The Effects Of Climate Change On Third World Countries

As often is the case, less developed countries seem to get the bulk of the impact when it comes to negative world developments

. The third world and climate change is no different.

By definition, climate change impacts the globe as a whole. That being said, is it possible to predict specific results in various regions of the world? While there is no definitive answer, the impact on third world countries in Asia and Africa has been the subject of much discussion. Let's take a look.

Africa is considered a third world continent because a vast majority of the African countries have underdeveloped economies and living standards. Unfortunately, Africa is also believed to be one of the most heavily impacted areas when it comes to climate change. Over half the people in Africa live in rural areas with agricultural economies. These communities rely heavily on naturally occurring rain resources and planned irrigation is minimal. This unfortunately results in the horrific famines we see on tv. Climate change is predicted to devastate Africa because it is believed the greenhouse effect will reduce the amount of rain received on the continent. As the Sahara Desert expands, less land will be available for farming and the problem will grow worse. Malnutrition from famines will lead to weak immune systems and disease will be prevalent. If the predictions are accurate, Africa could become a living nightmare.

If climate change trends continue, they will be saying goodbye to large chunks of Asia. Cities such as Jakarta, Tokyo and Bangkok sit at sea level. If the melting polar caps result in a two foot rise in sea levels as predicted, these cities will be underwater. Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh are expected to lose 37,000 square miles of coastline under a similar situation. Over 34 million people will suddenly have to move to already congested population centers. Economies, health care and food supplies will undoubtedly reach critical levels.

Climate change could devastate Asia. You might be surprised to learn that over 60 percent of the human population lives in greater Asia. This mass of people has stretched agricultural and health resources to the maximum. To top it off, large population centers sit right on the coastline in flat areas only a few feet above sea level.

Is there any nice news when discussing the third world and climate change? Surprisingly, yes. The first step is to put regulations in place that reduce greenhouse gases. This is what we're counting on at the UN meeting in Copenhagen. Second, proactive planning must be done to account for these potential effects of third world climate change.

by: Michelle Janosi

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