Climate change will hit China hard, says top UK scientist

GUANGZHOU: Hundreds of millions of Chinese people are likely to face extreme climate change and shortages of water, food and energy in the next few decades unless the emission of carbon dioxide and other polluting chemicals is checked, the UK's chief scientific adviser said in Guangzhou yesterday.

John Beddington, engaged in research of global climate for decades, was concerned about the impact of global warming on the world, especially China, in a seminar, attended by dozens of leading climate scientists based in South China.

"China will be hit hard by climate change, as temperature is predicted to rise above the global average," Beddington said.