MANAMA, NOV. 27 (BNA) -- THE 18TH HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT ISSUES BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) WILL BE LAUNCHED ON 27TH NOVEMBER .


THIS YEARS REPORT IS DEDICATED TO THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE FACING THE WORLD - THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

THE RESORT WARNS ALL PEOPLE TO REFLECT UPON HOW WE MANAGE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PLANATE EARTH WE SHARE IN COMMON.

THE ENTIRE HUMAN COMMUNITY IS REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE IMMEDIATE AND STRONG COLLECTIVE ACTION BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND SHARED VISION.

FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THIS CHALLENGE WILL STALL THEN REVERSE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE POVERTY, SAYS UNDO REPORT.

THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT (HR) 2007 -2008 REPORT SHOWS THAT CLIMATE CHALLENGE IS NOT JUST A FUTURE SCENARIO.

INCREASED EXPOSURE TO DRAUGHTS , FLOODS AND STORMS IS ALREADY DESTROYING OPPORTUNITY AND
REINFORCING INEQUALITY.

IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WORLD IS MOVING
TOWARDS THE POINTS AT WHICH ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE WOULD BE IRREVERSIBLE AND UNAVOIDABLE.

THESE IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR AVOIDING THE
MOST DAMAGING
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS , BUT THE WINDOW IS CLOSING :
THE WORLD HAS
LESS THAN A DECADE TO CHANGE COURSE. ACTION TAKEN OR
NOT TAKEN IN THE
YEARS AHEAD WILL HAVE A PROFOUND BEARING ON THE
FUTURE COURSE OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT, WARNS THE REPORT.
THE HDR 2007 - 2008 ASSERTS THAT THE MOST WEALTHY
COUNTRIES,
SPECIFICALLY OECD COUNTRIES , ARE FALLING TO MEET THEIR
TARGETS FOR
CUTTING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS UNDER KYOTO
PROTOCOL. IT, HOWEVER,
CLEARLY RECOGNIZES THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CAN NOT
BE EXPECTED TO
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AT THE SAME RATE FOR
OVER THE SAME
TIME FRAME.
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION EFFORTS CAN
NOT BE
SACRIFICED. HOWEVER, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH HIGHER
CARBON
FOOTPRINTS, INCLUDING BAHRAIN WILL NEED TO START TO
UNDERTAKE CHANGES
BY 2007,BUT WITH SUPPORT FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
EM//

27-NOV-2007 16:17