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Rich countries should take 'moral responsibility', says Christian Aid

According to a Christian Aid Scotland spokesman, people are underestimating the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on third world populations.

The charity has published a report forecasting a global migration crisis due to the effects of climate change.

The report says about 250 million people will be displaced by 2050.

In an interview with BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, the charity's national secretary Gavin McLellan said it was important to distinguish between the people normally regarded as refugees, and those who are forcibly displaced within their home countries due to conflict or natural disasters.

He said: "One of the more frightening aspects of climate change is migration because of it's potential to fuel conflict, and this is where it becomes a security issue.

"We are seeing an increasing prevalence of drought and of flooding, so many more millions of people are vulnerable to increasing severity and frequency of disasters."

He added that rich countries needed to recognise the effects of their high rates of carbon production.

"The moral responsibility is on the rich countries to start preparing a fund to mitigate against future disasters."

Full story at Christian Today.