Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program, said “economic deserts,” unfit for people or agriculture, could develop in the poorest nations of the world as well as some of the most prosperous.

Steiner cautions that only urgent action to fight global warming and poverty could prevent the creation of untold numbers of climate refugees.

“Unchecked climate change will mean that some parts of the world will simply not have enough water to sustain settlements both small and large, because agriculture becomes untenable and industries relying on water can no longer compete or function effectively,” Stiner said on the eve of a meeting in Turkey of the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification.

Photo: Ben Heys - Fotolia