World population becoming more urban

In addition, E-Brief News notes, a separate UN report warns that the effects of desertification, aggravated by climate change, will also lead to mass migrations of tens of millions of people in the next decade. These and other factors are likely to have immense impacts on service delivery and the scarcity of resources could severely impact security.

According to the State of the World Population report, the shift in people from rural to urban areas will be led by Africa and Asia, which are expected to add 1.6bn people to their cities over the next 25 years. The report suggests the largest transition to cities will occur in Asia, where the number of urbanites will almost double to 2.6bn by 2030. Africa is expected to add 440m to its cities in the same period; and, Latin America and the Caribbean nearly 200m, The Guardian reports. This rapid urbanisation will have a disastrous effect on the ability of cities to provide clean water and sanitation. Climate is expected to increasingly shape and be shaped by cities. In what amounts to a vicious circle, climate change will increase energy demand for air conditioning in cities, which will add to greenhouse gas emissions. It could also make some cities unlivable, adding to the ‘heat island’ effect, which can lift temperatures in urban areas. Full report in The Guardian Full State of the World Population report

The UN’s study on desertification warns that governments need to adopt strategies to mitigate the effects of desertification, which are aggravated by climate change. One third of the global population – about 2bn – is threatened by encroaching desertification. And, if no action is taken, over the next 10 years roughly 50m people are in danger of being displaced. Experts from the UN University (UNU) said that the loss of soil productivity and the degradation of nature threaten international stability, and appealed to governments to take an integrated approach to tackling issues concerning desertification, climate change and poverty reduction. The analysis recommends that governments create financial incentives for those who use dry land to preserve and maintain their ecosystems and better educate local populations and policymakers who often do not have a good understanding of the basic concepts of dry lands and desertification. UN press release The study

The effects of global warming could cause new wars across the world, warns Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, reports The Independent. He cited the crisis in Sudan as the first example of a war partly cause by climate change. Dramatic changes in the Darfur region of Sudan have helped lay the foundation for the current conflict that has displaced more than 2.5m people and killed at least 200 000. According to the report, Africa is likely to suffer most from instability caused by climate change. Rising sea levels could destroy up to 30% of the continent’s coastline, while between 25 and 40% of Africa’s natural habitats could be lost by 2085. Conflicts caused by scarcity of resources are already brewing across Africa. In Ghana, clashes between farmers and Fulani herders have become more widespread as resources have become increasingly scarce. In the Mount Elgon region of Kenya more than 40 000 people have been displaced as different tribes fought over access to land. Full report in The Independent See report in the World section: Armies must be prepared for global warming role – UK