For example, reducing fresh water demand by 5 per cent with better irrigation saved more people than a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We are not saying politicians are wasting their time reducing emissions, they must do more, but to ignore adaptation is very dangerous. We say we must do both. Robert Nicholls, of the Flood Hazard Centre at Middlesex University, says sea level rise is inevitable whatever happens at the climate talks, because of extra gases in the atmosphere. Politicians need to prepare for places like the Nile and Mekong deltas sinking below sea level.
Millions live there and grow food for Egypt and Vietnam.
These matters must be discussed. He says there are at least five similar river deltas each in India and China and the classic case of Bangladesh. Rich countries like Britain can adapt, but most need help. Potentially there are many millions of displaced people to consider, he says. The Kyoto agreement in Japan last year was for reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of 5.2 per cent by 2010 compared with 1990 levels.