Why are people in less developed world most vulnerable to climate change?

clipped from www.oxfam.org.uk Between 1990 and 1998 more than 97 per cent of all natural disaster-related deaths were in developing countries. 1. Temporary settlements of poor people are often on unsuitable land - prone to flooding, storms and landslides. 3. They are more prone to infectious diseases because of poor diet, healthcare and sanitation. 4. Remote locations and low social status mean that they often do not receive adequate warnings.

What will happen if we don't do anything to combat global warming?

clipped from www.oxfam.org.uk The concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are higher now than at any time during the last 420,000 years. If nothing has been done to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 2080 then: 1. The sea will rise 50cm. Twice as many people will be exposed to severe flooding - the majority of these people will live in South and South East Asia. 2. Water shortages will leave 3 billion people in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent desperate for water. 3. Rainfall patterns could be disrupted. This will lead to droughts and floods, which in turn will cause food shortages. 4. Extreme weather conditions will occur more often and more intensely. Countries will be economically devastated and many lives will be lost. 5. Resistance to disease will be weakened because of water shortages, heat and malnutrition. Infectious diseases will be able to spread rapidly.

China Environment Agency Reviewing Maglev Project

How does the Maglev (Magnetically levitated trains) help resolving the global warming problem?

clipped from http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/42733/story.htm China's environmental protection authorities are evaluating Shanghai's planned magnetic levitation train line to the resort city of Hangzhou. The proposed maglev route was still being debated and opinions were being collected from experts and residents. Thousands of residents along the proposed route fearing the high-speed trains would produce radiation. Shanghai's executive vice mayor believed the project would comply with China's environmental standards. The route was intended to be up and running by 2010, when Shanghai will host the World Expo. Shanghai already operates the world's only commercial maglev system on a 30-km line linking its financial district to Pudong international airport using German's technology.

China surpasses the U.S. as world's biggest polluter

How does global warming relate to China's booming economy?

clipped from news.yahoo.com Group: China tops world in CO2 emissions China has overtaken the United States as the world's top producer of carbon dioxide emissions It's an expression of their fast industrial production activities and their fast development China, which relies on coal for two-thirds of its energy needs and makes 44 percent of the world's cement, produced 6.23 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2006. Chinese environmental officials have said that while total emissions are going up, they are still less than one quarter of those of the United States on a per capita basis. This month, China unveiled its first national program to combat global warming with promises to rein in greenhouse gas production. It outlined steps the country would take to meet a previously announced goal of improving energy efficiency in 2010 by 20 percent over 2005's level. Economic development is a priority for China, but efforts would be made to raise awareness about global warming.

Global Warming