超過40個亞洲地方官員12月2日齊聚馬來西亞吉隆坡，討論如何降低許許多多和全球暖化相關之自然災害所衍生的社會／經濟衝擊，並希望發展出一套災害防治與早期預警的地方合作系統。
兼任聯合國緊急救援協調人（UN emergency relief coordinator）與人道協調辦公室（OCHA）主任的赫姆斯（John Holmes）表示，大部分的自然災害都與氣候變遷有關。為提高公眾對氣候變遷的意識，人道協調辦公室12月2日也同步發起一項宣導活動，呼籲世人對劇烈氣候受災國給予重視，協助其提升災害預防與應變措施方面的能力。
自1988年至2007年，超過75%的災害都與氣候有關。據估計，與氣候有關的自然災害，其所造成的死亡人口佔所有災害的45%，經濟損失方面，則佔了80%。
此外，貧困的人常就住在極端氣象事件與災害頻傳的高危險地區內，同時，也是最欠缺災害預警系統的區域。
雖然有人視氣候變遷為未來威脅，但人道工作者早在現在就已看見了影響。 聯合國糧農組織12月2日指出一項最新研究顯示，與氣候變遷相關的自然災害，如颶風、暴洪與乾旱將嚴重影響太平洋島國的食物產量，並呼籲趕緊防範未然以降低損失。
在「太平洋島國氣候變遷與糧食安全」報告中指出，太平洋島國的發展將被自然災害所限制。 糧農組織副總幹事穆勒（Alexander Mueller）指出：「將氣候變遷適應納入農林漁業相關的國家政策、方針、計畫以及預算應成為發展第一順位。」
雖然太平洋島國已簽署許多全球以及地方條約來處理氣候變遷問題，該報告強調，仍須以更有系統的方式來統合國家計畫、政府、民間部門與社會大眾的力量。
Ministers from more than 40 Asia-Pacific countries gathered in Kuala Lumpur today seeking ways to reduce the social and financial impact of natural disasters in the region - many of them linked to the rising global temperature. The ministers are developing regional cooperation systems for disaster preparedness and early warning systems.
Most natural disasters today are linked to climate change, says John Holmes, UN emergency relief coordinator and head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA.
OCHA today launched a campaign to raise awareness of the humanitarian implications of climate change, calling for improved disaster preparedness and response measures in countries that suffer most from extreme weather events.
From 1988 through 2007, over 75 percent of all disaster events were climate-related and accounted for 45 percent of deaths and 80 percent of the economic losses caused by natural hazards.
The most vulnerable are impoverished people living in risk-prone hotspot countries, where the risks from extreme climatic events overlap with human vulnerability.
While some view climate change as a future threat, humanitarian relief workers are seeing its impact now.
In a new report, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned today that disasters linked to climate change such as cyclones, flash floods and droughts are likely to have a serious impact on food production in Pacific island nations, and called for urgent measures to adapt to expected losses.
The report, "Climate Change and Food Security in Pacific Island Countries," finds that development efforts in the islands have been constrained by disasters.
Mueller said, "Integrating climate change adaptation into national policies, strategies, programs and budgets related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries should become a major priority."
While Pacific island countries have already committed to a number of global and regional agreements to tackle climate change, the report highlights the need for a more systematic approach, with national plans involving governments, the private sector and civil society.
