Climate Change Threatens Development of Poorer Countries

Climate Change Threatens Development of Billions of
World's Poorest People, Charity Says

May 15, 2006 — By Associated Press
LONDON — Millions of people around the world face death
and devastation due to floods, famine, drought and
violence caused by global warming, a charity warned.

A report to be released Monday by Christian Aid said 162
million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of
disease directly attributable to global warming by the end
of the century.

It urged the British government to lead the world's richer
countries in taking urgent action to curb global warming.

Poorer regions, the charity added, should be encouraged to
use renewable energy sources.

If sub-Saharan Africa was to switch from fossil fuels to
other sources of energy, including sun, wind and water,
the environment would benefit and there would be more
jobs, better health and enhanced opportunities for
learning, the report said.

It estimated that every household in Africa could change
to clean, renewable energy sources for less money than it
would take to pay the region's oil bill for the next
decade.

Developing technology could even transform the world's
most impoverished continent into a net exporter of clean
energy, the report said.