Many observers are pessimistic about the outcome of discussions on climate change at the ongoing Group of Eight (G8) summit as the member countries still remain poles apart on the issue.

Global warming risks

Climate change and global warming caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions have posed a grave risk to life on earth in recent years.

Scientists say climate change has possibly partly contributed to the recurrent natural disasters in recent years such as tropical storm Erin, which hit the United States in 2007, the heat wave in southern and central Europe in 2007, and the severe cyclone which killed as many as 70,000 Myanmarese in early May.

Global warming is changing world ecosystems and affecting the continuation of complex life, in particular causing sea levels to rise and the destruction of eco-diversity, scientists say.

According to UN predictions, global temperatures will go up by 2-4 Celsius degrees by 2080, and more than 1.1 to 3.2 billion people will suffer from the scarcity of drinking water while another 200 to 600 million will face starvation.

Further, about 200 million to 700 million people living in coastal regions are expected to suffer from floods and other disasters.