Swiss government sees climate change denting GDP by 0.15 pct by 2050 |
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Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:41
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BERNE (Thomson Financial) - If temperatures rise as much as the UN predicts, the negative effect on the Swiss economy could be 1 bln sfr, or 0.15 pct of GDP, by 2050, said the Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU).The BAFU forecasts are based on the UN's expectations that global temperatures will be 3 degrees centigrade higher in 2050 and Swiss temperatures 4 degrees higher.By 2100, climate change will hit GDP by 0.45 pct, the government office said.The sectors expected to be the worst hit are winter tourism and hydroelectric power. Building, infrastructure and people will be increasingly affected by flooding, landslides and heatwaves, too.BAFU said Swiss economic losses can only be tempered by a coordinated worldwide environmental policy. If the rise in world temperatures could be limited to 2 degrees by 2100, economic losses by 2050 would only be half as much as predicted.In a second report, BAFU said damage in other countries could also have knock-on effect on Swiss exports, cutting them by 1.4-3.1 pct by 2050, with watches and capital goods likely to be hit.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comjsa/lceCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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