Global warming: OXFAM sends a resounding warning to G8

International agency Oxfam Thursday warned that failure among G8 countries to provide a clear steer on climate change would leave confusion in its wake and cause an unacceptable delay as poor countries bore the biggest burden of global warming.

According to this year's IPCC report, Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change.

In a statement, Antonio Hill, Oxfam's senior advisor on climate change said by 2020, yields from rain-fed agriculture in some countries could decrease by as much as 50 per cent exacerbating malnutrition and food insecurity.

The statement further said a 3°C temperature increase could leave up to 1.8 billion more people in Africa at risk of water stress.

Oxfam has urged leaders to focus on setting a global target to keep global warming as far below 2ºC as possible and commit to early action to start reducing emissions in their economies by 2015.

According to Oxfam, G8 countries owe around 80 per cent of the 50 billion dollars or more needed each year by developing countries to adapt to climate change.