UN expert:‘Catastrophe’ pending if climate change not halted

Posted: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:21 AM

BEIJING – "Abnormal" weather phenomena will have a devastating impact on the world's agricultural production and food supply – which could lead to food shortages and food riots, warned a top U.N. expert.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News in Beijing, American-educated Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, painted a future scenario of "chaos, rioting and crazy migration" due to the severe impact of climate change.

A 30-year champion of poverty alleviation through agricultural development, Nwanze is appealing for decisive steps at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December to spare humanity from what he calls impending "catastrophe."

VIDEO: Expert warns of 'catastrophe' if action not taken on climate change

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Comments

Environmental pollution, etc. is the number one issue for this generation of people. This isuue, like any other, can show us the profit motive at its best.

Mario Rios Pinot (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:02 PM)

Who really believes in this idiocy anymore? Yeah I believe a UN hack about climate change. Are they ever going to be challanged on this rubbish. Oh yes, but when they are the mic is turned off.

steve, san diego CA (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:28 PM)

Don't worry about it. There is absolutly nothing you can do about it. The climate radically changes every so often then bounces back again. The dinosaurs were around for one hundred sixty million years until one day they were gone. Give you god a call, maybe he can give us a hand.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:27 PM)

Our grandchildren and great grandchildren will not see the worlds beauty. They will be fighting for their survival. Too many people, too much pollution. The Native Americans had the best way of life with the respect of the earth. We then gave them gambling and alcohol. Where have the good people gone? Dec. 21, 2012, bring it on!

Judy Rudzinski, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:14 PM)

When the Bay was clogged with Algae during the Olympics; and the air was simultaneously so bad; I could not help but think that Nature was saying: "Here"; turn this green stuff into fuel"; and I could see something like Oil platforms in the ocean; farming the algae and providing renewable fuel to the city so polluted it was ashamed. Can it be done???

Molly Cruz, Junquillal, costa rica (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:00 PM)

Turn the algae that is collecting so profusely in the ocean into fuel. suck it into tankers and refine it on shore or on platforms in the sea.

Molly Cruz, Junquillal, costa rica (Sent Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:05 PM)

our leaders! please wake-up to realities; listen to experts. take bold steps. climate catastrophe will affect/destroy the lives of rich and poor, specially the next generations equally.

hmz, lahore, Pakistan (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:28 AM)

Blah Blah Blah, the sky is falling, blah, blah.

David McNitt (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:57 AM)

Granted that without action the world is likely to face a statistical increase in severe weather.
But if we are serious about climate change then we need to look at geoengineering as an interim solution to give the world the century or more we will need to change the energy base.
Treating geoengineering "like the crazy aunt in the attic about whom we don't talk" has to stop!!
Sol Shapiro Somarl@msn.com

Sol Shapiro, Aurora, Colorado (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:34 PM)

The chance to start addressing climate change caused by increased fossil fuel usage and forest destruction was missed back in 2000 when the United States decided that denying science and relying on Bible prophecy was the righteous course of action since a scientific conspiracy to discredit religious beliefs exists. Now that we are in a runaway greenhouse with almost no probable solution, we should pray that god saves us. Perhaps like if we outlawed abortion. God would surely help us then.

cdugga (Sent Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:39 PM)

What is the point in promoting scare tactics? Climate change has been going on for millions of years.
If he is suggesting that humans are responsible, he needs to do his homework. Water vapor comprises 90-95% of greenhouse gases. Man's contribution to the greenhouse effect is about .038% of 1 percent. Negligible. The earth was 4-6 degrees warmer 135,000 years ago. CO2 gases lag water vapor 800 years.
We should all live lightly (not consume so much) and take care of mother earth but it will not have any effect on the climate.

Roger (Sent Thursday, October 15, 2009 7:55 AM)

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