Secondhand smoke: Nations producing less greenhouse gas most vulnerable to climate change

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/wcs-shs020316.php

Public Release: 5-Feb-2016
Secondhand smoke: Nations producing less greenhouse gas most vulnerable to climate change
Study shows 'enormous global inequality' between emitters versus impacted nations
Wildlife Conservation Society

•Conversely, nations that produce most greenhouse gases less vulnerable
•Study shows "enormous global inequality" between emitters versus impacted nations
•Countries like U.S., Canada, Russia, and China are climate "free riders," which dis-incentivizes mitigating their emissions
•Problem will worsen in coming decades


NEW YORK (EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUAY 5TH 5:00 A.M. USET) - A new study by University of Queensland and WCS shows a dramatic global mismatch between nations producing the most greenhouse gases and the ones most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The study shows that the highest emitting countries are ironically the least vulnerable to climate change effects such as increased frequency of natural disasters, changing habitats, human health impacts, and industry stress.

Those countries emitting the least amount of greenhouse gases are most vulnerable.

The majority of the most vulnerable countries are African and Small Island States. These countries are exposed to serious environmental change such as oceanic inundation or desertification. They are also generally the least developed nations, having few resources available to cope with these issues.

"There is an enormous global inequality in which those countries most responsible for causing climate change are the least vulnerable to its effects," said lead author Glenn Althor of University of Queensland. "It is time that this persistent and worsening climate inequity is resolved, and for the largest emitting countries to act."

"This is like a non-smoker getting cancer from second-hand smoke, while the heavy smokers continue to puff away. Essentially we are calling for the smokers to pay for the health care of the non-smokers they are directly harming," said co-author James Watson of University of Queensland and WCS.

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