Countries emitting the most greenhouse gases are the least vulnerable to climate change effects than those emitting less, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Queensland and the Wildlife Conservation Society. These climate change effects include habitat changes, an increased frequency of natural disasters and various human health impacts.
"There is an enormous global inequality in which those countries most responsible for causing climate change are the least vulnerable to its effects," Glenn Althor, lead author of the study, said in a press release. "It is time that this persistent and worsening climate inequity is resolved and for the largest emitting countries to act."
The results showed that 20 of the 36 countries with the highest emissions, such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, China and most of Western Europe, were the least vulnerable to climate change, whereas 11 of the 17 countries with low to moderate emissions were most vulnerable.
Upon further analysis, the team also found that the most vulnerable countries are exposed to extreme environmental change such as oceanic inundation and desertification and are typically the least developed nations that lack the resources available to deal with these kinds of issues.
"This is like a non-smoker getting cancer from second-hand smoke, while the heavy smokers continue to puff away. Essentially we are calling for the smokers to pay for the health care of the non-smokers they are directly harming," added co-author James Watson.
The authors believe that the number of countries that are dangerously vulnerable will get worse by 2030 due to an increase in factors related to climate change such as droughts, floods, disease and the loss of biodiversity.
"The recent Paris agreement was a significant step forward in global climate negotiations" said Richard Fuller, co-author of the study. "There now needs to be meaningful mobilization of these policies, to achieve national emissions reductions while helping the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change."
The findings were published in the Feb. 5 issue of Scientific Reports.
