Warming may cut risky countries' GDP by a fifth: study

[steven johnson]

The bad news is that climate change is going to really hit some high risk countries hard.

The good news is that much of the risk could be ameliorated by proactive steps, "Easily identifiable and cost-effective measures -- such as improved drainage, sea barriers and improved building regulations, among many others -- could reduce potential economic losses from climate change for all regions."

But since when did people plan for worst case scenarios, especially politicians. Politicians generally work with rosy scenarios and only deal with the worst when catastrophe is upon them.

Mon Sep 14, 2009
7:00am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Climate change could cut gross domestic product in countries at a high risk from weather catastrophes by up to a fifth by 2030 unless urgent steps are taken, a report said on Monday.

The study by the U.N.-backed Economics of Climate Adaption Working Group aims to provide a way to evaluate the cost of climate change and suggest ways to keep the bill down.

The study looked at eight areas, both rich and poor, around the world seen as high risk from more droughts, hurricanes, floods and rising sea levels that climate change may cause.

In the worst-case scenario, global warming could trigger severe flooding in Guyana, costing the South American country over 19 percent of its annual GDP by 2030, the report said.



Warming may cut risky countries' GDP by a fifth: study