Report: EU must urgently address security threats stemming from climate change

By The Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Climate change will worsen tensions and instability between nations competing for arable land, water and other resources, according to a European Union report.

The report prepared for a meeting of the 27 EU leaders said member nations must lose no time in preparing for the impact of climate change on the security of Western Europe.

The report to the EU leaders — a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press — says climate change will trigger humanitarian crises, political and economic instability, border disputes, ethnic tensions and "environmentally induced" migration of millions of people from Africa and the Middle East to Europe. It urges the EU to put climate change high on the international agenda.

The EU leaders hold their spring summit in Brussels, Belgium on March 13 and 14.

The report drafted by Javier Solana, the EU's foreign and security affairs chief, says the EU must become much more assertive in reversing global warming, boosting global warming research and increasing international cooperation on climate change.

The report said the EU was well equipped to push others to combat climate change because of its multilateral approach to global politics and its experience in conflict prevention and management.

To be continue in other article...

(Jakarta, Rabu 19 Maret 2008)

Re-publish by Jacob Paradox from link (www.routers.com),(www.iht.com), (www.routers.com), (www.nytimes.com)