Global crisis 'to strike by 2030'

BAK

JF-Expert Member
Feb 11, 2007
124,792
287,994
Global crisis 'to strike by 2030'
By Christine McGourty
Science correspondent, BBC News

Water shortages are predicted across large parts of Africa, Europe and Asia

Growing world population will cause a "perfect storm" of food, energy and water shortages by 2030, the UK government chief scientist has warned.

By 2030 the demand for resources will create a crisis with dire consequences, Prof John Beddington said.

Demand for food and energy will jump 50% by 2030 and for fresh water by 30%, as the population tops 8.3 billion, he told a conference in London.

Climate change will exacerbate matters in unpredictable ways, he added.

'Complacent'

"It's a perfect storm," Prof Beddington told the Sustainable Development UK 09 conference.

'Perfect storm' poses global threat, says Professor Beddington
"There's not going to be a complete collapse, but things will start getting really worrying if we don't tackle these problems."

Prof Beddington said the looming crisis would match the current one in the banking sector.

"My main concern is what will happen internationally, there will be food and water shortages," he said.

"We're relatively fortunate in the UK; there may not be shortages here, but we can expect prices of food and energy to rise."

The United Nations Environment Programme predicts widespread water shortages across Africa, Europe and Asia by 2025.

The amount of fresh water available per head of the population is expected to decline sharply in that time.

The issue of food and energy security rose high on the political agenda last year during a spike in oil and commodity prices.

Genetically-modified

Prof Beddington said the concern now - when prices have dropped once again - was that the issues would slip back down the domestic and international agenda.

"We can't afford to be complacent. Just because the high prices have dropped doesn't mean we can relax," he said.

Improving agricultural productivity globally was one way to tackle the problem, he added.

At present, 30-40% of all crops are lost due to pest and disease before they are harvested.

Professor Beddington said: "We have to address that. We need more disease-resistant and pest-resistant plants and better practices, better harvesting procedures.

"Genetically-modified food could also be part of the solution. We need plants that are resistant to drought and salinity - a mixture of genetic modification and conventional plant breeding.

Better water storage and cleaner energy supplies are also essential, he added.

Prof Beddington is chairing a subgroup of a new Cabinet Office task force set up to tackle food security.

But he said the problem could not be tackled in isolation.

He wants policy-makers in the European Commission to receive the same high level of scientific advice as the new US president, Barack Obama.

One solution would be to create a new post of chief science adviser to the European Commission, he suggested.
 
Global crisis to strike by 2030 you must be joking!! It is already here!! THE GOVT. COFFERS ARE ALREADY DRY BUT MUUNGWANA DOES NOT KNOW; continues his Vasco Daga ways with his big retinue, spending our hard earned forex like there is no tomorrow!! Our port is congested with containers full of merchandise,,as our traders cannot afford to pay the unscrupulously accumulated port charges due to our shylock TICTS; the tourist indusrtry is depressed and many in that sector are now unemployed; the price of our exports have fallen by almost 50% due to the fall in their demand in the international markets; foreign investments to our country have declined and even those that were here are also scalling down or pulling out outright!! Muungwana badala ya kutuliza boli na kuhimiza kilimo as a measure ya kujihami yeye anatalii!! Remember ?Nyerere na kilmo cha kufa nakupona this is what Jakaya should be mobilsing people to do this meltdown is no joke watu watakula majani kulalek!!
 
2030 mbali another Stock Market crash inakuja September- October 2009.
 
Very Intriguing
As I wrestle the Idea of a global 'Storm,' honestly I can't see other areas get to the 'Perfect Storm' mainly, Africa and Asia.

Clearly this seem to be like another scheme to scheme?
Africa? Time will tell.

"My main concern is what will happen internationally, there will be food and water shortages,"

"We're relatively fortunate in the UK; there may not be shortages here, but we can expect prices of food and energy to rise."

Mhh, sounds too familiar? How Global is this storm?

Then the good part,

"Genetically-modified food could also be part of the solution. We need plants that are resistant to drought and salinity - a mixture of genetic modification and conventional plant breeding"

...Maharage Dume I pressume!

"Better water storage and cleaner energy supplies are also essential, he added. "

...meaning, buy more tech from Europe and America perhaps on how to store water! ?????


...Well, it sounds like another business proposal for the next generation if not so, scientifically inclined minds!

But who cares!

See you 2030!
 
0 Reactions
Reply
Back
Top Bottom