup of nitrites

Pacific faces big economic losses from climate change: ADB

CLIMATE SCIENCE
WTO backs EU in seal ban battle with Canada and Norway

New study determines more accurate method to date tropical glacier moraines

Greenpeace crew can leave Russia if migration issue fixed: official

Global warming in the Canadian Arctic

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Impacts of plant invasions become less robust over time

New bale unroller design deemed effective

Researchers test effects of LEDs on leaf lettuce

High tunnel, open-field production systems compared for lettuce, tomato

CLIMATE SCIENCE
18,000 Indonesians flee erupting volcano

Early-career investigator discovers current volcanic activity under West Antarctica

Thousands flee as Indonesia volcano erupts eight times

Prosecutors probe Sardinia flash flood deaths

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Chinese businessman charged in Zambia graft case

Somalia troops boosted as al-Shabaab fights on

Chinese candidate a Shanghai surprise in Mali polls

Nigerian troops claim nine Boko Haram members killed

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Investments in Aging Biology Research will Pay Longevity Dividend

Research team discovers 'immune gene' in Neanderthals

Ancient, modern DNA tell story of first humans in the Americas

DNA of early hominid found to include 'mystery' early genes




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement