Extreme droughts forecast

Britain’s leading climate scientists yesterday predicted that global warming and climate change would cause extreme droughts that could cripple food production in large parts of the world.

The study, carried out by researchers from the Met Office's Hadley Centre for Climate Predictions and Research, forecasts that rising temperatures will trigger severe droughts, which will devastate 30% of the planet and wipe out agriculture in the affected regions - and yet the it may be an underestimation suggests the scientists.

Aid agencies reacted with dismay and alarm. " This is genuinely terrifying and a death sentence for many millions of people," said Andrew Pendleton from Christian Aid.

The computer model developed by the Hadley team predicted that 50% of the earth's surface would suffer from moderate drought conditions by 2100, while 40% would suffer from severe conditions and a further 30% from extreme drought conditions by 2100.

The predictions are likely to affect millions of people in the developing world, who's lifes will be under threat because extreme drought will undermine their ability to grow food, keep livestock, and maintain a safe sanitation system.

Aid agencies expect that climate change within a few decades will lead to mass migrations, epidemics, water wars and human suffering on an unprecedented scale.

"We are slowly loosing control of our planet, and those in the developing world, who can least afford this to happen, are going to be worst hit initially - though I don't think anyone will be safe long term," said
Carbon-info.org's Chairman Flemming Bermann.