Developing countries around the world could face tough new challenges as climate change unleashes more extreme storms, raises sea levels and causes floods and droughts.The environmental stresses of climate change will be felt across the globe, but most severely by poorer countries. These areas are already more prone to flood and drought, with a large share of their economy held in climate sensitive sectors, such as farming.Food, water and energy - essential for human survival - are already in short supply in many parts of the world and shortages may worsen as populations grow and weather patterns change. The impacts of climate change are likely to exacerbate inequalities in health systems, as well as access to adequate food, clean water and other resources.In 2007 we launched the Integrated Climate Programme (ICP) - a study which could help the UK to identify where conflict and security threats might emerge in future years.The Met Office already provides advice to senior defence officials on the likely flash points around the world where issues could be driven or exacerbated by climate change.The maps below highlight key regions and sectors at risk from future climate changes (data from HadCM3 using the A2 emission scenario).

Water stress and drought risk Enlarge	Crop yield reduction risk Enlarge
Flooding risk Enlarge	The risks to human health Enlarge

Impacts

• Countries least well-equipped to deal with flooding, water shortages and valuable agricultural land turning to desert could be major flashpoints
• Long-term drought could cause huge migration and subsequent security issues
• The largest coastal agricultural land areas at risk of flooding from sea level rise lie on the world's major river deltas, particularly on the Asian sub-continent
• More than 17 million Bangladeshis live in areas that could be flooded by rising sea levels
• The global total of people flooded each year is projected to increase from less than five million now to between 160 million and 370 million by 2100
• There could be large decreases in water availability across west Asia, the Middle-East, Central America and the Mediterranean and Amazon basins
• Climate change may already be a contributory factor in conflicts in Africa.