Will AGW cause ~150 million refugees from islands/low areas? Delegates from 70 countries addressing?

Question

Today's news has another warning about problems expected from AGW, after 4 to 6 decades (~ debate still on how many decades).  Many potential refugees (up to 150 million by ~2050, or abouts) would be from poor or low-lying nations with few options.  Should the "richer" nations now prepare well for these sea rise scenarios (23" by ~ 2050)?

{ reported May 12, 2009 }
MANADO, Indonesia (AFP) - Rising sea levels that could wipe whole nations off the map and displace scores of millions of people are being overlooked in global climate change talks, island countries said Tuesday.  Major emitters are pushing for greenhouse gas emissions cuts that are too low to prevent devastating sea rises, representatives said at the World Ocean Conference in Indonesia's Manado city.

"Dealing with environmental refugees will have a much more serious impact on the global economy and global security in fact than what wars have ever done to this planet," said Rolph Payet, a presidential adviser from the African island nation of the Seychelles.

Dana1981 · Accepted Answer

Yes, but it's not even just going to be people living at low altitudes, it will also be people living in climates which become too arid to grow sufficient food to feed them.  There will be hundreds of millions of climate refugees by the end of the century, if not sooner.

Not only will they come mainly from poorer countries, but they'll know that the wealthier countries are responsible for most of the damage which forced them to leave their homelands.  I don't think we'll have much choice but to accept them into our borders or risk some really major conflicts.  In their position I know I'd be extremely pissed off to be forced from my home by a wealthy country, and would demand that they allow me to re-settle within their borders.

Bad Moon Rising · Answer

AGW will not cause the refugee crisis and in that regard these nations should prepare for about 1 inch related to AGW. They should however prepare themselves for the additional 19 inches that will result from the continuation of the Holocene sea level rise that began about 11,000 years ago and has averaged 1.0-1.5 cm per year over that period. There is no real recognition, except by the IPCC, of a 150 year "cycle". Now 11,000 years well that would be considered a very tiny cycle in geological terms.
Scientists have known the rate of sea level rise since the 1950's and even earlier! As a student in 1970 we were taught that it was 1-2 cm per year.
There is a reason why governments have been relatively quick historically to "grant" lands such as Louisiana, Bangladesh and so on as land settlements. They knew that those areas wouldn't be land for very long!

Didier Drogba · Answer

Sea levels have been rising for 20,000 years.

The land bridge that the first Americans crossed to get here is now under water.

Causes must predate effects.

Present-day Americans driving SUVs did not cause a process that started 20,000 years ago.

JimZ · Answer

If it does, it isn't the responsibilty of "richer nations".   Poorer nations are not entitled to money from richer nations.  Leftists are not entitled to redistribute, not that that won't stop them.  It is just another good example how AGW is all about leftist politics.  

You know when a con artist fools you once, shame on them.  When they fool you over and over again, shame on you.  It is nothing but a con game trying to get money from richer nations.

Anonymous · Answer

No,

It's just a chapter in the fairy tale designed to scare you.

Anonymous · Answer

It's already happening !

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Will AGW cause ~150 million refugees from islands/low areas? Delegates from 70 countries addressing?

6 Answers