The climate inequality study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters<\/a>, was led by Dr Andrew King and colleagues at the University of Melbourne. They looked at three sets of computer modelling experiments of the likely temperature changes if global emissions reached net zero and overlaid the results with countries\u2019 gross domestic product.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we follow a path that is close to net zero, then the inequality we see in present day warming persists indefinitely,\u201d King said. \u201cThe wealthier countries that have caused more of the problem are not those that are the most exposed, even beyond net zero. The regions that have not caused the warming are those that experience the most warming.\u201d<\/p>\n King said the fate of the planet\u2019s poorest regions, which tend to be concentrated closer to the equator, would depend on how much greenhouse gas was emitted before the world reached net zero.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when we get to net zero, we have still emitted an enormous amount of carbon into the atmosphere and its effects will continue for centuries. We can\u2019t easily undo all that damage,\u201d he said. \u201cGetting to net zero sooner means we are less likely to have that long-term warming after net zero. We need to get to net zero sooner to limit that inequality.\u201d<\/p>\n King said tropical ecosystems, such as some coral reefs, had mostly evolved to exist in a narrower temperature range than ecosystems at higher latitudes and would continue to be heavily affected for longer as the world cut emissions.<\/p>\n A separate report on the impact of climate change on the stateless, commissioned by the UN refugee agency and released with the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness<\/a>, called on nations to support \u201cthe continuity of statehood\u201d for countries facing extreme climate damage. It said those at risk included Pacific islands that were losing land to rising seas.<\/p>\n The agency estimated about 4.5 million people were stateless but said it accepted the number was probably much larger<\/a> as stateless people were \u201cinvisible to official statistics\u201d.<\/p>\n
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