The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report 2007 says:

• 75-250 million people across Africa could face water shortages by 2020.
• Crop yields could increase by 20% in East and Southeast Asia, but decrease by up to 30% in Central and South Asia.
• Agriculture fed by rainfall could drop by 50% in some African countries by 2020.
• Glaciers and snow cover expected to decline, reducing water availability in countries supplied by melt water.

The nightmare scenario is:

• Unchecked global warming creates drought, higher sea levels and expansion of deserts.
• Drinking water becomes scarce for millions of people.
• Poor and developing countries blame industrialised, rich ones for drought-causing emissions.
• Rich nations protect their resources - with violence if necessary.
• Environmental refugees try to move to where the water is controlled, from poor to rich countries.
• Rich countries close their borders and add more protection for their own citizens.
• A new arms race between old and new world breaks out.

• Will the poor have to fight the rich for water and food?
• Will economies collapse?
• Will health, hygiene and safety be distant memories?
• Will vast numbers of species simply disappear forever?